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The "White House" in Shanghai
By admin on 2015-01-26

In a courtyard on No. 79 Fenyang Rd., Shanghai, there is a splendid and magnificent western-style building. Among the many European-style buildings, such a magnificent building in the architectural style of French Renaissance buildings is rarely seen. It is so exquisite and so fabulous that it looks like a "White House" seen out and away.

With the south side as the main elevation, the building, consistently designed, has a large lawn in the front and a balcony on the second story. The second story is designed with Roman long-arched windows and the third floor square windows. Clear-cut waistlines are observed in the design between the successive stories. Due to the light hoar color of the whole outer wall, the building, regardless of the absence of a dome, looks a little bit like the White House in America; hence the name "White House".

It used to house many political celebrities, who were "passers-by" attracted by its magnificent and splendid style. It is fully deserved an artwork. It is said that Chen Yi, the former mayor, was also fond of the building; therefore he sent those art professionals from the research institutes of arts and crafts to study there so that it could become more harmonious. Although such a story could not be traced, it is, if examined closely, indeed a beautiful story.

Original name: Conseil d'Administration Municipal de la Concession Fran?ais à Changhai
Current name or user: Arts and Crafts Research Institute, Shanghai
Address: No. 79, Fenyang Rd., Shanghai, China.
Built in: 1922-1924
Total area (m²): 3900 or so
Building land area (m²): 420 or so
Designer: L. E. Hudec
Building materials: Bricks and stones
Styles or Features: A garden mansion in the style of the French renaissance buildings
Summary of protection: In 1989, it was listed as one of the prominent historical buildings in Shanghai