What to do with Shanghai’s historic, culturally significant but neglected buildings that lie on the land parcels alongside the Huangpu River?

This is a question that has been under discussion in Shanghai over the last few years. With the upcoming World Expo in 2010, Shanghai has been looking at ways to revitalize its old and forgotten central areas. In 2002, the Shanghai Municipal Government formally announced ambitious plans to redevelop both banks of the Huangpu River. The redevelopment involves an 85-kilometer stretch and a total site area covering 73 square kilometers from Xupu Bridge in the south all the way north to Wusong Port.

National Industry Bank of China Building, 14 Huqiu

One of the areas designated for redevelopment is Waitanyuan, the area heading north from the Peace Hotel to Suzhou Creek. It comprises an unbelievable wealth of historic architecture, mostly dating from the end of the 19th century to the 1930’s. This area, at the mouth of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, was once the premier financial and trading center for East Asia. Today however it is badly maintained with large pockets of empty floor space, testimony to the decline in importance of the rivers for business and trade, and also to this city’s great love for glass skyscrapers, as seen in the collection of shiny new towers directly across the river.

Capitol Theatre, 146 Huqiu Lu, then and now

The first stage of redevelopment in Waitanyuan will be the 30-acre block behind the former British Consulate and bordered by Yuanmingyuan Lu to the east, Beijing Dong Lu to the south, Huqiu Lu to the west and Suzhou Creek to the north. This project, nicknamed Rock Bund, aims to revitalize this area and its 17 existing buildings by creating high-class offices, hotels, green spaces, leisure facilities and apartment buildings, whilst preserving as much as possible the original character of these buildings.

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Ampire & Co Building detail, 97 Yuanmingyuan Lu

Each building will undergo varying degrees of renovation and restoration. While some buildings will be restored to their original condition, the project will also change the height of some of the buildings, for example to allow for the construction of multi-storey apartments and hotels behind the facades. Many critics of the project are concerned that the Rock Bund is no longer a restoration project, but rather a construction and reconstruction project similar to that of Xintiandi. They have also raised the issue of potential damage to the buildings in order to provide for their new functions.

Doorway detail, Lyceum Building, 185 Yuanmingyuan Lu

However the developers have been quick to reassure that Rock Bund will not be another Xintiandi. While it is necessary to make changes to the buildings to make them ready for use, they say that the most precious parts of these excellent historic buildings will be preserved as much as possible.

Capitol Theatre, detail

This SpyShanghai writer thinks that restoration combined with commercialization is a very practical solution to the problem of Shanghai’s forgotten buildings. Without intervention now, these structures will continue to be neglected, their condition worsening, until they become even more costly to restore and perhaps beyond saving at all. However if developers and city businesses can successfully combine preservation with profit, then surely more restoration works will follow and Shanghai will ultimately be benefited.

Doorway detail, North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Building, 20 Huqiu Lu

Revitalisation of Shanghai’s aging areas by bringing people and community back is equally as important as preserving the historic architecture. With care and attention hopefully Shanghai will do both and on completion of the Rock Bund project the city will have a bustling new commercial zone with antique beauty in time for 2010. Shanghai already showcases some of the world’s most interesting modern architecture. What a thrill it is to see a gradual shift in appreciation not just for the modern Shanghai, but also for its more classical city.