How the Industrial Revolution Transformed Housing and Shaped Modern Cities
A Story Unfolding Across Timelines.
Current Time.
The Return of My Conversations With My Father: Exploring Public Housing and Mass Construction
For all my dedicated subscribers and readers who missed my father and our conversations, I’m happy to announce that we’re back! Our first installment explored the history of construction in the land of Israel, tracing its development from the first waves of immigration in the late 19th century under Ottoman rule through the British Mandate. We ended that series at a pivotal moment when the British Mandate came to an end and David Ben-Gurion declared Israel’s independence.
Now, we continue the journey. This time, we will briefly review the innovations that the Bauhaus movement brought to the world and examine how the Industrial Revolution changed construction methods, making mass housing possible. We will look at how advances in building technology shaped public housing and transformed cities.
A Quick Recap
In this series, I am sharing my conversations with my father and inviting you to be part of them. This new installment will focus on the pre-state period and the early days of Israel, when the country faced the challenge of housing almost a million immigrants who arrived with nothing but the clothes they wore.
We will focus on this installment on the development of large-scale residential projects. We will look at how they were built, what made them possible, and how they shaped the lives of the people who lived in them.
Are you ready? Let’s begin.
Liat: Dad, my readers have missed you. They loved our conversations and want to hear more. You know, we kind of left them hanging after the declaration of the State of Israel.
Nissim: Really? I mean, of course, they loved me. But are you sure they’re actually interested in learning about construction and architecture? From what I see on the news, Americans don’t even learn their own history. Why would they care about ours?
Liat: Just to be clear, my subscribers and readers are intelligent. They’re not the ones you see on TV embarrassing themselves. They care about history and are open to different perspectives, even ones they might not completely agree with. That’s why I love Substack. People have actual conversations there instead of just attacking each other like they do on Twitter.
Nissim: So, you’re telling me there are still civilized people in this world, and they all happen to be on Substack?
Liat: Yes, exactly. And they really like you. You’re a superstar! More than a thousand people read our first installment, and nearly fifty subscribed because of it. You’re famous!
Nissim: Well, if you say so, I guess I am. So, let’s remind everyone what public housing is, talk about Bauhaus, and go over how it all started.
History of Public Housing
Early Developments
Public housing initiatives began to appear in cities in the early 20th century. Prior to that, people built their own homes and governments were not involved in supplying housing solutions for the lower class.
During the Industrial Revolution, more and more people moved to cities from rural areas to find work. The sudden increase in population in cities caused overcrowding, which led to many social and sanitation problems, and made many city areas unlivable.
To fix this, urban planners started coming up with ideas to make housing better and cities healthier.
The destruction following World War I led many people to lose their homes and have no choice but to live in shacks or temporary shelters. As a result, the housing crisis worsened, and governments had to find ways to provide permanent homes.
The need for a real solution pushed architects and planners to take action, innovate and lead the way. Ideas for public housing had been discussed for years, but after World War I, there was no time to wait as millions of people needed an immediate solution.
The Rise of Modernist Housing
At the late 19th century, some European architects began developing innovative building styles to meet new social needs. In the early 20th century, as cities continued to grow, architects accelerated their efforts to standardize construction. They took advantage of new technologies, mainly reinforced concrete and steel, which had become more available and advanced.
The new design styles also developed in response to urbanization brought by the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. In the beginning of the 20th century, it was clear that cities needed housing solutions for their growing populations. Architects have started to develop ways to standardize construction to build houses quickly and at a lower cost.
After World War I, the social and economic need for housing in Europe became even more urgent, leading to the rise of the International Style. The demand to house millions of workers quickly and cheaply pushed architects to develop new solutions. For the first time in history, architecture focused on building homes for the lower classes.
The most influential architectural movement to emerge from this period was the Bauhaus, which developed in Germany between the two world wars. Known for its functional and minimalist approach, Bauhaus became one of the most important schools of modern architecture. It not only shaped architecture but also influenced interior design, furniture, and household item production. In fact, these disciplines were taught at the Bauhaus school even before architecture became part of the curriculum.
Architects who attended the Bauhaus school believed they had the answer. They worked on designs that were simple and practical, making it easier to construct large numbers of houses and buildings without wasting materials.
However, not everyone saw it as a success. Critics argued that Bauhaus architects focused more on creating a new design style than solving the real housing crisis. In response to this criticism, a group of architects and urban planners formed the International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM) in 1928. Its goal was to develop better solutions for public housing. Over the next thirty years, this group played a significant role in shaping how cities around the world designed homes for their growing populations.
Liat: Wow. Architects led the way. What would have happened without them? Would governments have let people live in tents or shacks to this day?
Nissim: Maybe not in tents, but without architects pushing forward and constantly searching for solutions, the world wouldn’t have advanced the way it did. Their vision improved the lives of millions. Without them, no one would have built upwards on a large scale.
Let’s pause here and continue tomorrow.
Liat: Works. I need to finish writing my Greenland 90210 fiction installment. I didn't have high expectations because I had no idea if substack readers like fiction, but people actually loved the first episode.
Nissim: You’re going to be the next J.K. Rowling.
Liat: I wish! From your lips to God's ears.
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Liat
In this journey, I weave together episodes from my life with the rich tapestry of Israeli culture through music, food, arts, entrepreneurship, fiction and more. I write over the weekends and evenings and publish these episodes as they unfold, almost like a live performance.
Each episode is part of a set focused on a specific topic, though sometimes I release standalone episodes. A set is released over several days to make it easier for you to read during your busy workday. If one episode catches your attention, make sure to read the entire set to get the whole picture. Although these episodes are released in sets, you can read the entire newsletter from the beginning, as it flows smoothly, like music to your ears  -  or, in this case, your eyes.