“Once the tallest building” is a phrase associated with the \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c. Today we explore this historic Shanghai landmark. The \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c stands at 9 Zhongshan East Second Road. It is now known as the \u6d66\u6c5f\u5927\u697c.
Let’s delve into the history of this impressive structure. The \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c is in the former French Concession. This area was the heart of old Shanghai. In 1861 the French shipping company bought land here. It aimed to expand its business in China. By the 1930s the company decided to rebuild its offices.
The \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c project was awarded to a Swiss architect. His name was Mr. Minutti. He graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. Before this project he designed the Picca Apartments now Hengshan Hotel. The construction was managed by Voh Kee Construction Company. Construction started in 1937. It was completed in February 1939.
Upon completion the \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c housed various entities. The French shipping company occupied the ground floor. Other floors were rented out. Shanghai lawyers and financial figures worked here. The Swiss Consulate used the building during World War II. It served as an office for British American and Dutch interests. The Sino French Industrial and Commercial Bank also tenanted space here.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China the building became state owned. It was renamed \u6d66\u6c5f\u5927\u697c. It continued to serve as office space. The Shanghai Electrical Products Design Institute once had offices here. In 2003 the building was renovated. It became the new site for the Shanghai Municipal Archives.
The architecture of the \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c is notable. It covers 1840 square meters. It has a building area of 8580 square meters. This twelve story building is made of reinforced concrete.
The \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c differed from older buildings on the Bund. It was taller. It was the tallest building in the French Concession when built. The architectural style is modern emphasizing vertical lines. The exterior is made of washed stone. The building has a stepped design. It rises twelve stories in the middle. It then drops to ten stories on the sides. The design lacks other ornamentation. This reflects modern architecture’s clean aesthetic.
Today the \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c stands as a testament to Shanghai’s rich history. In 1994 it was listed as a Shanghai Excellent Historical Building. In 2004 it became a Huangpu District Immovable Cultural Relic. Its story connects French ambitions Shanghai’s past and modern preservation efforts. As we conclude our visit consider the layers of history embedded in its walls. The \u6cd5\u56fd\u90ae\u8239\u516c\u53f8\u5927\u697c remains a significant landmark.