Overview of Industrial Architecture Sam, March 14, 2024April 28, 2024 Industrial architecture is one of the most prominent styles in the world today, whether it is seen in a house, office, or commercial space.Our connection to our past is forged by the marriage of new modern finishes with vintage charm. Industrial architecture is pure honesty. All buildings, in fact, have a story to tell and the joy of that story is ours to enjoy because of the skill and vision of talented architects.Before we dive into the history of industrial architecture, it’s characteristics and examples; let’s take a look at the meaning of industrial architecture.Table of Contents ToggleWhat Is Industrial Architecture?The History of Industrial ArchitectureIndustrial Architecture Characteristics Construction Materials in Industrial Architecture Famous Industrial Architecture Examples1. Baker’s Chocolate 2. Integral Eco-Industrial Campus 3. Yuengling Brewery Company4. Powerbarn Bioenergy Production Plant 5. Sutter’s Mill 6. Kirsch Pharma HealthCare Building 7. The Power House 8. Chiayi Industrial Innovation Center 9. India House 10. Delas Frères Winery Overview of Modern Industrial Architecture The Future of Industrial Architecture 1. Technology 2. Flexible Designs 3. Contemporary Allure 4. RepurposingFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Overview of Industrial ArchitectureWhat is the Industrial Architecture Style?What is an Example of Industrial Architecture?What are the Positive Effects of Industrial Architecture?What are the Negative Effects of Industrial Architecture?How is Industrial Design Different from Industrial Architecture?Recommended PostsConclusion What Is Industrial Architecture?Source: Floornature.com.The designs utilized to erect structures such as factories, warehouses, power plants, refineries, etc. in the industrial sector are referred to as industrial architecture. The term “industrial architecture” refers to a minimalist architectural style that utilizes polished surfaces, visible edges, flat roofs, industrial materials, and clean, straight lines.Industrial facilities are built with efficiency and safety in mind. This kind of architecture places less emphasis on aesthetics and focuses more on the safety of workers and building functionality. To give these buildings life, designers are converting abandoned industrial buildings into residences, workplaces, galleries, and showrooms.Over the past few decades, the industrial architecture style has grown in prominence. Those who reside in crowded industrial areas and outside of suburban areas tend to welcome it. The utilization of contemporary designs and eco-friendly materials in the style is a draw for many people. Industrial architecture is quite popular and is predicted to expand even more as a result of these and many more factors.Now that you know what industrial architecture is, let’s take a look at it’s history.The History of Industrial ArchitectureDevelopments in technology have attempted to fundamentally alter the human experience over our lifetime. Architecture, like every other area of western society, has certainly changed due to the effects of the most recent industrial revolution, which took place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Industrial Revolution encouraged trade and the dissemination of products between Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, and Britain was a major player in this movement. Afterwards, in the late 1700s, European technological advancements made their way to America.During the First Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, one of the first industrial structures was constructed in Britain. This served as inspiration for the development of other industrial buildings around the globe. Mid-1700s and the 1800s saw the First Industrial Revolution come to an end. The Second Industrial Revolution followed, with its primary focus being on the creation of goods and the usage of new materials.Industry leaders and laborers alike found the urban industry to be significantly more profitable due to specific technological and organizational advancements including precise factory lines and machinery fueled by coal and steam. Buildings dedicated to this industry have to grow in size.Religious, military, and public purposes were the main uses of elaborate, permanent building prior to the 1800s. Envision magnificent cathedrals, colossal castles, and spartan municipal buildings. On the other hand, architects had a new difficulty with the advent of extensive industrial endeavors. So, the rise of remarkable industrial architecture coincided with the Industrial Revolution.In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, industrial structures provided the basic necessity for prefabricated buildings. These structures were rectangular, constructed of stone or brick, had wooden roofs, and exposed plaster inside walls that brought to mind the 1974 Derby Silk Mill in Derbyshire, England. Rarely were decorative features used, and when they were, they were straightforward and traditional.Concrete and metal were among the new building materials introduced in the 19th century. The structures’ appearance and feel were enhanced by the architects’ experimentation with layout and external design, which also allowed for more natural light to enter the building because of the larger windows. Consequently, there was a notable surge in production. Some architects were motivated to try creating artistic, industrial structures, such as the Menier Chocolate Works in Noisiel, France, which has a decorative façade with a bare metal frame.Up until the 20th century, when industrial architecture came to an end, industrial buildings developed into increasingly intricate and fascinating structures.If you got to this point, you now probably know the origin of industrial architecture. Now that we’ve taken care of that, let’s move on to it’s characteristics.Industrial