| Through a detailed examination of the terrain features of Tianjin, China, and a comprehensive analysis of the local architectural concept and structure,this paper aims to study the development of the architectural milieu in Tianjin. This paper focuses on the contemporary period between 1860 and 1949 with backdrop of technological advancement in material science.Contemporary Chinese architecture is rooted in clay-based material with more than 90% of all contemporary buildings in Tianjin being made from clay bricks. Bricks were used in various aspects of a building, providing structure, texture, and interior layout. Understanding clay-brick as a medium is therefore a critical part of understanding the underlying architectural concept. Following the introduction, this paper begins Section 2 with the characteristics of clay-bricks and provides a thorough study of the manufacturing development, physical properties, architectural applications, and visual properties, in an attempt to serve as a foundation for the sections on architectural technology and philosophy to follow. Section 3 contextualizes clay-bricks in the greater theme of contemporary Chinese architectural development. This section dissects the historical background, architectural technology and evolution in architectural philosophy. Section 4 and 5 center around the thesis of this paper and provide a discussion on the cultural, historical and technological context of contemporary Tianjin through an empirical analysis of historical documents and on-site research. These two sections attempt to summarize the three key factors propelling the development of architecture in Tianjin and the major themes throughout this development.This paper not only aims to provide a summary of the key categories of Tianjin's architectural development, but also a discussion of the historical, technological and philosophical forces behind this transformation metamorphosis through this period... |
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