An obelisk, a domed Capitol and low classical monuments on a mostly open horizon.
Washington, D.C. is easiest to read through Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, and Lincoln Memorial. The capital's monumental axis is built from an obelisk, a dome and low classical buildings. A clean stone obelisk rises as the tallest, simplest shape in the frame. A broad classical building is topped by a large ribbed dome. A low rectangular temple adds a strong horizontal base on the river side. The skyline stays deliberately low, so the Washington Monument and Capitol dome do almost all of the recognition work. This is a composition of civic landmarks rather than a commercial downtown. If the outline has an obelisk, a domed capitol and low classical monuments on a mostly open horizon, choose Washington, D.C.. The combination matters more than any single building, especially when the skyline is simplified into one clean game silhouette.