Friday, February 14, 2014

Magy Apartments, Shanghai

Magy Apartments, Shanghai

The Magy Apartments in West Fuxing Rd, Shanghai. There are many corner apartment buildings from the deco era in Shanghai. The Magy Apartments were built in 1936.

Magy Apartments, Shanghai

On quite a few of those buildings there are plaques similar to the one for Magy. They are issued by the local municipality and as you can see they recognise the building has having some heritage value but it doesn't mean that it is protected in any way. Some are protected, but that important element is usually not included in the English translation.

My friends at Historic Shanghai showed me the important Chinese character that means the building is protected but it didn't stick. Maybe next time I'll pay more attention!

Posted by David Thompson
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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2014 at 11:38 PM

    Do I have this right? Fuxing Road? The building looks so modern, yet it was built in 1936. Good to known that there is some respect for Shanghai's older buildings.

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  2. Patrick CranleyFebruary 15, 2014 at 12:11 AM

    The Chinese word for "protected" that you are looking for is "保护“ (bao hu). Those grey signs in Shanghai don't have that word on them; if you see a metal or stone plaque on an historic building in Shanghai, chances are it's a protected building (though many so-called "protected" buildings have been demolished anyway... money talks loudly!).
    Patrick Cranley
    Historic Shanghai

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    Replies
    1. David ThompsonFebruary 15, 2014 at 12:14 AM

      Thank you Patrick ... I can see you pointing to that Chinese word but as for remembering the characters ... I'll have it written down next time!

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  3. HelsFebruary 15, 2014 at 1:28 PM

    Because so many businesses, public services and blocks of flats were built exactly in the deco era in Shanghai, that city must be your mother lode for great images.

    But one thing I had never thought of was that there were many corner apartment buildings. Selecting a corner to build on..changed the front door, windows, verandas, the rooftop terraces and the location of shops at ground level. Love it.

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    1. David ThompsonFebruary 15, 2014 at 8:38 PM

      I have loved my visits to Shanghai.

      A corner site opens lots of possibilities for the architect and probably maximises the views from the apartment windows since they can look across the intersection or perhaps down one of the streets rather than straight across the road if the building was in the centre of a block.

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