The Arch / Namsan Tower

A long time ago, the St. Louis Urban Workshop did a piece on placeness and put forward the idea of placing colored LED towers around the city. 

The idea was that no matter where you were, there'd be some landmark for you to identify.  If you knew the pattern throughout the city, then you'd know exactly where you were if you could spot two on the horizon. 

 Moreover, you would also be able to identify neighborhoods in a distinguished way. 

When I lived at Plaza Square, I used to see Tower Grove from my balcony (10th floor).  I'd always think, ah, there's South Grand.

Now I live in Seoul and this is my view,

That's Namsan Tower.  In fact, that's the view of the majority of the population of Seoul.  It isn't a tall tower, but it can be seen from every part of the city.

Seoul is pretty hilly.  It is surrounded by a ring of mountains and has one large mountain in its middle.  In this way, the city forms something of a ring around the central mountain, which is Namsan.  Because Namsan Tower is tall, on a mountain, and central, it can be seen from virtually anywhere.  I live on the south side of the river and I can see it clearly (granted I live on the 17th floor).

 

Seoul has a complicated address system and the streets are rarely in straight lines.  It is important to be able to see Namsan because it tells you which way is North, or South, or East.  If you know your general location and you see the tower, you can orient yourself.  It is just one landmark, but it can be seen from everywhere.

Now the major landmark in St. Louis is certainly the arch.  The arch is hardly central if you consider just the city and county.  Only when the metro-east is considered does the arch become central.

The arch can be seen from almost anywhere... downtown. 

The arch can only be seen farther into the city if there is a major road, such as a highway that provides an unobstructed line of sight.

Citizens of all cities love to discover those random places in a city where a major landmark suddenly looms on the horizon.  It is a reminder of where you are.  You know you're not the only one that sees it.  It was there before you were born and it will be there when you die.  Every once in a while you find yourself standing beneath it looking up and feeling dizzy.

St. Louis still needs a major landmark in the middle of the city.  I propose that Forest Park is geographically central for most people.  Directly in the middle of the park there should be built a great edifice, a tower or statue large enough to be seen from Monk's Mound.  I'd hope its ground level footprint would be small though...  I don't want it to interrupt foot traffic or wildlife.  Perhaps a statue of Ozzie Smith...

We could do it for $400,000,000 in TIF dollars. the city has that kind of money just sitting around, right?  Maybe if the Cardinals asked...

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This post relates to the Compton Tower