Fading Shanghai Old Buildings

Author: Lou Chenghao Xue Shunsheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: The large-scale demolition and construction in cities is an inevitable process of urban development. There are two attitudes towards urban construction: one is to prioritize the present over the past, believing that the buildings in old urban areas have stood for decades or even centuries, are outdated, and dilapidated, with restoration being less effective than new construction. The other is to cling to the past and reject the present, being content with habits and longing for the past, always thinking that today's architecture is less exquisite and aesthetically pleasing than that of the past. Both attitudes stem from one-sided thinking. Without the past, there is no present. Only by cherishing the past while not being confined to it can we develop the present. Therefore, during large-scale urban construction, great attention must be paid to the preservation of historically valuable buildings. For buildings in old areas or neighborhoods that are scheduled for demolition, thorough documentation and photography of their original appearance should be conducted before demolition and reconstruction. What is lost is hard to compensate for, and this applies to architecture as well. Even if rebuilt to the original specifications, the original essence and historical value are lost. Once the historical appearance of architecture is lost, it can never beed. The construction of Pudong New Area has handled the relationship between historical and modern architecture well. For example, the Chen Guiqin Residence in Lujiazui's financial district, a high-rise area, was consciously preserved, restored, and converted into a historical exhibition hall, serving as a good example. If governments at all levels pay attention to the protection of historical buildings, the cultural heritage of Shanghai will continue to be preserved and promoted. The purpose of this book is to recall buildings that were once constructed in Shanghai's history but later disappeared due to various reasons. Some buildings are considered lost even if only partially demolished or if they remain but are in a state of disrepair. Some modern buildings are also included if they were demolished for the overall needs of urban development.