Difference between revisions of "Port Sunlight"

Revision as of 07:59, 14 March 2007

The city of ‘’’Port Sunlight’’’ is the capital and largest city of the Serene Democratic People’s Fiefdom. Port Sunlight’s development over the past 490 years has resulted in an eclectic mix of architectural styles that are not necessarily complimentary to each other. This has earned the capital the nickname ‘’The City Which Planning Permission Forgot’’. Skyscrapers are a reasonably common sight in Port Sunlight, but are more prevalent only in certain newer districts with only a few examples in the city’s historic core. Port Sunlight has, therefore, spread out as well as up and only the recent provision of protected land has prevented the city from growing even further. The former Communist authorities, however, were always mindful of the needs for an efficient system of public transportation and Port Sunlight possesses an Underground Railway, bus service and an extensive tram network.

Urban Landscape

Port Sunlight is built in a series of concentric circles, each being sufficiently different to warrant the city’s nickname. The Old Quarter, the ancient heart of the city, is widely regarded by many citizens to be the most beautiful place in Port Sunlight, if not in the whole Fiefdom. Particular delights here are the vast Imperial Palace complex, now a museum, and the Grand Temple to Huitzilopochtli an Tlaloc. Though the Fiefdom has always considered itself to be a classless society, those that have made their fortune in the state-planned economy often possess townhouses in this Quarter. The majority of the city’s art galleries reside in this Quarter also, where former noble housing has provided excellent facilities. Most Port Sunlighters consider the destruction of historic buildings to be repellent, and it is for this reason that the Old Quarter has survived in such a preserved condition. A few examples, however, do exist to this rule with the most notable being the Anglican Cathedral (built during the early 20th Century) and the infamous Hotel Engels (a grim, concrete pyramid that besmirches the beauty of the Old Quarter and often the subject of numerous protests by Art Historians and conservationists). The Old Quarter is also home to the most expensive shops (communist rhetoric aside) in Port Sunlight, and its quiet bars and swish jazz clubs have always made the Old Quarter the ‘place to be seen’. The need for modern-large office complexes, however, means that the vast majority of government offices and ministries are not based in the Quarter. These are, instead, based in the European-inspired ‘White Sector’.

The White Sector, so named because it was constructed in limestone and not, as many would attest, due to the Caucasian builders. The White Sector is constructed in a mainly neo-classical design common in the great industrial and mercantile cities of the North of England. The White Sector is a relatively young district of the city, with the first stones being laid in the 1860s, but its close proximity to the Old Quarter has led many to conclude that it is much older. The Sector, despite its relative youth, is still frequented by tourists as it contains a number of the city’s more interesting sites. The vast Catholic Cathedral lies here, along with most foreign embassies and hotels. Housing in this area is of two differing styles. Those living closest to the Old Quarter (and able to afford the great rents that the city authorities impose in this area) live in a ‘layer-cake’ style arrangement. This arrangement, put simply, places residential apartments at the top of a building, with offices underneath and department stores at the bottom. As one moves away from the centre, former worker housing becomes prevalent. This is characterised by European style terrace housing and Aztec style white-washed bungalows. These neighbourhoods, once the preserve of the seemingly all-encompassing race war that was fought here during the Great Depression, were once badly decayed and the home to the outcasts and dispossessed of Port Sunlight life. Today, though, these houses are recently returned to fashion and a massive refurbishment project is restoring these buildings to their former glory.

The majority of the citizens of Port Sunlight live in the outermost district of the city, comprising the Soviet modernist style that more clearly demonstrates the Fiefdom allegiance during the Cold War more than anything else. This district, often nicknamed ‘’Noelgrad’’ in parody of the former Communist Dictator, may be unattractive to behold but the homes it contains have been extensively modernised and are quite comfortable by contemporary standards. Tourists rarely grace this area, for obvious reasons, though some do make the subway journey to the Palace of the National Soviet to view this impressive, if gaudy building and the workings of democracy within it. Noelgrad also contains the large Karl Marx Square which has overtaken the old Imperial Plaza as the main meeting place of the city and area for celebrations such as New Years Eve.

