The beauty of Tianjin's architectures
A short distance away from the political center of Beijing, Tianjin's proximity to the capital city is a crucial factor for its recent urban development. In Tianjin after 1860, several countries including France, the US, Germany, Japan, Russia, Austria, Italy, and Belgium established foreign concessions. In fact, in Asia, the only foreign concessions established by Italy, Belgium and Austria were to be found in Tianjin, hence marking the city's unique position in the modern history of the world. Construction was carried out in the foreign concessions on a large scale, from 1900 to 1937, and especially from 1912 to 1937, with a multitude of architectural types and styles flooding the scene within a short period of time. Some foreign concessions remained for only a short period of time and hence did not create much of an impact, while other foreign powers like Britain and France continued to expand their areas of influence, especially in the prosperous areas of Zhongjie Street and Quan Ye Department Store where building activities were congregated.
The first street to be established in the Anglo-French Concession, Zhongjie Street, was known as "the Street of the Banks," given the large number of banks built there. Many of these buildings showcased neoclassic architectural styles in the use of classical pillars, with emphasis on symmetry, the axis and the relationship between principal and subordinate, creating architectural compositions with precise proportions, which were elegant and opulent in style. The commercial center of Tianjin eventually shifted to the area of the Quan Ye Department Store, located in the French concession after 1900.
During the 1920s, there was rapid commercial development in this area, with a large number of commercial and entertainment complexes built, such as shops, hotels, restaurants and theaters.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2018
A short distance away from the political center of Beijing, Tianjin's proximity to the capital city is a crucial factor for its recent urban development. In Tianjin after 1860, several countries including France, the US, Germany, Japan, Russia, Austria, Italy, and Belgium established foreign concessions. In fact, in Asia, the only foreign concessions established by Italy, Belgium and Austria were to be found in Tianjin, hence marking the city's unique position in the modern history of the world. Construction was carried out in the foreign concessions on a large scale, from 1900 to 1937, and especially from 1912 to 1937, with a multitude of architectural types and styles flooding the scene within a short period of time. Some foreign concessions remained for only a short period of time and hence did not create much of an impact, while other foreign powers like Britain and France continued to expand their areas of influence, especially in the prosperous areas of Zhongjie Street and Quan Ye Department Store where building activities were congregated.
The first street to be established in the Anglo-French Concession, Zhongjie Street, was known as "the Street of the Banks," given the large number of banks built there. Many of these buildings showcased neoclassic architectural styles in the use of classical pillars, with emphasis on symmetry, the axis and the relationship between principal and subordinate, creating architectural compositions with precise proportions, which were elegant and opulent in style. The commercial center of Tianjin eventually shifted to the area of the Quan Ye Department Store, located in the French concession after 1900.
During the 1920s, there was rapid commercial development in this area, with a large number of commercial and entertainment complexes built, such as shops, hotels, restaurants and theaters.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2018
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