what makes a building an icon for its

[FORE-LINE]

what makes a building become an icon for its surrounding environment?

[JWmHarmon]

1. Visual distinctiveness
2. Scale
a. Human
b. Monumental
3. How it fits in with its neighbors
a. Blends in
b. Stark contrast
c. Combination of a and b
4. Inviting atmosphere - that quality that says, "Come on in and stay a while."
5. Well organized use of space.
6. Appeal to the cultural sensitivities of the majority of people who see or use the building.

[steveA]

I'm not in total agreement with the above post. Sometimes an icon posesses these attributes, sometimes not. Rarely is an icon a project that blends in . It usually, if not always stands out in some way....either visually, or in other ways such as projecting a new, higher level of quality, or providing a new function.