Architecture Characteristics With respect to the building’s intended use, industrial architecture has different qualities. Still, there are certain frequent patterns in industrial architecture.Here are the most prevalent characteristics of industrial architecture:Minimalist Designs:Minimalist design.Source: Daniel Hansen @Unsplash.Functionality is prioritized over decorative details in industrial architecture, resulting in a more straightforward style. Industrialist designs often use solid, perpendicular lines as ornamentation, which are not all that different from those found in modern and minimalist designs. Despite their seeming age and frequent use of natural materials, industrialist designs appear contemporary.Open Areas: Open Areas.Source: Useproof.comBecause of its open layout, high ceilings, and abundance of natural light, industrial architecture is in great demand. Interiors of factories frequently feature fewer walls. The spacious, airy rooms provide you greater freedom to utilize the area in an original yet useful way.Exposure of Utilities:Exposure of Utilities.Source: Victor @UnsplashExposure of pipelines for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water, and electricity is a typical feature of industrial architecture. Nonetheless, a lot of manufacturers also place a high priority on functional structures, hiding these components behind walls.Use of Partitions: The use of partitions in industrial buildings.Source: Teepee.You can use partitions to divide huge industrial rooms into smaller sections. Spaces can be used for more than one purpose. This is an easy fix for an expensive remodel if you have limited time and money. You may simply divide your space to accommodate your expanding and changing demands using moveable walls or partitions.Natural lighting: Natural Lighting.Source: Stefan Spassov @Unsplash.Skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows with metal grids are two ways that industrial architecture makes use of natural light. The nature of the architecture is further reinforced with high ceilings and open-space interior, which let in an abundance of natural light due to the large windows.Large Rolling Doors:Large Rolling Door.Source: Igor Sechinov @Unsplash.Large rolling doors are effectively integrated into industrial designs. They are used as industrial doors.Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Buildings: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Building.Source: Floornature.com.Because it can be easily converted to eco-friendly housing and produces less waste, green housing is one of the most obvious characteristics and advantages of industrial architecture.Since you have seen the main features of industrial architecture, let’s now dive into the most prevalent construction materials used in industrial buildings.Construction Materials in Industrial Architecture Steel: In industrial settings, poles and beams made of steel are widely used. Steel materials are left exposed and not buried inside the wall. Steel furniture and accessories are also used to give an industrial feel.Concrete: Old industry buildings usually employed concrete in their flooring and in other structural elements. Because of it’s high strength, affordability, and sustainability, concrete is a frequently utilized material in industries.Brick: The longevity and robustness of bricks made it a frequently used material in industrial buildings. For the most part, bricks are left unfinished to mimic the originals.Wood: Wood is utilized for tables, wall panels, window frames, and simple ornamentation.Used Furniture: Industrial architecture frequently incorporate recycled or used materials. They make use of repurposed tiles, metal boxes, pipes, mechanical gadgets, and other hard materials.Now let us see some of the most popular examples of industrial buildings below.Famous Industrial Architecture Examples1. Baker’s Chocolate Architect(s): Nathaniel J. Bradlee (1829 – 1888), Walter Winslow (1843 – 1909), George Wetherell (1854 – 1930), and Henry Bigelow (1867-1929).Function: Bakery.Location: Boston, Massachusetts.Baker’s Chocolate Factory.Source: Apartments.com.A brand of baking chocolate that is owned by Kraft Heinz is dubbed Baker’s Chocolate. Products include sweetened coconut flakes and an assortment of bulk chocolates, both white and unsweetened.The chocolate brand in question is among the biggest in the country. Initially, Walter Baker & Company was the name of the business.2. Integral Eco-Industrial Campus Architect(s): Ronald Lu & Partners.Function: Textile Production.Location: Guilin, China.Integral Eco-Industrial Campus.Source: Archdaily.Located in Guilin, China, Integral Eco-Industrial Campus is a well-known producer of clothing and textiles. The factory’s architectural layout incorporates several ecological concepts, such as resource recovery, water recycling, and land restoration. The project comprises not only the primary textile workshop and handicraft center, but also plantations, botanical gardens, exhibition halls, staff eateries, training centers, and other amenities.Working on the architectural depiction, the designers had to incorporate contemporary characteristics that have emerged in the niche spinning and apparel industries in order to challenge the conventional perception of textile manufacture.3. Yuengling Brewery CompanyArchitect(s): William Curtis Green (1875 – 1960) and J. Clifton Robinson (1848 – 1910).Function: Brewery.Location: Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States.Yuengling Brewery Building.Source: Tripadvisor.Early in the Yuengling Company’s history, in the early 1800s, this structure was initially built. When it was still known as the Eagle Brewery. The structure was built in the American Round Arch style of architecture.The brewery in question is noteworthy for having survived the American Prohibition era by switching to making ice cream and non-alcoholic drinks. It currently