Lost in time Shanghai’s Little White House whispers tales of a bygone era. Before you stands a belle époque mansion a testament to Shanghai’s opulent past. This isn’t just any building. The Shanghai Arts & Crafts Museum housed within these walls echoes the lives of influential figures.
Completed in 1919 the Little White House was initially the home of silk merchant Henri Madier. Madier didn’t actually own the property though. It belonged to the International Savings Society ISS. The ISS cleverly built luxury villas like this to rent to senior management. It was a shrewd business strategy to offset salaries and dividends.
The Little White House’s design reflects an American influence perhaps inspiring its White House resemblance. Laszlo Hudec a young Hungarian architect fleeing a Siberian prison camp designed it. Hudec’s talent was already evident in this early project. He would later become one of old Shanghai’s most sought-after architects.
Imagine lavish soirées in the grand rooms. Guests would ascend the curved staircase for candlelit dinners. Rich wood paneling and marble fireplaces would set the scene. The vast lawn would host grand receptions. The simpler second-story bedrooms contrasted with the downstairs grandeur. The basement housed kitchens and servant quarters.
In 1936 the house became home to Hachiro Arita Japan’s ambassador. Arita’s residency reflected the growing Japanese influence in Shanghai. He conceptualized the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere a plan to counter Western colonization. He didn’t stay long though becoming Japan’s Foreign Minister in March.
After World War II the Little White House became the first office of the World Health Organization’s Asia-Pacific region. Marshal Chen Yi Shanghai’s first Communist-era mayor later resided there. He’d felt right at home a fitting reward for liberating Shanghai.
Chen left in 1958. The building then housed the Arts & Crafts Research Institute. Later during the Cultural Revolution it was occupied by Lin Liguo. Lin Liguo was a high-ranking officer and son of Marshal Lin Biao. Lin Biao was Mao’s designated successor. Lin Liguo allegedly led a plot to assassinate Mao codenamed Project 571. The details remain speculative.
Following the Lin Biao Incident the Arts & Crafts Research Institute returned. In 2001 the Little White House finally became a museum showcasing China’s art and crafts. The rooms built for a taipan now display exquisite artistry. The building itself remains the finest craft a rare example of a grand mansion in its original condition. Its history is palpable. The ghosts of its past occupants linger within these walls.