Why was it called The Cloister, even though it had no connection to a monastery? The Xiudao Temple Apartment, or as it’s also known, The Cloister, sits at 62 Fuxing West Road in Shanghai. This unassuming residential complex, nestled at the corner of Fuxing West Road and Yongfu Road, holds a unique history. The Xiudao Temple Apartment became a protected cultural heritage site in 1989. It also earned a spot on the first list of outstanding historical buildings in Shanghai.
The Xiudao Temple Apartment was built in 1930, although some say 1948. Originally, it served as the residence of the owner of a British thread factory. Later, ownership passed to the Shanghai Xuhui (Group) Co. Ltd., which housed various units like the Hunan Road Subdistrict Office. Opened to the public in 2019, the building was renamed Hengfu Style Museum. The Xiudao Temple Apartment’s low plot ratio, compared to neighboring areas near the former French Concession’s western boundary, reflects the lower land prices of the time.
The complex features two brick-and-wood structures. The south building has two stories, while the north building has three. A hallway connects the two, enclosing a central courtyard. The Xiudao Temple Apartment showcases a Western Spanish architectural style, both inside and out. The light yellow roughcast exterior walls, cylindrical tile roofs, bay windows, and decorative iron window grilles create a distinct aesthetic. Inside, elements like rope-shaped pillars, iron flower grilles, and wooden doors have been beautifully preserved.
Initially, the south building housed residences, while the north building briefly served as a garage for the thread factory. Over time, the interior layout changed significantly. Each floor of each building now comprises two units of varying sizes. The first owner of the Xiudao Temple Apartment was the wife of Chester Fritz, an American businessman. She frequently hosted cultural gatherings in her living room, inviting prominent figures from both China and abroad. This earned her the nickname the “Flower Room Lady”. The name “Xiudao Temple Apartment”, while evocative, is a misnomer. There is no actual link to a temple. The name likely originated from Yongfu Road’s former name, “Gu Shenfu Road,” whose meaning relates to practices of self-cultivation.