Brand your city, not more Ferris Wheels
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COMMENT, Global — What is it with city governments and Ferris wheels?
Berlin is building a Ferris Wheel, Europe’s highest in fact.
Melbourne is building a Ferris Wheel, as a landmark at new district Docklands. Opening next year.
Singapore is building a huge wheel, and Beijing started last year
The City Ferris Wheel Fad
When each city is doing the same thing, and London has already done it, it is not a unique phenomenon. It can’t express what is inside your city’s soul.
Sure it is a money-spinner for London, and it does offer a stand-out skyline image. But for the same money and effort, could not something more permanent and meaningful be created for each city?
Unique Brand of the City
The 2thinknow view, is that each city has a unique essence, that needs to be brought out. The city succeeds when it’s brand is expressed in a way that at that time there is a demand for the brand of that city.
I know each city would like it’s own landmark, but they should be unique to the city.
So with that said, here are 5 City brands, instantly recognizable worldwide.
City Brand Paris
The Eiffel tower means Paris. Grand, over-reaching, central, powerful, strong yet melancholy.
City Brand Sydney
The Harbour Bridge means Sydney. Sunny, optimistic, always on the water, always partying.
3 Other City Brands
The Brooklyn Bridge, Chrysler Building, Empire State, Woolworths building mean New York. Multicultural, multi-style, multi-epoque. And every person worldwide (well, almost) recognizes the I ♥ NY logo. Every ironic use, or skyscraper reinforces the New York brand, a point raised in the comments to Ezra Kleins post.
The twin-spired Cathedral means Cologne, Germany.
Berlin is the Space Needle-esque ‘Fernsehturm’, television tower.
City Branding, a rising phenomenon
As cities become brands, and instant branding becomes important, cities with unique landmarks that capture the greatness of a city will become more valuable.
Not more Ferris Wheels, but unique landmarks encapsulating a city’s essence.
For Melbourne, it is the trams and conductors, if they were brought back, perhaps!
Not a Ferris Wheel.
What do you think?
What landmark does or doesn’t capture your city? What would you like to see? Or do you love your city’s Ferris Wheel?
Write us your thoughts short or long below…
3 Responses to “Brand your city, not more Ferris Wheels”
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I never would have looked at that bridge and thought Sydney. It’s the opera house that makes you think of Sydney.
It is the Coloseum and Trevi Fountain that makes you think of Rome. Vienna has Stephansdom church and the Kartnerstrasse.
Great cities have more than one landmark! Like New York. The Harbour Bridge is a global image of Sydney though, I think was Sam’s point - as it is used for the New Years fireworks.
NYE is one of Sydney’s pre-eminent branding opportunities due to the time difference, meaning Sydney is the first world city to enter the New Year.
But many people would agree with Megan that the Opera House is #1 - however Sydney has both as part of it’s brand.
Christopher