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Far East heaven for creative minds
By Yang Di |
September 19, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AS the "Paris of the East" and Asia's commercial capital, Shanghai was heaven for architects in the early 1900s through the 1930s, a place where they could be creative on a grand scale.
As the city prospered, so did the architects, and magnificent buildings sprang up in an unprecedented building boom.
They were designed in varied styles and combinations: neoclassical, baroque, romanesque, renaissance, gothic, Art Deco and modern, among others.
Hungarian architect L.E. Hudec, featured for the last two weeks, was just one of the designers who left their marks on the city's landscape.
Palmer & Turner Architects and Surveyors of Hong Kong was one of the most active and influential, designing almost half of the imposing structures along the Bund. Their first work in Shanghai was the neo-renaissance style Union Building (Three on the Bund), the city's first building to use a steel skeleton.
Palmer & Turner Group, or P&T, is one of the oldest and largest architectural engineering practices in Asia. Over 140 yeas it has designed numerous landmark buildings in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Southeast Asia.
The origins of the P&T Group date back to 1868 with the arrival in Hong Kong of William Salway from England while en route to Australia.
He later formed a partnership with Clement Palmer and Arthur Turner, and the company was incorporated as Palmer & Turner in 1891.
In 1911 it established its first branch on the Chinese mainland, in Shanghai. Since then, P&T contributed greatly to the city's development and designed many stunning landmarks, varying from neo-classical to Art Deco and modern.
Today we highlight three prime examples of their work: the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Corp Building (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank), the Broadway Building and two identical Art Deco high-rises on Fuzhou Road.
Metropole Hotel and Fuzhou Building -- Art Deco twins
Strolling along Fuzhou Road, one is guaranteed to encounter prime examples of Shanghai's rich Art Deco heritage. Two identical imposing Art Deco high-rises stand the intersection of Jiangxi and Fuzhou roads. They were both commissioned by the real estate mogul and hotelier Sir Victor Sassoon and designed by Palmer & Turner. Shanghai Metropole Hotel opened in 1930 as one of the most distinctive buildings of the day due to its pleasing architectural features and spectacular position in the heart of Shanghai. Four years later, Hamilton House, today's Fuzhou Building, was finished as a hybrid office building and apartment house. Today, it is a residential building; the ground floor was converted to a French brasserie and bar Hamilton House. The restaurant brought Art Deco back into the restored interior, with typical deco touches, marble mosaic floor and old-style chairs. They are among many Art Deco masterpieces of the 1930s.
Address: 180 Jiangxi Rd M. (Shanghai Metropole Hotel); 137 Fuzhou Rd (Fuzhou Building)
Broadway Mansions Hotel -- View
At the northern end of the Waibaidu Bridge on the Bund, Broadway Mansions Hotel was one of the earliest high-rise buildings, designed by Palmer & Turner with a steel skeleton and completed in 1934.
The 19-floor red brick Art Deco building immediately became a landmark with the best views of the Bund area. The design of the Mansions was influenced by modernism, featuring a simple and modern style of exterior.
It used to have a rooftop garden and even a squash court. At the time The China Weekly Review reported, "One of the most luxurious hotels in Shanghai, Broadway Mansions, has 156 hotel suites, 56 apartments and eight offices and stores."
Currently operated by Hengshan Hotels & Resorts as a classic business hotel, room rates start from 1,000 yuan (US$146) per night for a deluxe room to 4,500 yuan for a suite.
Address: 20 Beisuzhou Rd
Former HSBC Building -- Neoclassical
The six-story neoclassical building is probably the most luxurious structure on the Bund. It was designed by Palmer & Turner and completed in 1923. It served as the headquarters of the Shanghai branch of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp from 1923 to 1955 and currently houses the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.
With a floor area of 23,415 square meters, it was the largest bank building in the Far East and second largest in the world at the time. The exterior is strict neoclassical and the interior is opulent, using materials like marble and monel (nickel-copper alloy).
Out of feng shui considerations, the bank commissioned two bronze lions from the UK to be placed outside the front doors. One is roaring and the other is calm. In 1980 the pair of lions were handed over to the Shanghai Museum where they are on display. When the Pudong Development Bank moved into the building in 1997, replicas were installed.
