Thoughts about another view of Raleigh's skyline

Several months ago (it's been far too long since we paid the blog the attention it deserves) we wrote about some of the best views of Raleigh's skyline, including views from the Boylan Bridge and from McDowell Street. While they are very different views, each offer insights into the past, as well as the future, of the City of Oaks.

I recently discovered another view, from the 9th floor of the DH Hill library on NCSU's campus. It provides an interesting perspective on the discussion. The first thing evident in this view, is the linear, north-south orientation of Raleigh's downtown. The north end is comprised primarily of government buildings (City, County and State), while the south end is more business interests, as well as some residential. Also quickly evident is the overall flat terrain, with some rolling hills so common to the Piedmont region.

On the surface the image seems somewhat banal, with little information about Raleigh to share. For some reason, however the image kept returning to my mind. It felt like there was something there to discover, something to inform my understanding of the city. Going back to the image later in the day, my thoughts became somewhat more clear. Raleigh is not a city that was selected for its proximity to some predominant natural feature, such as a river or mountain. Nor is it a city that one thinks about as highly urbanized or dense. Yet in this image it appears to have a fairly urban core, with little visual evidence of urban sprawl.

The natural feature most prominent in Raleigh (clearly displayed in this image), is its densely-wooded nature, and subsequent tree canopy. The large population of Oak trees (for which the city receives its nickname, the City of Oaks), as well as other native species, provide a thick canopy over much of the city. This is true even in December, when most of the deciduous trees have shed their leaves. The canopy is so thick that it covers much of the lower density areas that prevail in Raleigh.

A trip up to the library wasn't necessary to glean this seemingly small observation, but maybe it caused me to think a little longer about the region as a whole (and the underlying disconnect between the various cities) than I otherwise would have. I began to think that maybe in this instance the lesson to be learned is less about what I do see, and more about what I don't see.

In the visually-biased and visually-dominated society that we live in, it makes sense to consider the role that visual connections play in our sense of belonging, especially to a particular area such as the triangle. For example, when entering the woods, one only needs to walk a short distance before a feeling of seclusion and isolation ensues, despite the short distance traveled. Maybe this lack of visual reciprocity is one small part of the explanation to why Raleigh struggles to claim its role as the capital city within the triangle, not to mention throughout the state. Or why people living outside the beltline describe going "downtown" like an all day event to some distant, foreign destination. Or why the region as a whole is often described as the triangle and rarely as the Raleigh metro area. Maybe this tells us something about how crucial the role of sight is in design of all sorts. Or, maybe it tells us nothing at all.