produces a wide range of beers.4. Powerbarn Bioenergy Production Plant Architect(s): Giovanni Vaccarini Architetti (1702 – 1768).Function: Power Plant.Location: Russi, Italy.Powerbarn Bioenergy Production Plant.Source: Designboom.In Ravenna, Italy, this thermal power plant was built on the site of a sugar factory. The station’s primary unique selling point is that it runs only on biofuel.Powerbarn features a dedicated unit for producing biogas from livestock farm wastewater in addition to the main furnace. As a result, this thermal power plant produces clean energy by using waste materials.5. Sutter’s Mill Architect(s): James Wilson Marshall (1810 – 1885)Function: Sawmill.Location: Sierra Nevada, California, United States.Sutter’s Mill.Source: Wikipedia.Over the years, the original design of this 19th-century sawmill has been faithfully restored and maintained. Built to help with the massive amounts of lumber needed for the Sutter family’s owned and run agricultural enterprise, the building was designed to facilitate the processing of timber.Gold was found close by, which greatly increased the site’s popularity. Since it began operations in the middle of the 19th century, the sawmill has been surplus to requirements.6. Kirsch Pharma HealthCare Building Architect(s): Stefan Antoni, Greg Truen.Function: Pharmaceuticals.Location: Wedemark, Germany.Kirsch Pharma HealthCare Building.Source: Archdaily.SAOTA professionals have given a new perspective to the conventional and highly adaptable industrial building type in their idea for the Kirsch Pharma Health Care GmbH headquarters and production facility in Wedemark.A distinct industrial area was intended to house the construction. The South African architecture team, however, went into the project knowing that the structure was supposed to become a focal point, a sort of symbolic piece.The potential of contemporary Industrial architecture has been demonstrated by SAOTA specialists who have skillfully blended interior design, breathtaking architecture, and landscape.7. The Power House Architect(s): William Curtis Green (1875 – 1960) and J. Clifton Robinson (1848 – 1910).Function: Power Plant.Location: Chiswick, United Kingdom.The Power House.Source: Knight Frank.Chiswick’s Power House is among the oldest electrical power plants still in use. Although the building was occupied from the time of its construction in 1901 until 1917, it is no longer used for this function.Its Baroque aspect belies its more artistic design, in contrast to many examples of contemporary industrial architecture. The two carvings etched into the façade are part of this design as well.8. Chiayi Industrial Innovation Center Architect(s): Ying-Chao Kuo, Ching-Hwa Chang.Function: Biotechnology and Machinery Manufacturing.Location: Chiayi, Taiwan.Chiayi Industrial Innovation Center.Source: Archdaily.Particular focus is placed on the utilization of natural resources in hot and muggy circumstances in the industrial center project. Reusing rainwater, harnessing solar energy, and utilizing a cooling mechanism are the resources utilized by the construction.The surrounding natural scenery nicely complements the building. An extensive system of pathways has been established to link the public interior and open spaces, and a green belt encircles the site. As a boundary between the building of several levels, the water canal also functions as a feature of the environment.9. India House Architect(s): Harry S. Fairhurst (1868 – 1945).Function: Warehouse.Location: Manchester, United Kingdom.India House.Source: Wikipedia.Originally built in the Edwardian Baroque style, India House is an ancient warehouse in Manchester.Nonetheless, certain elements like the steel frames used in this industrial structure were subsequently thought to be significantly more representative of industrial architecture worldwide. Apart from that, the building has big windows for improved lighting and ventilation, and it is made of terracotta.10. Delas Frères Winery Architect(s): Carl Fredrik Svenstedt.Function: Winery.Location: Tain-l’Hermitage, France.Delas Frères Winery.Source: Parametric Architecture.The architecture of the Delas Frères Winery makes you want to reach out and feel its walls. The facades are constructed from 50 cm thick stone that was mined from the riverbanks; the sandstone was perfect for building.The building’s primary facade is 80 meters long and 7 meters high. Even though the wall had a very intricate shape, a father and his son, the team of stonecutters, put the blocks together.Now that you have seen some examples of industrial buildings and how the industrial architecture characteristics discussed above were applied in them, let’s look at an overview of modern industrial architecture.Overview of Modern Industrial Architecture Architects started to push limits as art became more and more prevalent in the architecture sector. The ascendancy of industrial architecture in the early 20th century gave rise to modernism. By fusing the uncomplicated ornamentation typical of the modern style with the requirements of industrial structures, Frank Lloyd Wright and other well-known modernists introduced the phrase “form follows function.”International style and brutalism were two architectural styles that sprang from modern design, which dominated industrial design for decades. A multitude of architectural historians contend that the industrial structures constructed in the early and middle 20th century had a significant impact on the general trajectory of modern architectural tendencies. Consistently changing the appearance of nearby residential streets, industrial structures emerged as the architectural focal points of urban areas.Both the factory and the housing for its employees were frequently designed by architects under contract. Thus, entire city blocks were transformed into well-planned housing developments complete with public buildings, parks, and other