INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Architecture in the Industrial Revolution

  • The Industrial Revolution began in England around 1760 and lasted until sometime between 1820 and 1840.

  • It involved the transition from hand production to machine production, new chemical manufacturing, and iron production processes.

  • The increasing use of steam power, the development of machine tools, and the rise of the factory system led to radical changes worldwide.

  • Urbanization led to overcrowded cities with poor living conditions for the working class.

  • Factory work introduced long hours, dangerous conditions, and child labor.

  • The rise of a middle class and economic inequality marked a shift in social structures.

  • Women and children entered the workforce, often in poor conditions and for lower wages.

  • New technologies revolutionized industries and transportation, increasing production and efficiency.

  • Consumerism grew, especially among the middle class, while leisure activities became more common.

  • Traditional rural lifestyles and crafts were replaced by industrial farming and factory-based production.

Key Inventions and Developments

  • Textile Machinery:

    • Inventions like the flying shuttle and spinning jenny revolutionized textile production.

  • Steam Power:

    • James Watt's improved steam engine design significantly boosted the use of steam power across various industries.

  • Iron Production:

    • Coke replaced charcoal in iron production, lowering costs and increasing production.

  • Communication and Transportation:

    • The telegraph system and steam engine locomotives modernized communication and transportation.

Characteristics of Architecture in the Industrial Revolution

  • Use of New Materials:

    • The use of iron, steel, and glass became prevalent.

  • Function over Aesthetics:

    • Emphasis on functionality rather than aesthetics.

    • Example: Factories

  • Prefabrication:

    • Standardized, mass-produced components allowed for faster and more efficient construction.

  • Mechanization:

    • The use of machinery, like steam-powered tools, increased productivity and reduced labor costs.

Major Applications in Construction

  • Railroads

  • Bridges

    • Example:

      • London Paddington Station, London, England

      • The Iron Bridge, Ironbridge, England

Impact of Industrial Revolution on Architecture

  • New building materials, including steel and reinforced concrete, revolutionized the building construction industry.

  • Architects discovered the capacity to design structures with previously unheard-of heights and spans, leading to the creation of skyscrapers and enormous public spaces.

  • Mass production of glass led to larger windows and innovative structures like the Crystal Palace.

Revival Architecture in England During the Industrial Revolution

  • The Industrial Revolution in England (starting around 1760) introduced new materials like cast iron, steel, and glass, which impacted architecture and urban planning.

  • This led to new building types like factories and railway stations and influenced architectural styles like Gothic Revival.

    • Example: Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster), London, England

  • Gothic Revival:

    • Gothic architecture, with its soaring heights and spiritual associations, was deemed appropriate for Protestant churches, emphasizing their religious significance.

      • Example: The Church of England (Anglican Church), England, United Kingdom.

  • Greek Revival:

    • The classical simplicity and monumental quality of Greek architecture were seen as conveying stability, trustworthiness, and financial strength, making it suitable for banks.

      • Example: Bank of England, London, United Kingdom.

  • Egyptian Revival:

    • Egyptian architecture, with its associations with death and the afterlife, was chosen for cemeteries, creating a sense of solemnity and permanence.

  • Baroque Revival:

    • Baroque architecture, with its grandeur and dramatic ornamentation, was considered fitting for Roman Catholic churches, reflecting the power and opulence of the Catholic Church.

  • Palladian Revival:

    • Palladian architecture, based on the designs of Andrea Palladio, was associated with order, harmony, and rationality, making it fitting for institutions like government buildings or civic centers.

  • Renaissance Revival:

    • The Renaissance style, with its emphasis on humanism and learning, was considered appropriate for libraries, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge.

Prominent Buildings in England

  • Crystal Palace:

    • Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton.

    • A magnificent glass and iron structure originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851.

    • Symbolized the Industrial Revolution and advancements in technology and design.

    • Destroyed by fire on November 30, 1936.

