Macau Historic Centre

Author: Liu Tuo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Introduced new architectural styles popular in Europe and America at the time, especially in residential buildings. A clear example is the series of buildings constructed in Namwan, including company offices, aristocratic mansions, and government residences. These new buildings typically featured projecting balconies on the second floor of the main facade, creating a grand appearance with relatively simple decorations. Some buildings incorporated Baroque compositional techniques, such as the Church of St. Joseph, built on a wide stone staircase. Its facade was convex and concave, with a richly textured triangular pediment at the center, topped by a majestic dome rising above the church's cruciform structure. The entire design exudes dynamism, showcasing a strong Baroque style. During this period, with the increasing number of Chinese residents, a large number of traditional Chinese residential buildings were constructed in the Inner Harbor area, particularly at the intersection of the small market and the Portuguese city, i.e., today's Camp Street, Taipa Village, Mokpo Street, and Lang Kwai Lo Lane. At the same time, several small temples were also built, such as the Lianfeng Temple, Lianxi Temple, Shuimyu Palace, and Guandi Temple. In the early 19th century, the urban structure gradually changed, and new spaces were created through land reclamation, giving rise to a batch of modern-style new buildings. The wonderful combination of tradition and innovation became the characteristic of architectural art during this period. Today, in the new coastal area and the 10th of October Street at Taipa Circle, geometric patterns were first used to comprehensively plan urban construction. At the same time, following the new trends of urban development, city parks were established to improve the urban ecological environment and shape a green urban landscape. These pioneering measures marked the beginning of large-scale park and green space development in Macau in the second half of the 19th century. P22