amenities. Consequently, throughout a large portion of the 1900s, industrial architecture dominated all forms of architecture.Now that you’ve understood what modern industrial architecture is and how it originated, let’s discuss the future of industrial buildings and the factors that will influence it.The Future of Industrial Architecture Many of the 20th century’s iconic industrial structures are still standing, but they are no longer suitable as workspaces for the industry. Since there was less of a market for technical industrial architecture, architects started to go outside of the built environment for inspiration. A cheaper, faster alternative to windows has replaced expensive aesthetics in production as it gets more automated.As our society grows more aware of how architecture affects the environment, we can expect another change in the design of industrial buildings. Buildings with an industrial history and less than ideal environmental performance are leading the way in the movement of progressive architects to design environmentally friendly structures.Within the industrial sector, sustainable structural options such as fabric structures are emerging, and some architects are also questioning the current perception of industrial architecture.Sustainability is only one aspect of how industrial structures are changing. Future trends for industrial architecture are beginning to emerge as society and technology advance, and these trends include:1. Technology Contemporary architecture emphasizes greatly on machinery and technology.With the use of smart technology, designing spaces more quickly and easily is becoming prominent. This facilitates the conversion of old industrial structures into new areas suitable for residential, commercial, and modern industrial organizations.2. Flexible Designs A space can be tailored to a company’s current and future needs thanks to the flexible space design seen in many industrial buildings.3. Contemporary Allure A lot of industrial spaces are being renovated to achieve a more contemporary appeal. Industrial architecture is ideal for all types of businesses since streamlined industrial design is becoming more and more popular with architects and the public at large.4. RepurposingA large number of industrial buildings have been abandoned or rendered outdated as a result of businesses utilizing technology and offshore production.Numerous organizations are adapting old buildings for different uses, like apartments, open office buildings, event spaces, and co-working spaces, rather than allowing them to become a nuisance to the neighborhood.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Overview of Industrial ArchitectureWhat is the Industrial Architecture Style? The planning and development of structures to support the requirements of the industrial sector is known as industrial architecture.What is an Example of Industrial Architecture? Industrial building types include grain silos, refineries, breweries, distilleries, manufacturing complexes, and also power plants.What are the Positive Effects of Industrial Architecture? Productivity is a key consideration in the design of industrial buildings and industrial architecture in general. Thus, one of the finest ways to promote economic growth in a region is through the construction of industrial buildings. Because of their unusual look when compared to more aesthetically pleasing structures, they frequently function as landmarks. They can also become essential components of a community; this is the case in mining communities that are developed around mines.What are the Negative Effects of Industrial Architecture? Since residential areas surrounding industrial sectors are typically less expensive, industrial buildings can contribute to economic disparities in society. Additionally, because they are usually harmful to the environment, their often unnatural design can result in unpleasant landscapes.How is Industrial Design Different from Industrial Architecture? Industrial architecture describes the buildings and spaces needed to support manufacturing operations, whereas industrial design relates to product designs and prototypes that are meant to be produced. Recommended PostsTypes of Industrial Buildings With ExamplesOverview of Functionality in ArchitectureOverview of the International Style in ArchitectureConclusion Our article about industrial architecture has now come to an end.Now that you have knowledge of industrial architecture, hopefully you can go see some of the purposes for which those industrial buildings are designed for better understanding.Total0Shares Share 0 Tweet 0 Pin it 0 Share 0 Articles
Articles The Marriage of Form and Function in Architecture February 10, 2024April 26, 2024One of the most important things to keep in mind during the design process is the relationship between form and function in architecture. Without these, an architectural project is unlikely to be successful. Throughout architectural courses and even while working in real industry, the subject of “form and function in… Read More
Articles Brutalist Architecture: A Guide to Raw Aesthetics April 4, 2024April 30, 2024The emphasis on building materials, and textures in brutalist architecture results in very expressive forms. One of the most contentious architectural movements of the modern era, brutalist architecture frequently evokes strong feelings, even hostility in some cases. Before we begin to assess the style’s characteristics and examples, it is imperative… Read More
Articles Organic Style in Architecture: Harmonizing with Nature in Design May 8, 2024May 8, 2024Organic style in architecture is a subject rarely discussed in our modern times, and is certainly difficult to practice due to its broad definition. This article aims to provide a framework in which organic architecture can be studied and practiced thoroughly. What is Organic Architecture? Organic architecture is a philosophy… Read More