Modern Urban Housing in China, 1840-2000

Book excerpt: The development of modern urban housing in China over the past 160 years is examined in this unique volume for the first time. From the beginnings of China's modernization after the Opium Wars to the latest trends adopted after the market reforms of the 1980s, this publication offers a broad overview of the developments in building construction and design. Extensively illustrated and written by a team of Chinese and Western experts, it is a must-have for anyone interested in the architecture of China. Urban housing in China is one of the most important components of China's modernization, industrialization, and urbanization. The period from 1840 to 2000 saw great changes in Chinese policy and society and is discussed in three stages: the modernization of China's semi-feudal, semi-colonial society, the rise of publicly owned housing under socialism in the People's Republic of China, and the rapid growth of a new market economy under Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s. When examining changes in urban housing types, the authors take into account not only conventional architectural history, but also underlying political, economic, social, technological, and cultural forces. The result is a complete picture of the history of modern urban housing in China based on extensive literature and numerous field studies.