Building under the planned economy: A history of China's architecture and construction 1949-1965

Recently, China’s architecture is being paid increasing attention, due to the rapid development of China’s economy and the country’s construction boom. However, the research on China’s architecture since 1949 has still lagged in comparison with related topics. This thesis is a historical review on the architectural development during 1949 and 1965 – a period directly following the founding of the PRC, in which a socialist economic system was established in imitation of the Soviet Union, and a period in which China’s architecture and building construction developed under strong ideological control and a highly centralized planned economy. Although this control is fading out in today’s China, the impact of the development of architecture and construction during that time is still evident. The goal of this thesis is to make clear the development processes of China’s architecture during this period, as well as establish a background of the forces shaping this development. Generally speaking, the history of modern China was a history of westernization. Since 1840, westernization penetrated gradually into every social aspect in China, as well as into China’s architecture. Using the treaty ports as bases, western-style architecture increasingly emerged in China’s cities. As a result of this transformation, modern architecture started to influence China’s architecture in the 1930s. In opposition to these forces of westernization, the “Chinese renaissance” movement emerged since the end of the 19th Century. From the first incursions of western architecture, conflict and interaction between westernization or modernization and national identity formed the basis for architectural design in China. This conflict and interaction became a theme that would last for decades. Following the westernization, western-educated native Chinese architects emerged, and gradually grew into a key force of architectural activities in China. After the founding of the PRC – especially when China launched socialist construction in imitation of the Soviet Union in 1953 – Stalinist creeds began to influence China’s architecture. Modern-style architecture was criticized and led to the movement of “big roof” architecture. However, the “big roof” and its greatest advocate, Liang Sicheng, were soon sharply criticized by the Anti-Waste Movement. Architects found themselves in a dilemma, and in practice, scrupulously avoided both “big roof” and modern architecture. In 1958, “National Day Projects” were constructed to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the PRC. Constraints were somewhat loosed and architectural activities could blossom anew. The “new socialistic style” was called for while the concept of “Chinese and new” gained a consensus. At the end of the 1950s, two main streams emerged. One focused on a technical approach and the other on the fruitful practices of regional architecture. i As one of the most important economic branches, the construction industry was given priority by the PRC government, and became one of the earliest industrial branches to undergo socialization. The construction industry’s administration system was established to suit large-scale planned construction in the PRC, and the state-run design institutions were set up in imitation of those in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, the practice of urban and regional planning as an extension and embodiment of national economic planning was adopted form the Soviet Union. These practices played an important role in China’s building construction. However, it was difficult to adapt these practices to China’s economic situation, and they were eventually cancelled at the beginning of the 1960s. In order to suit the quantitative demand of building construction, various efforts were made to lower building costs and speed up construction and design. Industrialized construction was adapted in accordance with China’s situation and standard design practices were learned from the Soviet Union and applied to mass-produced buildings. Reviewing the history, we can identify some characteristics of the development of China’s architecture from 1949 to 1965. Firstly, the impact of the Soviet Union was very extensive. Secondly, the “big architecture” and the “small architecture” presented different traces of development. Thirdly, the planned economy with a highly centralized authority led to a monotonous architectural style. Lastly, the ideological concerns and the pursuit of national form as national identity in architecture were basically confined within the architectural circle. Nevertheless, the development of architecture and building construction during this period has bequeathed a valuable legacy, from which one may learn important lessons and draw inspiration.