In the years following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the country underwent a remarkable architectural transformation that is often overlooked in the West. A new exhibition at the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal, titled “How Modern: Biographies of Architecture in China 1949–1979,” sheds light on this fascinating and little-known chapter of Chinese history.
The exhibition paints a vivid picture of a period marked by experimentation, technological innovation, and a heated debate over the country’s architectural identity. Far from the drab monotony often associated with this era, the buildings of the time showcased a surprising fusion of styles, blending beaux-arts classicism, Soviet monumentality, and modern functionalism, often crowned with traditional Chinese overhanging tiled roofs.
One of the most captivating aspects of the exhibition is its exploration of the “Third Front,” a secretive government campaign to develop industrial and military facilities in China’s interior during the 1960s and 1970s. These infrastructural projects were hidden away, with factories like the one producing artillery fuses concealed within thrilling cave complexes in the Hunan province, reminiscent of a scene straight out of a Batman movie.
The exhibition also delves into the political and ideological shifts that shaped the architectural landscape during this period. Architects were often caught in the crosshairs of the party’s ever-changing design directives, as seen in the case of the Sanlihe government office in Beijing, where the central block was stripped of its elaborate “big roof” design after a speech by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev criticising the wastefulness of such architectural styles.
Despite the challenges faced by architects, the exhibition showcases a remarkable period of innovation and resourcefulness. Faced with shortages of cement, steel, and lumber, designers experimented with industrial byproducts and local materials, from rammed earth to construction waste, to create prefabricated housing and factories. The use of bamboo for long-span structures, such as the astonishing bamboo hall at East China Normal University, is a testament to the ingenuity of the time.
As the exhibition makes clear, the architectural developments of this era continue to shape China’s direction today, with President Xi Jinping’s ongoing efforts to promote “distinctly Chinese architectural styles” in new developments. By revisiting this fascinating history, the exhibition offers a deeper understanding of the forces that have influenced the country’s built environment, both past and present.