Architecture in Las Vegas

Sunday, October 14, 2012

                To continue talking about the adventures from this weekend, we cruised the majority of the Las Vegas Strip. The neon lights glowed so brightly that it really wouldn’t be necessary for one to use his or her headlights. Growing up in Vegas it has been interesting to see the structural changes of the Strip. The most phenomenal, in my eyes, had been the addition of City Center, The Wynn, and the Bellagio. These three locations are multibillion dollar projects have beautified the stereotypical, neon skyline of Vegas. The architectural characteristics of platinum, gold, glass, and post modernism have brought back some of the class that Vegas had lost. This had added to the new idea that Las Vegas is world marketplace. Despite the high homeless rate in Las Vegas, the Strip symbolizes that of a high society. I feel that it is very ironic. The community struggles to keep its homeless population fed and sheltered since there are simply not enough jobs to go around, yet to outsiders, Vegas is a place where crazy adventures can happen and a popular destination for high class experiences. The architecture defines this.

                Compared to Reno, Las Vegas is certainly more upscale and that of a “perfect society.” But when it is compared to regular cities, Vegas can be described as a “show.” It is always about the tourism and gambling. The city that lives on 24/7 watch.

                Las Vegas has a plethora of architecture styles. Some architects tried to give credit to past architecture styles like the Venetian and Caesar’s Palace; however, other architects tried creating a new style like City Center and the Wynn. Thus, Las Vegas’s architecture also lends a hand at giving it a sense of worldly cultures. That to me is one of the best things about Las Vegas. It is so open to literally ever culture that is brought to it. The different themed buildings—Egyptian, East Coast, Venetian, modern, French, etc.—make world travelers feel emerged into an experience unlike any other.

                There is just so much that the architecture says about Las Vegas. And for me, it just says “home.”