Project Summary
Between 1843 to 1943, Shanghai emerged from a small port on the entrance of the Yangtze to a major metropolis in east Asia. This was largely due to the presence and dominance of Europeans in Shanghai. During this period, two dozen foreign companies and architects built the most magnificent buildings in Shanghai within the boundaries of the International Settlement and the French Concession. Shanghai in the 1930s was "the pinnacle of the art of sumptuousness." "The Museum of Architecture" was a name given to Shanghai because of its buildings. After the communists took power in 1949, most of these buildings became government offices, municipal and public facilities.
My project was to conduct a photographic survey of these historically and architecturally important buildings. My research documented the different European architectural styles that were represented in these buildings. This project was conducted in collaboration with the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University, Shanghai.
This project is especially significant in the field of China studies because of the tremendous foreign economic interest in China in recent years. With the rapid economic reforms, we observe the ever increasing numbers of foreign business opportunities all over China. Shanghai is now considered a major site for foreign development. The existence of many of these historical buildings in Shanghai is threatened. One of the goals of this project is to foster interest in the preservation of these buildings. They are not just a reminder of Shanghai's colonial past but an important historical counterpoint to the present foreign business buildup in the city. This project will examine the planning and formation of a major Chinese city at a pivotal point in its history.
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All images ©Paul Pak-hing Lee - 1998