Overview of Modern Building Development in Guangzhou

Abstract

Taking the development of buildings techniques as the main line, the evolution of urban architecture in Guangzhou was briefly discussed. Western building technology is the main thrust for the evolution of Chinese modern architecture, leading Chinese architecture transformed from traditional styles to the modern. Being a process of importing, imitation, digestion and absorption of the western building technology, the evolution of Chinese modern architecture could be divided into three stages: budding stage, implantation stage and localization stage. At the budding stage, the change is concentrated in the evolution of masonry techniques and building materials, such as brick and stone. The representation of the implantation stage is the advanced materials and techniques, such as cement, plate glass, steel and reinforced concrete structures were successively imported. According to application times for advanced technology, it is probably on the same level for China and Western building technology in the implantation stage. During the localization stage, with the growth of Chinese designers and craftsmen, traditional building styles were explored and practiced in new architecture forms to adapt the local environment combining with the western building technology, and all the tests have promoted the localization of modern building technology in Guangzhou.