INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

INTRODUCTION
Industrial impact on Architecture

Architects of Industrial era

INDUSTRIAL IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE

The Industrial Revolution, which began in England about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and
1840, led to radical changes at every level of civilization throughout the world.
The growth of heavy industry brought a flood of new building materialssuch as cast iron,
steel, and glasswith which architects and engineers devised structures hitherto undreamed
of in function, size, and form.
The need for fancy architecture left and the need for industrial architecture took place. Instead
of beautifully made buildings that were designed to impress buildings were made with just the
industry in mind. No fancy types of architecture just plain architecture that was created to make
sure that the facility worked efficiently.
The movement is characterized by people
leaving work on farms and beginning an urban existence.

INDUSTRIAL IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE

increased the
weaving speeds
which lead to a
higher demand for
yarn, which in turn
lead to further
inventions to
increase speed on
yarn.

These processes were

mechanized, using steam
engines. The increase in
steam engines, which were
powered by coal, needed
large amounts of coal at
first so the designers
continued work on them,
making them more and
more efficient.

The increase of coal powered machines

required more coal to be mined
The invention of STEAM ENGINE sped the
rapid industrial revolution

WHY IT HAPPENED IN BRITAIN

SCIENCE
The decrease of Church influence on peoples lives
Britain's political system : Anyone with a vision simply had to find someone to finance and build
their project. absolute monarchy had been abolished so by the time of the industrial revolution
the British government was the most independent government in Europe.
ENERGY
The rampant development of scientific factors in creating machines, coal became one of the most
sought resources to keep the engine running
FINANCE.
No other nation had a naval power anywhere near that of Britain during this period because
they usually invested in territorial armies to march across, or defending against those who
marched across, Europe so as to protect their trade around the world and in the Americas

THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Machinery: less manual labor was needed
Building of factories : villagers moved to cities
Forced labor : 75% of factory workers were
women and children over 8 years old where
children could reach jammed machines and
are easy to manipulate.
Organized Unions : working conditions were
increased with the help of unions created
after upraises in the early 1800s.
Change of class system becoming richer:
Middle Class : salesmen and tradesmen
Upper Class : land owners
Environmental Implications: So with more and more factories appearing in cities the increase in
air pollution was extremely
visible and resulted in large amounts of deaths due to acid rain, soot deposits, increased carbon
dioxide and carbon monoxide levels

TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERIALS

CAST IRON
The least processed form
brittle due to a high percentage of impurities.
It still displayed impressive compressive
strength
Gardeners warehouse, Glasgow, 1856
used as columns in factories over masonry meant that columns could be considerably smaller
whilst taking the same load hereby lightening the entire construction consequently allowing for
buildings to be built taller.
replaced the use of wood columns in factories and mills because it was believed that it was fire
proof and could therefore withstand the high temperatures of fire that occurred frequently due
to very early machines fed by coal.
Because it was cast (melted down into a liquid and poured into a mold) it could take any shape
or form.
Entire facades could be made out of cast iron off site and brought to the building by road, canal
and railroad.

TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERIALS

WROUGHT IRON
more refined form of iron, malleable, though
with low tensile strength
Weaker than cast iron in compression
Mainly used for bridges
Advantages
Allowed fireproofing systems
Increased beam span
Creation of sections we still use today (I,L
and T sections)
Disadvantages
Could only be made in small section (up to
50 Kg)

The High Level Bridge (1846 - 1849)

TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERIALS

STEEL
was the strongest, most versatile form of iron. Through
a conversion process, all of the impurities were
burned out of the iron ore, then precise amounts
of carbon were added for hardness. Steel had
tensile and compressive strength greater than any
material previously available, and its capabilities
would revolutionize architecture.
GLASS
The new system of blowing glass meant that larger windows could be used in the building
industry creating larger windows for factories to allow the workers to more natural sunlight.
A major advantage of the new process was that glass panels could be made in bigger sizes
meaning that windows and roof elements that used to be made of two or three sheets that
overlapped could now be made of single sheet.

new materials were being used in the building industry and allowed from major
shifts in architectural design.
Creating longer spans, higher floor heights and bigger openings.

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
RETAIL
glazed and displayed what was sold
inside and in 1762 with the ban of hanging signs
shops.
This created the model of the shops that we still use
today
Commercial centers that housed multiple shops were
born.
By 1830 most cities had these bazars, they were
large emporiums, home to a number of traders selling
a variety of goods.

Designed by Sydney
Smirke in 1834
Pantheon on Oxford
Street, London

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly, London,
designed by Samuel Ware and opened
in 1818

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
Covent Garden Market
designed by Charles Fowler, master of
market design and an expert in the use
of cast iron.
rationalised the complex interactions of
the market giving growers, buyers,
wholesalers and retailers defined
zones.
arcade is interrupted at the corners by
pyramid-roofed pavilions designed as
pubs or coffee houses.
Above, at
each end, were terraces where more
exclusive goods were sold to high class
customers.

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
CRYSTAL PALACE,
the main exhibition hall that would host
the great exhibition now known
as world expo.
Built in 1851 by a gardener and
architect Sir Joseph Paxton
The new design was of such a large
scale that it meant taking up a large
amount of Hyde Park in London, a
place that was very popular for locals.

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
CRYSTAL PALACE; IMPACT
It was designed as a modular
construction and was partially
the reason why Sir
Paxton won the tender
Ridge and furrow method roof
because it meant a rapid
construction and could be
disassembled.
The sheer scale and speed of
witch it was erected pulled in
locals
with a thirst for knowledge. It
really was a revolutionary
building even though it was
designed by a
gardener it was quite clearly
a proof of British industrial

Different use of girders

semicircular central roof

Column as RWDP
Project Gutenberg images

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
IRON BRIDGE
When it opened in 1779 over
the river seven it was
revolutionary. It was the first
large construction to be built
entirely of
metal.
inspired everything from
bridges to skyscrapers.
With a span of 30.5 meters
and a clearance below of 18
meters
led the way in engineering
and architecture for
decades after.

IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
IRON BRIDGE
When it opened in 1779 over
the river seven it was
revolutionary. It was the first
large construction to be built
entirely of
metal.
inspired everything from
bridges to skyscrapers.
With a span of 30.5 meters
and a clearance below of 18
meters
led the way in engineering
and architecture for
decades after.

REFERENCES

Urban Pattern 6th Edition. Simon Eisner. Arthur Gallion and Stanley Eisner
http://science.jrank.org/pages/1073/Building-Design-Architecture-IndustrialRevolution-new-materials.html