  • The Tower Bridge:

    • Built between 1886 and 1894 during a period of significant growth for London's trade and shipping.

    • Its distinctive Gothic Revival style was chosen to complement the nearby Tower of London.

    • Architect: Sir Horace Jones

    • Civil Engineer: Sir John Wolfe Barry

  • St. Pancras Station:

    • Known for its beautiful Victorian Gothic architecture.

    • Serves as the terminus for Eurostar services, connecting London to destinations in continental Europe, such as Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

    • Key architects: George Gilbert Scott and William Henry Barlow.

Revival Architecture in France During the Industrial Revolution

  • While industrial architecture was rising, there was a resurgence of revival architectural styles.

  • These styles were rooted in historical references and often used classical or Gothic elements, creating a contrast with the modernity of industrial architecture.

  • Notable revival styles included Neoclassical Revival and Baroque Revival.

    • Example: The Eiffel Tower (1889), Paris, France, designed by Gustave Eiffel.

  • Neo-Classical Revival:

    • Inspired by the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.

    • French architectural thought was influenced by the imaginative projects of Étienne-Louis Boullée and Claude Nicholas Ledoux.

      • Example: Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans, Doubs department of Eastern France (1775 and 1779).

  • Baroque Revival:

    • The style is monumental and considered Second-Empire Beaux-Arts style with axial symmetry in plan and eclectic exterior ornamentation with an abundance of Neo-Baroque decorative elements.

      • Example: The Palais Garnier, Paris, France (1861 - 1875).

      • Features elaborate multicolored marble friezes, columns, and lavish statuary, many of which portray deities of Greek mythology.

Revival Architecture in the United States During the Industrial Revolution

  • The Industrial Revolution in the late 18th and 19th centuries significantly impacted the US economy, transitioning from manual to wage labor.

  • This led to technological and manufacturing improvements, influenced by Samuel Slater's textile manufacturing, Eli Whitney's cotton gin invention, and Erie Canal construction.

  • Greek Revival:

    • Late 18th-century US architects turned to Greek and Roman prototypes due to disenchantment with baroque, rococo, and neo-Palladianism.

    • Greek aspects were strong until 1850, with new settlements given Greek names and Greek revival style applied to public buildings and townhouses.

      • Example: A.B. Young: Custom House, Boston, 1837-47.

    • The Greek Revival was a national style in the United States, dominating American architecture from 1818-1850, influenced by classical tradition and democracy.

    • Adaptable and permeated all building levels, influencing all regions.

      • Example: Boston’s grandiose Trinity Church (1872-1877).

    • Steel's application led to reinforced and post-tensioned concrete, enabling high-rise and bridge construction due to its combination of strength in tension and compression.

      • Example: The Eads Bridge, St. Louis, MO.

Prominent Buildings in the United States

  • The Chrysler Building (1930)

    • Located on E 42nd St. and Lexington Ave in Midtown Manhattan, New York City

    • A famous Art Deco structure that opened in 1930.

    • Notable features include a crown of eagle gargoyles, decorative sunbursts, a steel frame around windows, and distinctive gargoyle ornamentation.

  • The Woolworth Building (1913 - 1930)

    • Located on 233 Broadway in the Financial District of Manhattan.

    • Designed by Cass Gilbert.

    • Was the headquarters of the F.W. Woolworth Company in New York City.

    • Stood as the world's tallest building from 1913 to 1930, during the height of the first skyscraper boom.

  • The Chicago Federal Center (1950 - 1960)

    • Located at 14 W. Jackson Blvd in downtown Chicago, IL.

    • Designed by Walter Netsch and Helmut Jahn.

    • A revivalist architectural complex built from the 1950s to 1960s on the site of the old Chicago Daily News Building.

  • American Radiator Building (1924)

    • Located by the corner of W 34th St and 6th Av, Midtown Manhattan, New York.

    • Built by Warren and Wetmore as the company's original home.

