Building Shanghai: The Story of Chinas Gateway: The Story of China's Gateway

Shanghai's illustrious history and phenomenal future is celebrated in this book, which examines the evolution of the city's architecture and urban form in order to contextualise the challenges facing the city today. The physical legacies that reflect Shanghai's uniqueness historically and contemporarily are examined chronologically using specific case studies of exemplary architecture interwoven in a compelling narrative that unlocks the many mysteries surrounding this amazing metropolis. Some of the most influential colonial architecture in the world, outstanding examples of Modernism and Art Deco, and an exceptional selection of eclectic and vernacular architecture reflecting Shanghai's many adopted cultures are revealed. This is the first book ever to examine this remarkable subject in a manner that is both comprehensive and captivating in its written content and stunningly illustrated with over 300 archive and contemporary photographs and maps. "In Building Shanghai, the story of this trading city is revealed for the first time through its architecture, character, form and urban development. Extensively researched and illustrated, with both previously unseen archive material and new photography, the book draws together a comprehensive narrative of Shanghai's history. Stretching back to its ancient origins, it charts the impact of foreign occupation in the 19th and early 20th centuries and then the subsequent decades of virtual isolation under communism, as well as the background to the present burgeoning economy."--BOOK JACKET Edward Denison, Guang Yu Ren. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 240-249) And Index.