UPWEI·XINSONG

UPWEI·XINSONG

On May 25, 2018, “UPWEI·XINSONG” at No. 1262 Yan’an West Road will officially open to the public.

Located in Shanghai’s Xinhua Road Historical Conservation Area, UPWEI·XINSONG is an urban renewal project by Vanke. It is set to officially open on May 25, 2018, allowing more people to explore the beauty of the city through its architecture.

A mix of old and new buildings

UPWEI·XINSONG is situated in the Xinhua Road Historical Conservation Area, known as “Shanghai’s No. 1 Garden Boulevard.” It consists of three historic buildings—the Sun Yat-sen Villa, the Columbia Country Club, and the Navy Club—11 industrial buildings transformed over the course of New China’s development, and four distinctive contemporary structures.

Among them, the Sun Yat-sen Villa, designed by the legendary Hungarian architect László Hudec, is a classic Spanish-style building that also incorporates elements of Baroque and other styles. The Columbia Country Club, designed by architect Elliott Hazzard, features columns of varying designs, wooden window frames, and wainscoting, among other intricate details. These buildings, having weathered the passage of time, quietly exude a unique charm. A simple photo here feels like capturing a flood of stories—undoubtedly making it a perfect spot for selfies.

13 buildings spanning decades

Covering a total area of approximately 48,000 square meters, about half of UPWEI·XINSONG is open in its first phase. The buildings vary in age and style. A look at the site planning map reveals up to eight different colors used to denote the construction periods of the buildings, with the 13 soon-to-open structures spanning several decades.

A unique auxiliary building divides the entire complex into eastern and western sections with distinct styles. The eastern side is lush with trees, offering a quiet and classic atmosphere. Entering from the Panyu Road entrance, you are greeted by a garden villa—the Sun Yat-sen Villa, a Shanghai municipal cultural heritage site and one of the city’s first batch of outstanding historical buildings. As the Sun Yat-sen Villa is undergoing another round of renovation, it is not open to the public this time.

Built in the 1930s, the Sun Yat-sen Villa blends multiple architectural styles: red bricks and flat roofs reflect the Spanish style; varied window frames showcase the Baroque style, including flat arches, rounded arches, and pointed arches; and the rooftop chimneys are inspired by the Italian Renaissance style... The villa covers less than 400 square meters, with over 7,000 square meters consisting of gardens, making it a typical traditional Chinese courtyard. The interior of the Sun Yat-sen Villa is as exquisite as its exterior. The white walls feature numerous pointed and rounded arch designs, while the stairs and wainscoting are made entirely of teak wood, adorned with delicate and diverse patterns.

Passing through the auxiliary building reveals a whole new world. The western side of the complex is bright and spacious, with more diverse building types. The Columbia Country Club within the former Columbia Headquarters, built in the 1920s, is the “veteran” of the complex, featuring a Spanish style with a red roof and round archways. The first-floor hall has many gracefully curved spiral columns, and the spacious interior was once divided into a bowling alley, bridge room, and billiard room. Surrounding it are several production and research buildings constructed after the relocation of the former UPWEI institute. The most famous is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) production building. Built in the 1960s, it stands eight stories tall and was the tallest building in Changning District at the time. This German Bauhaus-style structure features a minimalist exterior, small windows, and a strong industrial vibe. It was designed by Guo Bo, son of the renowned poet Guo Moruo and a celebrated architect. In the future, three brand-new contemporary buildings will be added to the complex, spanning nearly a century apart from the Columbia Country Club.

Address: No. 1262 Yan’an West Road

Transportation: Line 11 Metro, Jiangsu Road Station