    • Known for its distinctive sunburst elements and considered a significant Chicago school design building.

Architecture at the Beginning of the 20th Century

  • The emergence of Modernism and the numerous responses to it constitute the primary architectural narrative in the twentieth century.

ART NOUVEAU

  • Characterized by organic forms, flowing lines, and elaborate ornamentation, Art Nouveau sought to blend art and functionality.

  • Combining craftsmanship with creative expression, art nouveau became a precursor of modernist architecture in the 20th century

  • CASA MILA- Antoni Gaudi's most iconic work of civic architecture

  • HOTEL TASSEL- the founding work of Art Nouveau in Brussels.

  • SECESSION BUILDING- A.K.A Jugendstil in German

ART DECO

  • A style that emerged in the 1920s, characterized by bold geometric patterns and vibrant colors, influencing architecture, fashion, and interior design.

  • Developed post-World War I, celebrating modernity, luxury, and technological progress.

  • Influenced by Cubism, Egyptian revival, and machine-age aesthetics

  • CHRYSLER BUILDING- By William Van Alen; Iconic terraced crown, stainless steel details, and automobile-inspired ornamentation.

  • EMPIRE STATE BUILDING- Tall, streamlined design with setbacks and Art Deco motifs

BAUHAUS

  • Founded by Walter Gropius, this school emphasized functional design and the integration of art and technology, profoundly impacting architecture and design.

  • Advocated for simplicity, functionalism, and mass production.

  • Merged Modernism with technology, rejecting excessive ornamentation.

  • BAUHAUS SCHOOL- Glass curtain walls, flat roofs, and functionalist design

  • FAGUS FACTORY- Early example of modern industrial architecture with extensive glass façades

  • BARCELONA PAVILION- Minimalist design using steel, glass, and marble.

INTERNATIONAL STYLE

  • Architectural movement characterized by minimalism and a focus on volume over mass, utilizing industrial materials such as steel and glass.

  • Developed in the 1920s–30s, influenced by Bauhaus but embraced worldwide. Promoted by architects Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Philip Johnson.

  • Became the dominant style for corporate buildings and skyscrapers

  • Villa Savoye- By Le Corbusier; Embodied the “Five Points of Architecture, ” featuring pilotis, ribbon windows, and open planning.

  • Seagram Building- By Mies van der Rohe; Sleek glass-and-steel skyscraper emphasizing simplicity and proportion.

  • UN Headquarters- A functional, glass-curtain-walled tower with open public spaces.

ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE

  • an approach that emphasizes harmony between human habitation and nature.

  • FALLING WATER- FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

  • CASA MILA- ANTONI GAUDI

  • SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE- JORN UTZON

Revival Architecture

  • “Eclectic Movement”

  • The building designs of this era were intended to be more exact versions of earlier architectural styles and traditions.

  1. GOTHIC R.ARCH.- dictated the use of structural members in compression

  2. COLONIAL R.ARCH.- One of the most frequently produced and enduring popular styles in western world

  3. TUDOR R.ARCH.-mixture of early and Medieval English building

  4. COLLEGIATE GOTHIC R.ARCH.- for educational building

  5. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE R.ARCH.- developed at the very

    end of the Victorian period

  6. SPANISH COLONIAL R.ARCH.- also known as the Spanish Eclectic style

Famous Revivalist Building of 20th Century

  • Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi

  • AEG Turbine Factory by Peter Behrens

  • Pennsylvania Railway Station by McKim, Mead & White

  • Lincoln Memorial by Henry Bacon

  • Stockholm City hall by Ragnar Östberg

  • 55 Broadway by Cass Gilbert

Characteristics of Architecture In The Beginning of 20th Century

  • Geometric Forms

  • Open Floor Plans

  • Minimalist Ornamentation

  • Integration of Nature

  • Canopy and Terraced Roofs

  • Reinforced Concrete

  • Steel Frame Construction

  • Glass Curtain Walls