Architects’ Journal has cooked up a list of the greatest illustrated urban spaces. More than a backdrop for the action, comic book cities like Gotham City and Urbicand (pictured above) are integral characters within their stories. Some illustrators also use the built form to creatively communicate the action within space (via Book Oven).
Image: Chris Ware’s Chicago from Architects’ Journal.
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If you had visited the Montreal in the 60s at the CCA you would have seen illustrations of a future Montreal that none of us would recognize… or want to live it. Examples include tearing down the Plateau east of St-Laurent to build UQAM, a tower-lined street called Parc/Bleury (think Cavendish around cavendish mall), and many, many more disasters in-the-making. Lucky for us we stopped before too much “urban renewal” damage was done tot he fabrix of our city (we recognize that MUCH damage was done: hello La Cité)
I’ve always loved the whole series of imaginary cities created by Schuiten – Urbicand is just one of them, most of his other books are also based on fantastical cities.