Environmental Change

Homogenization of landscapes
Explain the evolution of uniform urban landscapes; the effects of common commercial activity, structures, styles of construction and infrastructure.

Now a days many cityscapes look the same. Today the typical urban city is composed of large billboards, tall modern buildings, similar food chains, large roads and highways, and lots of lights. The urban cities are typically international hubs that have a diverse population. This is because many people come to these urban cities in search of job opportunities with higher income that offers a better lifestyle. In the past, not all the urban cities looked the same. There was no uniformity to the creation of a city. They had their own unique looks that are created by different architectural preferences. However because of globalization, cityscapes have become very homogenized due to modernization. 

Hong Kong city, Hong Kong

New York city, New York, USA

Today there are so many international companies that are well-known throughout the world. Because these companies are so popular, people expect to find them everywhere. An example of this kind of company is the food chain of McDonalds. In all urban cities, people expect to find a McDonalds. This is an example of a company that has engraved its name into the mandatory requirements of an urban city. Another reason for the homogenization of urban landscapes is the desire of modernization. Urban cities all desire to look modern because of the idea that the more modern they look, the more technologically advanced they seem. This architectural preference is known and seen throughout the globe. Numerous times, old architectural treasures are taken down in order to build new modernized buildings which is meant to show "development". These cities are also meant to be the center or capital of a region, which is why they are known to have numerous highways and roads that connect them to all the neighboring cities and towns. 

McDonalds in Madrid, Spain

The uniformity of urban landscapes is caused by the architectural preference of infrastructure, the necessity of commercial goods and food chains, and demand of certain aspects on infrastructure. The homogenization of the cityscapes has taken away the unique looks of the cities. In my opinion, I feel like all the cities try to mimic this idea of a "perfect urban city" that is meant to be the developed, modernized city. In the Philippines in the cities of Makati and Quezon, they take down all the traditional Filipino looking buildings and create modernized buildings that mimic those of Tokyo and Singapore. However, some urban cities value their individual architecture enough to preserve it. In the urban cities like Madrid and Barcelona in Spain,  they preserve the unique architectural features but still put in the common commercial demands of the people. They do this by adding a McDonalds, but putting it in a building that doesn't fit into the ideal look of a McDonalds restaurant. 

Photos: 
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Hong_Kong_cityscape_highlights-_International_Finance_Centre,_Central_District._Hong_Kong,_China,_East_Asia-3.jpg
http://madrilenian.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/5610750202_4_mcdonalds-corner-street.jpg