Royal Asiatic Society - Shanghai - 1932
Museum Rd, Shanghai.
In a city founded on commerce and focused primarily on the accumulation of wealth, the RAS provided an intellectual diversion where like-minded westerners (initially but later open to all) could share their experience of the history, culture, science and arts of China. Tracing its origins to the Shanghai Literary & Scientific Society (1857), the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society came into being in 1858, after affiliation was granted by the parent Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
With an expanding membership and ever-growing collection of books, stuffed animals, artefacts, journals and other publications, the RAS required new premises. It also wanted to accommodate a museum and larger meeting rooms. Plans for the new building were drawn up by the prominent Shanghai architect (and RAS Council member) George 'Tug' Wilson of Messrs Palmer & Turner. The foundation stone was laid on 20 October 1931 by the British Consul Sir John Brenan. When opened, if contained the Shanghai Museum, an auditorium and a library containing over 15,000 volumes.
Whilst the shape of the building is clearly western mixing Palladian and Modernist design, it incorporates many Chinese ornamental features and motifs; most prominent of these are the "ying and yang" octagonal window grilles, old Chinese text, the balustrade and the Chinese style lions, sentinel at the upper tablet. Look closely and you can still clearly decipher the letters "R.A.S" on the upper tablet. Remarkable, given China's history since 1947.
It now functions as the Rockbund Art Museum, part of the total regeneration of the Yuenmingyuen Road area over the last 8 years by the Rockbund Group, transforming what was once empty old buildings into an upmarket F&B, office and "lifestyle" zone; think fancy hotels, restaurants and international brand names. Well, that's better than letting the old buildings be demolished.
Royal Asiatic Society - Shanghai - 1932
Museum Rd, Shanghai.
In a city founded on commerce and focused primarily on the accumulation of wealth, the RAS provided an intellectual diversion where like-minded westerners (initially but later open to all) could share their experience of the history, culture, science and arts of China. Tracing its origins to the Shanghai Literary & Scientific Society (1857), the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society came into being in 1858, after affiliation was granted by the parent Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
With an expanding membership and ever-growing collection of books, stuffed animals, artefacts, journals and other publications, the RAS required new premises. It also wanted to accommodate a museum and larger meeting rooms. Plans for the new building were drawn up by the prominent Shanghai architect (and RAS Council member) George 'Tug' Wilson of Messrs Palmer & Turner. The foundation stone was laid on 20 October 1931 by the British Consul Sir John Brenan. When opened, if contained the Shanghai Museum, an auditorium and a library containing over 15,000 volumes.
Whilst the shape of the building is clearly western mixing Palladian and Modernist design, it incorporates many Chinese ornamental features and motifs; most prominent of these are the "ying and yang" octagonal window grilles, old Chinese text, the balustrade and the Chinese style lions, sentinel at the upper tablet. Look closely and you can still clearly decipher the letters "R.A.S" on the upper tablet. Remarkable, given China's history since 1947.
It now functions as the Rockbund Art Museum, part of the total regeneration of the Yuenmingyuen Road area over the last 8 years by the Rockbund Group, transforming what was once empty old buildings into an upmarket F&B, office and "lifestyle" zone; think fancy hotels, restaurants and international brand names. Well, that's better than letting the old buildings be demolished.