What does it mean to be the capital of a nation symbolically and how does that figure into the urban form of ‘capital’ cities. Traditionally a nation’s ‘capital’ is its seat of government---but the term has come to identify cities whose economic, cultural, or global status render them as, if not more, important than the recognized administrative center.

These four plates explore cities that have different roles in the identity of the nation in which they reside.  Three of them are former government capitals,  now capitals of other aspects of their nation’s identity with distinctive economic,  cultural, and tourism roles.  One is an artificial capital with a distinctive architectural  identity. All are interesting examples of urban form and the forces of national identity on city development.