HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE II MODULE

ST
NO. 8
A.Y. 2015-2016 1 Semester

TH
19 CENTURY ARCHITECTURE (EUROPE)
I. BRIEF BACKGROUND
- architecture was turned to the past, to the previous styles using them in a new approach
- it reflected the social ferment in both a return to the styles of the past eras and a highly
innovative search for means of expressing new ways of thinking and living
- the knowledge of different ancient/classical and medieval styles through books and
illustrations made it possible to revive old styles and incorporating these to contemporary
structures
- development of building materials and method of construction resulted to new building
types
- shift of patronage from the aristocracy to the „nouveau riche‟
- town planning and construction of high rise buildings was developed

II. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED THE DEV’T OF 19 CENTURY ARCHITECTURE IN EUROPE

A. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
- Begun in England about 1760, led to radical changes at every level of civilization
throughout the world
- An era of transition to new manufacturing process-going from hand production to
machines
- The growth of the heavy industry brought a flood of new building materials
- New materials brought new construction methods allowing to create new building
forms to take shape
 Extensive use of iron – for its economy and strength
 Development of plate glass, combined with iron for buildings put up for exhibitions
 Central heating, hot and cold water systems, sanitary plumbing system, elevators
and ventilation systems were incorporated in municipal, commercial and
residential buildings
- A new social order and the growth of population in industrial cities requires new
buildings with new functions
- Development of transportation and road networks, canals, tunnels and utility lines
- Housing development on urban areas to address massive population increase
- The rise of new great cities

SOCIAL CONDITION
- Triumph of the middle class of industrialist and businessmen over a landed class of
nobility and gentry
- Society was very static and cruel, child and hard labor were normal scenes on mills,
factories and mines, facilitating the organization of combinations or trade unions to
help advance the interest of the working people
- The increase in urban population due to opportunities of labor and employment
resulted to the need of mass urban housing
- URBAN SPRAWL

III. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

A. NEW STRUCTURE AND MATERIALS
- Inspired by Roman buildings, orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels,
- Greenhouses, covered markets and halls, exhibition pavilions, passages and utility
buildings were built of iron and steel
- Wood and stone were two natural materials, in addition were tiles that were produced
by industrial processes
- Iron began to qualify as building materials when it became possible for mass
production

Arch. Ralph Intal 1|P age

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE II MODULE
ST
NO. 8
A.Y. 2015-2016 1 Semester

- CAST AND WROUGHT IRON made possible to construct higher buildings and longer
spans of bridges and roofs
- IRON frame provided new possibilities leading away from the solid, block-like, closed
type of building, towards an open, linear, articulated frame
- STEEL made it possible to achieve spans wider, to build higher and develop ground
plans more flexible than ever before. GLASS in conjunction with iron and steel
enabled the possibility for whole roofs and whole walls transparent. REINFORCED
CONCRETE introduced at the end of the century combining the tensile strength of
steel with the strength of stone
- MODULES mass production of building parts resulted to regularization of sizes and
provided faster construction
- Materials were used as symbol for wealth –steel and glass construction

B. NEW FUNCTIONS AND BUILDING TYPES

- 19th century is considered to be the golden age of model collections of every
kind
- MODULAR DESIGN development of standard type which could serve as
example; large scale and faster phase of construction was made possible due
to availability of modules-ready to be assembles on site.
- It became the practice to make systematic comparisons between the cost of
each design in terms of construction, layout and style
- Architecture became standardized, regulated and quantified
- Buildings have a new social function more focused towards the benefit and
daily use of the public
- Functional planning and zoning of spaces
a. NATIONAL MONUMENTS
b. GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
c. THEATRES
d. LIBRARIES
e. MUSEUM
f. HOSPITALS AND PRISONS
g. BANKS AND WAREHOUSES, SHOPS AND STORES
h. MARKETHALLS
i. RAILWAY STATIONS
j. CONSERVATORIES AND EXHIBITION BUILDINGS

IV. ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

A. NEO-CLASSICISM
- Revival of the Classical Greek and Roman designs and motifs.
- After Baroque when the architectural taste turned to the calmer architectural details
- Classicism originated from the Latin language and refers to the Classical ancient art
and architecture
- Existed parallel with Late Baroque
- Clear-cut lines, monochrome surfaces, simple masses, antique, elementary
geometrical forms, contrasts emphasized by light and shade, regular colonnades and
porticos contrasting with great bare walls of simplicity and finally cupolas and barrel
vaults
- The style laid out buildings with its surroundings.

