An art deco slaughterhouse has been restored and converted into the entertainment and eating centrepiece of a revitalised district
New York seems to have led the way by turning its meat-packing district in lower Manhattan into a fashionable quarter known for its loft apartments, trendy bars and eateries. Now a similar transformation has occurred in Shanghai with a former abattoir in Hongkou forming the centrepiece of the area's revitalisation. The art deco venue is now playing host to luxury car launches and other events, with developers hoping to attract more shops, restaurants and hotels. The district is also said to be a welcome addition to the social lives of multinational company staff who have set up home in the city.
Shanghai 1933 continues the trend established by big cities in the west where former industrial areas, such as docklands, have been rejuvenated with new businesses, entertainment facilities and residencies.
When it was completed in 1933, the Shanghai Abattoir was one of the three grandest abattoirs in the world. The art deco-influenced monument was the product of a cross-cultural exchange: designed by British architects and developed and built by Chinese using concrete imported from Britain.
The building was used as a medicine plant from 1970 to 2002, then lay dormant until its current redevelopment. With its distinctive architectural style, those tasked with marketing the rejuvenated district say it exists today as a 'monument to the vision and grandeur of its era - and will continue to define the next'.
The square five-storey main building forms a perimeter which surrounds a 24-sided core building which is topped by a rooftop evocative of a massive camera shutter with a six-metre diameter oculus that allows natural light to penetrate the building. The buildings are linked by a complex system of concrete land bridges which, together with spiral staircases and flowering columns, create a labyrinth-like effect that encourages exploration and flow of creative energy. The original cavernous workshops, medieval castle-like passageways and distinctive latticework of bridges and ramps now form a unique mix of indoor and outdoor areas for creative-driven tenants and events. There are soaring light-filled spaces for galleries; moody caverns perfect for lounges and clubs; boardwalks that will be lined with cafes and breezy offices; and grandiose columned halls along the western facade earmarked for high-end restaurants.