You ask how I (and others) would describe it. But that's not the point. The point is, how would *you* describe it? Unless I (or others) am going to be the one writing the textbook, my words are irrelevant. Because you and I are different writers, I wouldn't even write the textbook. I'll offer a bit of an example, then leave it; perhaps someone else will take a stab at it.
I currently have a place that will have tall buildings. I'm not working off existing images because these are buildings built by elves and dwarves (different architectures). I have a couple of seedling ideas, but for the most part it's terribly vague. I'm fine with that. I'm in the camp that says all that matters is what my characters notice at the time they encounter these buildings, so I'll get to it when I get to it. How I describe it will be the result of how I as a writer am feeling at the time, and the exact circumstances of my characters at that moment in the story.
However. I also have a web site with lots of background information. I can very much imagine I might have a paragraph or so on how Urstadt looks. There I will be deliberately general in my descriptions, seeking to evoke more than delineate.
I remember listening to Peter Jackson talk about the choices they made for elvish and dwarvish architecture in LoTR. Elvish would be organic, flowing, graceful. Dwarvish would be more geometrical. I am quite certain his artists got only general suggestions like that to begin with, letting their imaginations carry them forward from there. That's how I choose to envision my relationship with my readers. General suggestions, and let their imaginations carry them forward, even though their vision will differ from mine. I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm great with that.
I currently have a place that will have tall buildings. I'm not working off existing images because these are buildings built by elves and dwarves (different architectures). I have a couple of seedling ideas, but for the most part it's terribly vague. I'm fine with that. I'm in the camp that says all that matters is what my characters notice at the time they encounter these buildings, so I'll get to it when I get to it. How I describe it will be the result of how I as a writer am feeling at the time, and the exact circumstances of my characters at that moment in the story.
However. I also have a web site with lots of background information. I can very much imagine I might have a paragraph or so on how Urstadt looks. There I will be deliberately general in my descriptions, seeking to evoke more than delineate.
I remember listening to Peter Jackson talk about the choices they made for elvish and dwarvish architecture in LoTR. Elvish would be organic, flowing, graceful. Dwarvish would be more geometrical. I am quite certain his artists got only general suggestions like that to begin with, letting their imaginations carry them forward from there. That's how I choose to envision my relationship with my readers. General suggestions, and let their imaginations carry them forward, even though their vision will differ from mine. I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm great with that.