History

The city of New Tenochtitlan, to use Port Sunlight’s older and alternative name, was founded in 1514 by the errant nobleman, later Emperor, Huitzilhuitl II, making it the oldest city in the Fiefdom. In choosing the site for the city, Huitzilhuitl did not have to travel far from his original landing site at Blood Beach (now a popular tourist resort). Many of the older buildings in the city date from the first hundred years of New Tenochtitlan’s history, such as the catacombs of the Great Temple and certain areas of the Imperial Palace. The site expanded until the late 17th century when, fearful of attack by a neighbouring city during this time of relative lawlessness, constructed the mighty fortifications that signify the outer limits of the modern Old Quarter. The city continued to expand as the power of the Emperors grew during the 18th century, but such settlements were often only temporary in construction and exist only as archaeological remains. It was not until the industrialisation of the city during the mid to late 19th century that the next wave of building work commenced with the European-style White Sector. By now the Old Quarter had become dangerously overcrowded and epidemics of chorea were common, making the need for new properties all the more urgent, above and beyond the land needed for the proposed factories and mills. The White Sector continued to expand until the 1930s when, thanks to the economic collapse, all new building work ceased. It was not until Communist architects, under the supervision of their Soviet counterparts, began to construct ‘Socialist’ buildings that urban spread began again. This current phrase of growth is still continuing, and thus the spread of tower blocks continues undiminished.

Geography and Climate

Geography

Port Sunlight is situated on the River Chalco, some 40 miles from the Southern Coast of the Fiefdom at a point where the early settlers were able to cross. The land surrounding the site was mostly floodplain, with fertile soil for maize farming that was an important aspect of the pre-industrialised economy. The geology of Port Sunlight is mostly red sandstone, contributing to the deep reds of Old Quarter buildings, though the mountains to the north are mainly limestone. A significant coal seam also exists 80 miles to the east, in an area known as Zumpango, helping to contribute to the capital’s industrial past. Apart from these, Port Sunlight is a surprisingly low-lying city, save for a number of small hills (such as Temple Hill) which have become so urbanised that many people fail to notice these geographical features. The lack of hilly area has been a significant contributing factor to the city’s extensive growth, now estimated at over 540 square miles.

The river was once much broader and shallower than it currently is, and was once surrounded by marshlands. Extensive embanking over the course of several centuries have helped to tame the river, making it a popular destination for walks and boat trips. Its many tributaries now flow underground as a result.

Climate

Being on the Fiefdom’s southern coast, Port Sunlight has a reasonably temperate climate with summer temperatures consistently surpassing 30°C (86°F) in summer but with colder winters with temperatures often no higher than 0°C (32°F). Average precipitation is 598mm.

Economy

The economy of Port Sunlight is, like the rest of the country, centrally-planned which means that it does not suffer from the cyclical boom-and-bust that other, capitalist cities suffer. Within the context of a planned economy, though, Port Sunlight continues to exceed other cities in terms of financial and industrial output. This is mainly due to the workings of Government, which continue no matter what state the overall economy is in, but also the fact that Port Sunlight houses those commissions which manage the economy. This close proximity means that the economy of Port Sunlight is more efficient then other cities which suffer the effects of time and distance.

Tourism has, increasingly, become a central aspect of Port Sunlight’s economy and a new Ministry of Tourism has attempted to coordinate this industry and to adapt it to fit the overall economic picture. The introduction of democracy has also seen a spurring of Port Sunlight’s economy, as lobbyists and lawyers descend on the capital to influence politicians, more so since the economy is still planned, making the spoils available all the more attractive.

A Note on the Name

The capital of the Fiefdom is not unique for being in possession of two competing names. The older name, New Tenochtitlan, was the name of the city for most of its history and was so-named in order to create a link to the old Aztec capital. The industrialisation of New Tenochtitlan during the late nineteenth century, together with the construction of the White Sector, were not acts that were entirely favourable to the old nobility. One noble, whose identity has been lost in the mists of time, argued that the power of the European Industrialists, and the construction of buildings in a British style had resulted in a crisis of identity for the Mexica. The exact line that was supposed to have been said, according to sources, was 'New Tenochtitlan is nothing more than a pacific Port Sunlight. The reference to the British town, a workers village created at the behest of the Lords of Leverhume, was quickly adopted by the Aztecs as a criticism of the seeming European cultural invasion. The name Port Sunlight, however, so became so popular that, over time, it replaced the city's original name. Though both forms are acceptable, most people in the Fiefdom of either race refer to the city as Port Sunlight, a fact which makes the capital one of the few places in the world that is named after an insult.