| Statement of the problem. The purpose of this study was two-fold. It examines the possible long-term use of signature architecture as a catalyst for urban redevelopment through the relevant literature and an examination of proposals for new downtown projects in several Western United States cities, and, through an online survey, collected data on visitor motivations and opinions of signature architecture. This dissertation was designed to indicate possible directions for the future of urban design and the purposeful inclusion of signature architecture in the design process.;Sources of data. Seventy persons responded on an online survey made available in February of 2007. Respondents were contacted through online groups interested in tourism, architecture and photography.;Conclusions reached. The 1997 opening of the Guggenheim Bilbao prompted a surge in civic architecture designed by big-name architects. This "signature architecture" and the related phenomenon of the well-researched "Bilbao Effect," created a new subset of tourism, architourism (architecture as a destination for tourism). The potential for the long-term sustainability of signature architecture in urban design and the motivations for visitation had not yet been explored.;It was concluded that while it is unlikely that a future project will have the significance of the Guggenheim Bilbao, signature architecture will continue to be a desired element in urban design. This is evidenced by the noticeable and well-publicized granting of commissions to big-name architects for key pieces in new urban plans for several Western cities. This not only shows a potential for long-term interest in signature architecture, but also shows an increased interest in this form of design by city planners and the public.;In the visitor study, it was concluded that respondents felt that signature architecture positively affected the building's geographic region and its function (the purpose the building was designed for). Respondents also felt that visiting signature architecture was more akin to visiting a work of art rather than visiting a (standard) building, which is significant in defining signature architecture as a separate subset of tourism. |
