Luxury brands have been using old Shanghai houses to make stores or customer experience centers for a few years now. Although renovation does not always follow historical lines, it’s a great opportunity to preserve and open those old buildings to the public.
The earliest I can remember the opening of Three on the Bund, the pioneer of Bund old building renovation in 2003. It was followed by Bund 18 in late 2004. One massive project was the renovation of the twin villas on 796 Huai Hai Road by Richemont, that opened in 2008. The renovation was of the highest level, done by the same Italian company that did Bund 18. Another famous example is the Maison Hermes, taking over the building of the former Joffre police station on Huai Hai Road. The last one to come to mind was the Shanghai Tang store @ Cathay Cinema that has now disappeared.
Walking in the street of the former French Concession, I came by random to the new Longchamp house 12 Wu Kang Lu. The outside of the art deco house has been well preserved. The house was built in 1948, one of the last Art Deco / modernist style. Details of the outside have been well preserved including the rot iron frame and balcony, as well as the bricks color.
The inside has been totally renovated, still keeping the beautiful staircase.
Original parts like the windows have been recreated with a fitting model, creating a new old and new atmosphere that fits the French brand well.
