Alexandre Léonard: The Man. The Art Deco. The Mystery.
This Sunday, we'll explore the Art Deco buildings designed by Alexandre Léonard, one of Shanghai's most talented architects, and finish up with a special treat: a visit to the penthouse apartment where he lived--and from which he disappeared, without a trace. Will we solve the mystery of his disappearance? Come along and ...
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László Hudec: Shanghai’s Master Builder
In celebration of László Hudec’s 131st birthday on January 8, we’re doing a two-part tour of his buildings, the icons and the hidden gems, January 7 and 28. For more information, click here. It’s likely that you know Hudec’s buildings: The I.S.S. Building/Normandie (Wukang Apartments), that red brick beauty ...
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The Street Formerly Known As Wulumuqi Road
As Wulumuqi Road street signs were taken down in the wake of protests that began early Sunday morning, rumors were flying that the street name may be changed--again. Although most of the street signs do remain, it seems like a good time to take a look at the century-long history of this street, and the different names it's ...
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The Royal Asiatic Society Building: The Museum on Museum Road
I first saw the old building in the summer of 2000, coming out of a lane on Huqiu Lu. It stood there, in all its modernist majesty, still glorious despite half a century of neglect. We asked the residents at the lane entrance just opposite the building about it. One middle-aged man, shirt doffed in the stifling Shanghai ...
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Shanghai’s Little White House
They call it the “Little White House,” and it was one of the finest grand mansions of old Shanghai. Still is. Constructed by a company whose buildings would become icons, this gracious belle époque mansion on Fenyang Lu never housed Presidents, but for nearly half a century after it was built, it was the home of men ...
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Cai Zhen: Painter of Old Shanghai
Inspired by her own heritage, Cai Zhen paints the heritage buildings of old Shanghai, bathing them in sunlight and vibrant color. [caption id="attachment_2288" align="alignleft" width="224"] Cai Zhen, self portrait[/caption] We first encountered Madame Cai at an art exhibition featuring the watercolor paintings of architect ...
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Inside Old Shanghai’s American Club
Even with decades of unwashed grime and a chipped façade, the Georgian edifice on Fuzhou Road always maintained its grace, unbowed even by the unsavory photographs of crime busts displayed on its stately brick walls in the days when it served as a court. So it’s especially nice to see the onetime American Club getting a ...
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