A CHANGING SKYLINE!!!

The picture shows the spectacular building of the Waterfront in Port of Spain. The structures are huge in comparison to a lot of other buildings surrounding it. To me these structures represent strength and power while also representing a softer side such as beauty and warm. The buildings in the photo has a welcoming yet intimidating appearance to it. However these magnificent buildings were not always here as seen in the picture below. These buildings are just another addition to the ever changing skyline of Port of Spain. No longer is Port of Spain filled with small buildings clustered together and dominated by only two skyscrapers, the city is changing. Port of Spain now has numerous skyscrapers. Is this change a good thing?? does the change represent who we are as Trinbagonians?? Does it reflect our culture as a people or is it just another representation of our economic growth?? These questions emerged as I took the photo.  

Picture showing the area of the buildings on the waterfront. An empty skyline. Taken from http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=174328&page=4 

According to Tim Hall in Urban Geography, spectacular buildings much like the building on the waterfront represents the economic growth of a city and this is due to the increasing competitiveness of today's society. Thus it can be said based on Tim Hall's statement the these building of the waterfront show the economic growth of the country. Thus the architectural designs of these structures are not concerned with representing the culture of the citizen but with representing the growth within the city. This then brings to my thought, which one is more important? The need for architecture to represent economic growth of a place or for the representation of the culture of the people residing in the city. Is there is kind of balance to the issue? Can we represent our economic growth while still keeping our culture at the forefront of this development?

This forum is very interesting, it shows pictures of  the changing skyline of Port of Spain over the years and also of comments and views of this skyline: 
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=174328&page=4


REFERENCES

Hall,Tim and Heather Barrett. Urban Geography. New York: Routledge, 2012. Print