Urban Panoramas of Florance, Italy and Chicago, IL

Panorama of Florance Italy

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

The metropolitan area of Florance has over 1.5 million people residing within it. The city has deep roots in the Renaissance era and with that said much of the architecture is evident of this. The city developed in a concentric zone model originating in a large open market near the great cathedral seen to the right side of photo and below.  The city expands outward towards the river and creatively built bridges that housed shops as well as homes. The number of shops shows evidence that the city developed as a result of trade and commerce.This example of a European metropolis shows what I believe to be the key features that characterize these cities. It developed in rings, religion is at the center of development throughout history, uses natural features to create city limits.

Chicago

Panorama of Chicago

The city of Chicago developed for the same reason as Florance, trade and commerce, but in a very different fashion. Chicago grew rapidly both outward and upward. The city follows "Chicago" school of development and in sector model. The city centers on a central business district with residences and commercial buildings being separated. The CBD is recognizable by the large cluster of skyscrapers. The panorama of Chicago shows its spread across the landscape.

While both metropolises grew from small trade centers into booming centers of commerce in their pasts, Chicago is much more actively growing today.  The city of Florence already boomed and now flourishes not as a center of trade but by displaying the arts to the world. Both cities grew within or around natural boundaries. The largest difference that I see is that while Florance is developed there are no building taller than the Church while in Chicago there are multiple tall buildings. Also, there are not noticeable housing areas in the Chicago illustration but Florance is mostly residential with shops below.