Every city tells a story.

Some tell their story through architecture. Others tell it through transportation networks, public spaces, or the people who live there. As I have worked to build N Scale City, I have drawn inspiration from several cities that have left a lasting impression on me. While N Scale City is not a replica of any real place, many of its ideas, architectural styles, and planning concepts were inspired by cities that I admire.

Toronto

Toronto will always be my greatest source of inspiration.

As the city where I grew up, Toronto sparked my fascination with architecture, transportation, and urban planning. I spent countless hours exploring downtown, riding the subway, and admiring the city’s skyline.

What I appreciate most about Toronto is its architectural diversity. Historic buildings stand alongside modern glass towers, creating a skyline that reflects generations of growth and change. Landmarks such as the CN Tower, First Canadian Place, Scotiabank plaza, Aura at College Park, and the city’s many downtown spires helped shape my appreciation for tall buildings and distinctive skylines.

Toronto’s extensive subway, commuter rail, and streetcar systems also taught me how important transportation is to a successful city. The ability to connect people to jobs, education, shopping, entertainment, and recreation is one of the defining characteristics of a great urban center.

New York City

New York City inspired my appreciation for density and verticality.

Few places in the world can match the dramatic skyline of Manhattan. What fascinates me most is the way buildings from different eras coexist within the same city. Art Deco masterpieces stand beside modern office towers, creating a rich architectural landscape that feels alive and constantly evolving.

Buildings such as the Chrysler Building, 53W53, 270 Park Avenue, and Empire State Building helped fuel my love for Art Deco architecture. Their elegant setbacks, decorative crowns, and soaring spires transformed skyscrapers into works of art rather than simply places to work.

New York also demonstrated how transportation and development are interconnected. The city’s extensive subway system makes it possible for millions of people to move efficiently through one of the most densely populated urban environments in the world.

Chicago

Chicago is one of America’s great architectural cities.

The city’s skyline combines historic elegance with modern innovation. Chicago’s influence can be seen throughout N Scale City, particularly in my appreciation for tall towers with distinctive crowns, setbacks, and strong vertical lines.

Chicago is also home to some of the world’s most influential skyscrapers and architectural achievements. The city helped pioneer the modern skyscraper, and its skyline reflects more than a century of architectural experimentation.

What I admire most is the contrast between old and new. Art Deco towers, modern glass buildings, historic churches, rail infrastructure, and public spaces all work together to create a city with tremendous character.

Chicago’s extensive rail network and transportation infrastructure have also influenced how I think about integrating trains and transit into an urban environment.

Charlotte

Charlotte may be smaller than Toronto, New York, or Chicago, but it has one of the most impressive modern skylines in North America.

What attracts me to Charlotte is the city’s contemporary architecture. Many of its skyscrapers feature distinctive crowns, illuminated tops, and dramatic silhouettes that stand out both during the day and at night. The skyline demonstrates that modern architecture can be bold, elegant, and visually interesting without abandoning functionality.

Charlotte’s skyline has inspired several of the contemporary towers that appear in N Scale City. I particularly appreciate how the city combines modern glass-and-steel construction with thoughtful lighting and architectural details that make individual buildings recognizable from a distance.

Bringing It All Together

N Scale City is not Toronto. It is not New York, Chicago, or Charlotte.

Instead, it draws inspiration from each of them.

From Toronto comes my appreciation for transit and urban planning. From New York comes my love of density and Art Deco architecture. From Chicago comes my admiration for skyscraper design and rail infrastructure. From Charlotte comes my appreciation for modern towers, illuminated crowns, and contemporary skylines.

Together, these influences help shape the city I am building today.

My goal is not to recreate a specific place, but to capture the qualities that make great cities memorable: beautiful architecture, efficient transportation, vibrant neighborhoods, and skylines that inspire the imagination.

Until next time, keep building, keep imagining, and keep the trains moving.

— Kenneth
N Scale City by MetroScale