Address: 12 Zhongshan Rd E1
As the city prospered, so did the architects, and magnificent buildings sprang up in an unprecedented building boom.
They were designed in varied styles and combinations: neoclassical, baroque, romanesque, renaissance, gothic, Art Deco and modern, among others.
Hungarian architect L.E. Hudec, featured for the last two weeks, was just one of the designers who left their marks on the city's landscape.
Palmer & Turner Architects and Surveyors of Hong Kong was one of the most active and influential, designing almost half of the imposing structures along the Bund. Their first work in Shanghai was the neo-renaissance style Union Building (Three on the Bund), the city's first building to use a steel skeleton.
Palmer & Turner Group, or P&T, is one of the oldest and largest architectural engineering practices in Asia. Over 140 yeas it has designed numerous landmark buildings in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Southeast Asia.
The origins of the P&T Group date back to 1868 with the arrival in Hong Kong of William Salway from England while en route to Australia.
He later formed a partnership with Clement Palmer and Arthur Turner, and the company was incorporated as Palmer & Turner in 1891.
In 1911 it established its first branch on the Chinese mainland, in Shanghai. Since then, P&T contributed greatly to the city's development and designed many stunning landmarks, varying from neo-classical to Art Deco and modern.
Today we highlight three prime examples of their work: the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Corp Building (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank), the Broadway Building and two identical Art Deco high-rises on Fuzhou Road.
Metropole Hotel and Fuzhou Building -- Art Deco twins
Strolling along Fuzhou Road, one is guaranteed to encounter prime examples of Shanghai's rich Art Deco heritage. Two identical imposing Art Deco high-rises stand the intersection of Jiangxi and Fuzhou roads. They were both commissioned by the real estate mogul and hotelier Sir Victor Sassoon and designed by Palmer & Turner. Shanghai Metropole Hotel opened in 1930 as one of the most distinctive buildings of the day due to its pleasing architectural features and spectacular position in the heart of Shanghai. Four years later, Hamilton House, today's Fuzhou Building, was finished as a hybrid office building and apartment house. Today, it is a residential building; the ground floor was converted to a French brasserie and bar Hamilton House. The restaurant brought Art Deco back into the restored interior, with typical deco touches, marble mosaic floor and old-style chairs. They are among many Art Deco masterpieces of the 1930s.
Address: 180 Jiangxi Rd M. (Shanghai Metropole Hotel); 137 Fuzhou Rd (Fuzhou Building)
Broadway Mansions Hotel -- View
At the northern end of the Waibaidu Bridge on the Bund, Broadway Mansions Hotel was one of the earliest high-rise buildings, designed by Palmer & Turner with a steel skeleton and completed in 1934.
The 19-floor red brick Art Deco building immediately became a landmark with the best views of the Bund area. The design of the Mansions was influenced by modernism, featuring a simple and modern style of exterior.
It used to have a rooftop garden and even a squash court. At the time The China Weekly Review reported, "One of the most luxurious hotels in Shanghai, Broadway Mansions, has 156 hotel suites, 56 apartments and eight offices and stores."
Currently operated by Hengshan Hotels & Resorts as a classic business hotel, room rates start from 1,000 yuan (US$146) per night for a deluxe room to 4,500 yuan for a suite.
Address: 20 Beisuzhou Rd
Former HSBC Building -- Neoclassical
The six-story neoclassical building is probably the most luxurious structure on the Bund. It was designed by Palmer & Turner and completed in 1923. It served as the headquarters of the Shanghai branch of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp from 1923 to 1955 and currently houses the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.
With a floor area of 23,415 square meters, it was the largest bank building in the Far East and second largest in the world at the time. The exterior is strict neoclassical and the interior is opulent, using materials like marble and monel (nickel-copper alloy).
Out of feng shui considerations, the bank commissioned two bronze lions from the UK to be placed outside the front doors. One is roaring and the other is calm. In 1980 the pair of lions were handed over to the Shanghai Museum where they are on display. When the Pudong Development Bank moved into the building in 1997, replicas were installed.
Address: 12 Zhongshan Rd E1
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