LASZLO Hudec is a Slovakian-born architect who ended up making a lasting impact in Shanghai with his designs of more than 100 buildings in the city. Although some have been torn down over the decades, 44 have survived.

Hudec’s main style is reflected in the integrated geometry, varied form, rich detail and original ideas.

Early this year, Hudec was voted one of the “99 Shanghai Symbols” by millions of Chinese netizens. He was the only foreigner to make the list. His Park Hotel and the Normandie Apartments were also listed in “99 Shanghai Symbols.”

Hudec’s style evolved during his active period, from the eclectic neo-classicism popular in the early 20th century to Art Deco and modern buildings toward the later part of his career. It is hard to escape Hudec’s work in Shanghai, especially in the area around People’s Square, the Bund and the historical residential district around Xinhua Road.

From Park Hotel on Nanjing Road W. to the Christian Literature Society Building and the China Baptist Publication Building along the northern Bund, anyone strolling around will have seen some of Hudec’s buildings.

Near Xinhua Road and Panyu Road today are some villas that became distinctive symbols of Hudec’s architectural philosophy. iDEALShanghai has selected a route for Hudec fans to get a panoramic look of his major projects in town.

(Shanghai Daily feature writer Michelle Qiao contributed to this article and Zhang Xuefei provided the photographs.)

Union Building

It was Laszlo Hudec’s first big project for a Chinese client. Built in an eclectic British Georgian style, it is the city’s first building whose facade was lavishly adorned with heavy marble.

Yesterday: Union Building of the Joint Savings Society

Today: Bank of Shanghai

Built: In 1926

Architectural style: British Georgian

Address: 259 Sichuan Rd M. (across Hankou Rd)

Tips: The building opens during the bank’s office hours. You can look at the original decor on the ground floor, including the marble counters and benches. Don’t forget to check out the facade and ponder Hudec’s solution for the round corner.

Moore Memorial Church

It was built in 1887 and was the largest congregation of the Southern Methodist Church in China. The facade is in a collegiate Gothic style with Romanesque manners in some parts. The external walls are adorned with scarlet bricks in a textured pattern.

Yesterday and today: Moore Memorial Church

Built: In 1929-31

Architectural style: Collegiate Gothic style with Romanesque manners

Address: 316 Xizang Rd M.

Tips: The church opens on Saturdays and Sundays. You are suggested to visit the other surviving Hudec church, Sieh Yih Chapel, on 1 Kele Road. It is Shanghai’s only Catholic church topped with a Byzantine dome, which Hudec designed in 1929 and completed in 1931.

Park Hotel

This 22-story building designed for the Joint Savings Society represents Hudec’s crowning achievement. It was once the tallest building in the Far East and had dominated the city’s skyline for nearly half a century. The facade is emphasized on vertical stripes which are shrinking layer upon layer until the top, a typical American modern Art Deco style.

Yesterday and today: Park Hotel

Built: In 1934

Architectural style: Art Deco

Address: 170 Nanjing Rd W.

Tips: Check out the informative archive showroom on the second floor and even visit Hudec’s previous project for the owner of the Park Hotel, the Joint Savings Society (now Bank of Shanghai at the intersection of Hankou Road and Sichuan Road).

The Grand Theater

Hudec delivers one of his best designs for the silver screen. Located on an oddly shaped plot, the Grand Theater was the most difficult job for Hudec among his major achievements in Shanghai. The Grand Theater was a typical Art Deco building. The facade was embellished with flowing lines and vivid colors.

Yesterday and today: The Grand Theater

Built: In 1933

Architectural style: Art Deco

Address: 216 Nanjing Rd W.

Tips: Parts of the 1928 cinema have been preserved, including exterior brick columns on the second floor (fronting No. 2 cinema hall) and the creamy white terrazzo staircase on the western side. It opens to the public from 10am to 11pm.

Life comes full circle in the city’s ‘foreign lanes’

Nicknamed “foreign lanes” today, Columbia Circle was a popular late 1920s property spanning the then Columbia Road, now Panyu Road and Amherst Avenue, now Xinhua Road.

At that time, growing demand for luxury houses with big gardens pushed Western developers to turn their attention toward less densely inhabited areas.

With a nose for business, American engineer/merchant Frank Raven and his Asia Realty Company bought around 66,000 square meters of land in Columbia Circle to build homes. Hudec left prolific works there.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Engineering and Laboratory Building of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which cost US$500,000 at the time, was constructed by Voh Kee Construction Company, Hudec’s Trustworthy collaborator on an array of projects including the Park Hotel. Enclosed By walls with a large yard inside, the steel-and-concrete lab building has a simple Art Deco facade.

Yesterday and today: Engineering and Laboratory Building of Shanghai Jiao Tong

University

Built: In 1930-32

Architectural style: Art Deco

Address: 1954 Huashan Rd

Tips: The building opens to the public for free. You can also visit the other historic buildings on campus including the old library built in 1919.

Hudec’s residence

The three-story Tudorbethan villa was the second residence for Hudec’s family in Shanghai. It is a spacious, Spanish-style house. Three sets of Gothic windows and a round arched door are on the ground floor. A big garden lies to the south.

Yesterday: Hudec’s residence

Today: Hudec Memorial Hall

Built: In 1930

Architectural style: Tudor

Address: 129 Panyu Rd

Tips: The memorial hall opens to the public on Tuesdays (1:30-4pm) and Sundays (9am-12pm, 1:30-4pm).

Hubertus Court

Nicknamed the “Little Park Hotel” with an area of 3,000 square meters, it is a Laszlo Hudec building in every way and his family lived in it. The simple shape and smooth horizontal lines reflect a strong modern European influence. Its body features a modern compact layout, a simple facade of milky stucco and cantilevered balconies with curved corners.

Yesterday: Hubertus Court

Today: Shanghai Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel Dahua

Built: In 1937

Architectural style: Modern

Address: 918 Yan’an Rd W.

Tips: The facade can be appreciated from the garden and on Yan’an Road W. The view from Yan’an Elevated Road is perfect. The lobby of the hotel opens to the public.

Normandie Apartments

As the earliest Veranda-style apartments in Shanghai, the building is a signature Hudec work during his time with the R.A. Curry firm. Its steep, sharp-headed shape symbolizes a powerful warship. The ground floor featured a rainbow of shops. The facade is graced by an arcade.

Yesterday: Normandie Apartments

Today: Wukang Building

Built: In 1923-26

Architectural style: French Renaissance

Address: 1836-1858 Huaihai Rd M.

Tips: The suites are not open to the public. Some obscure stories about Hudec and the Normandie Apartments will appear in the April 3 edition of Shanghai Daily.