Economic boom in Shanghai in the 1930s shaped the architectural design of buildings in the city, in a style now considered as ‘Art Deco’. Shanghai has a high density of 1930s architecture with geometric shapes, stylish curves and functional elegance associated with Art Deco features of buildings.
Art Deco Architectural Tour of Shanghai
Two books, Shanghai Art Deco by Deke Erk and Tess Johnston (Old China Hand Press Hong Kong, 2007) and Phantom Shanghai by Greg Girard (Magenta, 2007), have raised the profile with travellers of the prospects of making a historical vacation in the city of Shanghai China.
The Art Deco collection of Shanghai architecture includes:
- On The Bund, Shanghai’s waterfront stands The Peace Hotel, on Huauhai Lu (formerly Avenue Maréchal Joffre) a well known stylish area in the city of Shanghai, currently being restored. The Peace Hotel, known formerly as The Cathay, was completed in 1929. Staying at the Cathay in the 1930s was a sign of a luxurious vacation. Guests included Noël Coward.
- Park Hotel, by the architect Ladislaus Hudec, is a 22-story Art Deco building. Park Hotel was the tallest building outside America on its completion in Shanghai 1934. In the 1930s Shanghai was the fifth-largest city in the world with 4 million inhabitants. Today around 20 million people live in Shanghai.
- The former Capitol Cinema building, by the architect C H Gonda, is used as government offices in Shanghai city.
- Chinese Aviation Association building, by architect Dong Dayo, takes the shape of a stylised 1930s aircraft. A marvellous Art Deco building, the Chinese Aviation Association structure is now used as a hospital for military personnel.
- Chekiang First Commercial Bank, completed in 1948 by Allied Architects, Benjamin Chih Chen, Shen Chao and Chuin Tung, graduate architects from the University of Pennsylvania.
Shanghai Art Deco and Phantom Shanghai
Shanghai Art Deco (Old China Hand Press Hong Kong, 2007) by Deke Erk and Tess Johnston and Phantom Shanghai (Magenta, 2007) by Greg Girard, a Canadian photographer, are two important books on Shanghai architecture. Shanghai Art Deco and Phantom Shanghai are essential reading for social historians of the Art Deco period and East Asian architecture lovers and could be bought as gifts for general readers who appreciate visual art.
Bold Art Deco enthusiasts call Shanghai the ‘Capital City’ of ‘Art Deco’. Some scholars, including Professor of Art History Tim Benton, have debated whether ‘Art Deco’ which characterises decoration can be applied to Architecture. Some commentators mourn the loss over the past decade of some elegant buildings in Shanghai designed in the 1920s and 1930s replaced by new builds.
Resource-rich travellers can visit Shanghai and arrange an Art Deco architectural sightseeing tour in the city. Chinese cultural activities can be enjoyed by visitors to the ‘capital city of Art Deco’ Shanghai. Before booking flights and hotel accommodation in Shanghai, further travel reading could include the hardback book Planet Shanghai: Architecture Family Food Fashion and Culture of China's Great Metropolis (Chroncle Books, 2008) by award winning New York-based photographer Justin Guariglia and John Krich, a Bangkok-based writer.
Susan Morris - Susan Morris, Scottish food and drink business manager, organic gardener, author and editor
