Final answer:
The mid-19th-century Industrial Revolution introduced iron, steel, and sheet glass as new building materials that allowed for new architectural techniques, stronger structures, and modern designs. Examples like the Crystal Palace illustrated early uses of these materials, which were initially critical for factory construction and later spurred the development of skyscrapers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Industrial Revolution and Modern Architecture
During the mid-19th century, the Industrial Revolution led to the large-scale usage of new building materials such as iron, steel, and sheet glass which revolutionized modern building. These materials brought about the flexibility to design bold structural frames, leading to new architectural techniques. Notably, the Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851, showcased an early example of construction using iron and glass.
The benefits of these materials include greater strength and durability, allowing for the construction of larger, more ambitious structures like factories, bridges, and ultimately skyscrapers. They also enabled simpler, more streamlined designs reflecting the modernist ethos that "decoration is a crime". Initially, these materials were used in mills and factories, which required larger spaces and sturdier constructions to house heavy machinery.
Steel, being cheaper and stronger, became a mainstay in building materials. Engineers like Eaton Hodgkinson improved our understanding of iron's properties, leading to wider adoption in construction. With the use of these materials, the face of architecture was forever changed.