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City's golden era of Art Deco
By Yang Di and Cerelia Lim |
May 9, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN the world struggled with the Great Depression in the 1930s, Shanghai was grooving to an artistic and cultural beat. As a city determined to dance in tandem with the most forward-looking and fashionable tunes, it embraced and adopted foreign influences into its landscape.
Although shikumen fulfilled the housing needs of the growing population, the golden era demanded more intrinsic and creative architecture.
Moving away from the East-meets-West approach, the architects of that time, notably C.H. Gonda, Palmer & Turner, Minutt and Ladislaus Hudec brought the Art Deco style to Shanghai.
The Art Deco aesthetic which was immensely popular in Europe and America from 1925-40 was regarded as the avant-garde of architecture.
As a design movement which was a mixture of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, it combined the austere shapes and streamlined styling associated with modern technology with patterns and icons taken from the Far East, classical Greece and Rome, Africa, Ancient Egypt, India and Mayan and Aztec cultures.
A popular aesthetic, it affected the decorative arts such as architecture, interior and industrial design as well as the visual arts. At that time, it was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern.
And, unlike other design movements, Art Deco did not have any political or philosophical roots or intentions: it was purely decorative.
Art Deco buildings are characterized by sleek, curving forms and long horizontal lines.
It was an attempt to strip away the elaborate ornamental styles popular before World War I and capture the spirit of modernity. They have a strong sense of line, bands of color and ziggurat shaped, terraced pyramids.
Today we highlight four Art Deco buildings that you should not miss: A theater built by an Austrian architect which is still operational, two luxury and stylish hotels and a serviced apartment, all reminiscent of Shanghai's early 20th century glory days.
Grosvenor House
One of the best-located accommodation venues in the city, Jin Jiang Hotel complex overlooks 10,000 square meters of gardens and includes three major edifices: the lavish Grosvenor House, the historic Cathay Mansions and the modern Cathay Garden executive wing. The Cathay Land Company, owned by Sir Victor Sassoon who had built the landmark Cathay Hotel on the Bund and many other major properties in Shanghai, commissioned the British architects Palmer & Turner to build the luxurious 18-story Grosvenor House in 1935. It features high ceilings, gorgeous lighting and polished parquet floors. With significant Art Deco embellishments, its 18-story center block has 13 stories in each wing. With its many facets, flavors and features, Grosvenor House is a reminder of what a truly "grand" apartment building was and it is still the city's premier address today as A-list tenants love to live here.
Address: 59 Maoming Rd S.
Tel: 3218-9888
Cathay Theater keeps cinema tradition
At the corner of Maoming Road S. and Huaihai Road M., stands the historical Cathay Theater, built in 1932. With its streamlined body and a ziggurat shaped signboard, it is a distinct Art Deco building. Along with the Bank of Communications (at the Bund) and the Capitol Cinema, it is a masterpiece of architect C.H. Gonda. Boasting a total of 978 seats, it was the largest theater in Shanghai in its day and ticket prices used to range from 1 yuan (US$0.15) to 1.50 yuan when the average monthly salary was 50 yuan. In 2005, it underwent extensive renovation. The auditorium was divided into three screening rooms, heating and air conditioning added and ticket counters were built. And, in keeping up with the changing times, digital screen projectors were introduced in 2008. Today, it shows both English and Chinese films.
Opening hours: 9am-10pm (last screening)
Address: 870 Huaihai Rd M.
Tel: 5404-2095
The jazz age Astrid
The towering Art Deco residential complex on the corner of Maoming and Nanchang roads is The Astrid, also known as the Nanchang Building. Built in 1933, the building has eight floors and its distinctive, angled corner facade is enhanced by a vertical face at the apex. Consequently, with its Art Deco design and steel-framed windows, The Astrid was a stylish place to live in the bygone Jazz Age. The building is located near what was formerly Shanghai's most exclusive club, the Cercle Sportif Francais (now the Garden Hotel), which made it particularly popular with younger Westerners at the time.
Address: 153 Maoming Rd S.
Hengshan Picardie Hotel
Hengshan Picardie Hotel is located at the intersection of Wanping and Hengshan roads and was constructed in 1934. The architectural design of the hotel is typical Art Deco and its former name was the Piccard Villa. It was designed by the Swiss-French architect Minutti. With more than 70 years history, it is one of the city's six famous old hotels. Totally renovated in 2008, the establishment lost many of its original charms but still captures the essence of an earlier age of European luxury. It features 240 rooms equipped with deluxe amenities, making it an ideal stop for business and leisure travelers seeking convenience and comfort in the city center. The promotional price for a superior room is 1,300 yuan (US$190).
