Old Shanghai Construction Industry and Architects

Author: Lou Chenghao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: I work in the field of architectural archives management and have been in this profession for decades. Due to my career, I have a connection with Shanghai architecture. Many architectural archives of new Shanghai buildings have been in my hands for sorting, some of which I could even say I know like the back of my hand. However, I have little knowledge of old Shanghai architecture. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Shanghai's International Hotel, Peace Hotel, and the four major department stores—Sincere, etc.—along with other skyscrapers, were sources of pride for Shanghai residents and admiration from outsiders. However, few people knew much about the details of old Shanghai architecture, and there were few books about it. I remember spending a long time in the library and finally finding a book titled The Story of Old Shanghai, which was actually a children's book.
After the Cultural Revolution, normal academic activities could finally resume. I joined our design institute's Chief Architect Zhang Ming in compiling A Draft History of Modern Shanghai Architecture, where I finally found a starting point for the knowledge I had long desired. Over the past two decades, I have been closely following the development of modern Shanghai architecture, using every possible opportunity to investigate, survey, and conduct research, gradually accumulating a wealth of historical materials on Shanghai's modern buildings. From these materials, I have come to realize that old Shanghai architecture is a precious historical legacy of Shanghai. The diverse and varied old buildings reflect the economic, political, scientific, and cultural factors of that time, serving as witnesses to history.
After the reform and opening-up, books reflecting old Shanghai architecture have been published one after another. I was fortunate to be invited by East China University of Technology Press to co-author the Shanghai Old Architecture Series with my old friend Xue Shunsheng. The series nearly covers all aspects of old Shanghai architecture, including residential buildings, villas, temples, churches, trading companies, banks, theaters, schools, hospitals, and factories, divided into five volumes. Now, the manuscript is complete, and all five volumes have been published. As someone who has a connection with architecture, I can finally take some comfort in knowing that I have contributed to the preservation of old Shanghai architecture. With joy comes a sense of regret. We have recorded the buildings, but the creators and designers—those in the architectural industry—remain largely unknown. My lifelong dream has been to write a book about the people who contributed to building Shanghai since its opening to the outside world, but it has been a great challenge. Many of the older generation have passed away, and historical records are scarce. I picked up the pen, then put it down, but in the end, I gathered the courage to tackle this difficult task.
Shanghai's prosperity is built upon the foundation laid by modern urban development. The outstanding modern architecture of Shanghai deserves protection; the construction workers and architects who contributed their wisdom and labor to building a great Shanghai also deserve to be celebrated. I have poured my heart into compiling this book, merely as a token of respect for them. This book is a first attempt at exploring this topic, hoping to inspire broader societal attention, gather more materials, and enrich its content.