A Closer look on Industrial Revolution, American Colonial, and Asian Colonial Architecture

2 weeks ago, we were asked by Mrs. Funk to complete a report regarding topics on Industrial revolution architecture, Asian colonial architecture and American colonial architecture, and with all that information find something that binds them together, as well as the ideas that separate them.

So we shall begin by discussing firstly, the industrial revolution architecture. The industrial revolution was the time of the rise of machines. This meant the beginning of factories, the rise of mass produced products. In that era of mass produced parts and products, did the kind of materials used in Architecture start to evolve. It was not the design of the buildings  that underwent a drastic change, but it was the kind of materials used. Architecture was, at that time, the age of Revivals. This was the era in which there was the recreation in building facades of all the past Architectural eras, from Romanesque and Gothic to the Baroque and Rococo era.  The spawning of the Industrial Revolution signified the change in the use of materials, not the design. Here was the introduction of a more scientific approach to Architecture, where engineering and Architecture began to separate, where there was the taking into account the alternative ways to construct buildings while maximizing cost and efficiency.

One of the main changes made in the Industrial revolution was the change of use of conventional building techniques and materials, through the addition of the re-bar, and emphasis on the use of steel as one of the primary building materials. The explosion in the development of iron and steel structures was driven initially by the advance of the railroads. Upon its use, steel displayed impressive strength, and it was the strongest, most versatile form of iron. It was used extensively throughout – and since – because it had a tensile and compressive strength greater than any material previously available, and its capabilities have revolutionized architecture since.

While this revolution was taking place within  Europe, in another part of the world, where colonial rule is but firmly established in Asian, Caucasian and African continents, Architecture in itself was evolving according to where it was located.

Architecture was a means by colonizers to express the power and ambition of their respective empires and their intention to bring these colonies into their state of modernity.

In the picture above is the map of the United States during the time of the Colonial Era, and which specific colonies ruled which specific areas in the United States.

By the time the Industrial Revolution started,  the Colonial rule was already two hundred plus years in the running. Architecture during the colonial rule had a mixture of Western Architecture as well as “New World” Architecture. The merging of the two resulted in an architecture unique in itself that has come to be Colonial Architecture. Materials found in Colonized land was used in building structures. Parallel to that, the designs of the buildings were altered to suit the topography and geography of each location, although it took centuries for colonizers to finally realize how geography, climate and topography significantly influence architecture.

In another light, looking closely, American Colonial Architecture does resemble Revival Architecture, consequently Industrial Architecture as well. It seems to be in a way, revival architecture, without the revivals. It seems to be the bare facade in which the revival features are built on. Logically this could be so because of the budget constraints of colonization as well as the kind of materials available for construction.

Asian Colonial Architecture, interestingly, came before the rise of Industrial Architecture. As early as 1521 in SouthEast Asia did colonizers see potential colonies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, in Maynmar, in Vietnam and many other Asian Countries.

In Myanmar, the British colonists filled cities with neo-gothic, neo-renaissance infrastructure. Hanoi, they say, epitomizes French colonization from French intention to have it look like Paris, with results that are seen until today. Today, Hanoi is still dominated by grand boulevards surrounded by beautiful colonial villas, mansions and impressive buildings.

Jakarta, in Indonesia is another example of a city whose architectural character was influenced by precedent colonizers. It’s old-town bears a strong hint of Holland with houses dating back to the 1600’s. Much of Indonesia’s building structures involved the use of masonry.

In our very own Philippines, Manila’s Intramuros and the wonderful city of Vigan,both bring us back into ancient Spanish times, showcasing cobble-stoned streets, houses with iron balconies and elegant baroque churches. Indeed here is where some of the world’s finest examples of Spanish baroque is demonstrated.

Looking at all these 3 Architectural Styles and the era with which they developed, you once again, go back to the grand scheme of things. Once again this lesson solidifies the idea of how much Architecture is so so closely and finely interconnected with life and with history. Since it is an art, it is manifested from ideologies held by the Collective Population of the time. In the Industrial Revolution did people see the possibility to widen the use of materials, due to the introduction of the idea of mass-production and the expansion of scientific fields. Colonizers believed that Architecture should reflect the power and authority of each’s respective Kingdom, and that belief definitely manifested itself through Architecture.

You come to realize too, since the term here of Histarc2 is nearing its end, how effective the teaching style was for us this term. Not merely in teaching us simple architectural history, but also teaching us to see what it teach us as future architects. It allowed me to see the Big Picture, and how architecture truly reflects Humanity’s Collective Consciousness. And again, in looking to the past will you know how to create your ideal future. What I am curious to see, is how we, as the future generation of Architects can generate an ideological archetype -another a la Bauhaus, a la Renaissance – that changes the course of not just architecture, but life as an entirety. We’ll just have to wait and see.