B. ROMANTICISM
- Originated from the French word „Roman‟ that means „novel‟
- Architects turned to the medieval styles, to the Romanesque and Gothic Styles using
semi-circular or pointed arches
- NEO-GOTHIC or GOTHIC REVIVAL

Arch. Ralph Intal 2|P age

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE II MODULE
ST
NO. 8
A.Y. 2015-2016 1 Semester

 Begun in England, pioneered by John Ruskin; one of the many stylistic revivals
that took palce in Europe and in America
 Gothic style was applied to private houses, office buildings, railroad stations,
hospitals and waterworks characterized by:
a. The use of cast iron for beams and columns, combined with glass cladding
b. The use of reinforce concrete and regular bay system

ARCHITECTS
1. VIOLLET-LE-DUC- a French architect who demonstrated in his massive and influential
publications how the principles of architecture could be interpreted and developed
through structural technology
2. AUGUSTUS PUGIN – leading theorist of the Gothic Revival

C. NEO-RENAISSANCE AND NEO-BAROQUE or ECLECTICISM

- Architects clients came from the middle class
- ECLECTISM originates from a Greek word, which means choosing according to
quality. Begun when the architects turned to the Renaissance style instead of the
Classical or medieval forms. The architecture became the coming and going of period
styles
- Fitting old styles (medieval and Classical) to new/contemporary buildings

D. ART NOVEAU
- Started with the ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT (England) – emphasizes the effect
of simple handicrafts and the beauty of natural materials
- JUGENDSTIL(Germany)
- ART LIBERTY or ART FLOREALE (Italy)
- SECESSION (Central Europe)
- Embodied a great reaction against the Beaux Arts Classicism which was widely
practiced in the 1870s-80s;
- Essentially a decorative style for special buildings and appropriate for ordinary building
functions

CHARACTERIZED BY:
 Whiplash line
 Abstracted biological and botanical decoration (vines, flowers, tendrils)
 Asymmetry
 Wide selection of materials

ARCHITECTS
1. VICTOR HORTA
- the initiator of Art Nouveau in Brussels
 TASSEL HOUSE (Victor Horta) 1892-1893 – outstanding in its synthesis of
architecture and the decorative arts and its declaration of new formal
principles
2. ANTONIO GAUDI
- became associated with the Catalan MODERNISTA movement; inspired by the Arts
and Craft Movement‟s reawakening of interest in the medieval crafts
 SAGRADA FAMILIA
 CASA MILA

V. HIGHLIGHTS
A. EARLY SKELETON BUILDINGS (Iron and Steel Structures)
- Iron skeleton is made to carry the whole weight of the building
- Early culmination of the iron-architecture was perceptible in the construction of
greenhouses made of iron and glasswork; elements could be fabricated industrially
and rapidly erected on a light foundation

Arch. Ralph Intal 3|P age

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE II MODULE
ST
NO. 8
A.Y. 2015-2016 1 Semester

- Unites the abilities of both engineer and architect, a genuine forerunner of

FUNCTIONALISM
 HENRI LABROUSTE – made the most effective use of structure integral with plan
and appearance
THE BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE

B. THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE ENGINEERS

- “humbler” structures (bridges, railroad stations, large halls for work and exhibition
- Made possible by the availability of new materials

C. THE GREAT EXHIBITIONS

- International industrial exhibitions which bring new inventions, displays and new
discoveries
- The most influential exhibitions include:
a. The First National Exhibition, France (1798)
b. The First International Exhibition, London (1851)
c. The Paris Exposition of 1889 - the first great international exhibition
- The structures that emerged from these exhibitions include
a. THE CRYSTAL PALACE (Sir Joseph Paxton)
b. THE EIFFEL TOWER (Gustave Eiffel)

Arch. Ralph Intal 4|P age