Address: 534 Hengshan RdTel: 6437-7050
Although shikumen fulfilled the housing needs of the growing population, the golden era demanded more intrinsic and creative architecture.
Moving away from the East-meets-West approach, the architects of that time, notably C.H. Gonda, Palmer & Turner, Minutt and Ladislaus Hudec brought the Art Deco style to Shanghai.
The Art Deco aesthetic which was immensely popular in Europe and America from 1925-40 was regarded as the avant-garde of architecture.
As a design movement which was a mixture of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, it combined the austere shapes and streamlined styling associated with modern technology with patterns and icons taken from the Far East, classical Greece and Rome, Africa, Ancient Egypt, India and Mayan and Aztec cultures.
A popular aesthetic, it affected the decorative arts such as architecture, interior and industrial design as well as the visual arts. At that time, it was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern.
And, unlike other design movements, Art Deco did not have any political or philosophical roots or intentions: it was purely decorative.
Art Deco buildings are characterized by sleek, curving forms and long horizontal lines.
It was an attempt to strip away the elaborate ornamental styles popular before World War I and capture the spirit of modernity. They have a strong sense of line, bands of color and ziggurat shaped, terraced pyramids.
Today we highlight four Art Deco buildings that you should not miss: A theater built by an Austrian architect which is still operational, two luxury and stylish hotels and a serviced apartment, all reminiscent of Shanghai's early 20th century glory days.
Grosvenor House
One of the best-located accommodation venues in the city, Jin Jiang Hotel complex overlooks 10,000 square meters of gardens and includes three major edifices: the lavish Grosvenor House, the historic Cathay Mansions and the modern Cathay Garden executive wing. The Cathay Land Company, owned by Sir Victor Sassoon who had built the landmark Cathay Hotel on the Bund and many other major properties in Shanghai, commissioned the British architects Palmer & Turner to build the luxurious 18-story Grosvenor House in 1935. It features high ceilings, gorgeous lighting and polished parquet floors. With significant Art Deco embellishments, its 18-story center block has 13 stories in each wing. With its many facets, flavors and features, Grosvenor House is a reminder of what a truly "grand" apartment building was and it is still the city's premier address today as A-list tenants love to live here.
Address: 59 Maoming Rd S.
Tel: 3218-9888
Cathay Theater keeps cinema tradition
At the corner of Maoming Road S. and Huaihai Road M., stands the historical Cathay Theater, built in 1932. With its streamlined body and a ziggurat shaped signboard, it is a distinct Art Deco building. Along with the Bank of Communications (at the Bund) and the Capitol Cinema, it is a masterpiece of architect C.H. Gonda. Boasting a total of 978 seats, it was the largest theater in Shanghai in its day and ticket prices used to range from 1 yuan (US$0.15) to 1.50 yuan when the average monthly salary was 50 yuan. In 2005, it underwent extensive renovation. The auditorium was divided into three screening rooms, heating and air conditioning added and ticket counters were built. And, in keeping up with the changing times, digital screen projectors were introduced in 2008. Today, it shows both English and Chinese films.
Opening hours: 9am-10pm (last screening)
Address: 870 Huaihai Rd M.
Tel: 5404-2095
The jazz age Astrid
The towering Art Deco residential complex on the corner of Maoming and Nanchang roads is The Astrid, also known as the Nanchang Building. Built in 1933, the building has eight floors and its distinctive, angled corner facade is enhanced by a vertical face at the apex. Consequently, with its Art Deco design and steel-framed windows, The Astrid was a stylish place to live in the bygone Jazz Age. The building is located near what was formerly Shanghai's most exclusive club, the Cercle Sportif Francais (now the Garden Hotel), which made it particularly popular with younger Westerners at the time.
Address: 153 Maoming Rd S.
Hengshan Picardie Hotel
Hengshan Picardie Hotel is located at the intersection of Wanping and Hengshan roads and was constructed in 1934. The architectural design of the hotel is typical Art Deco and its former name was the Piccard Villa. It was designed by the Swiss-French architect Minutti. With more than 70 years history, it is one of the city's six famous old hotels. Totally renovated in 2008, the establishment lost many of its original charms but still captures the essence of an earlier age of European luxury. It features 240 rooms equipped with deluxe amenities, making it an ideal stop for business and leisure travelers seeking convenience and comfort in the city center. The promotional price for a superior room is 1,300 yuan (US$190).
Address: 534 Hengshan RdTel: 6437-7050
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