The Residence of the Guo Brothers

The Guo Brothers' Residences

No. 1418 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai, now the office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office. It houses two Western-style garden residences originally owned by the Guo brothers, Guo Le and Guo Shun, who founded the Yong'an Department Store in Shanghai.

The Guo Brothers' Residences consist of two three-story hybrid-structure garden homes built in 1926, designed by architect Wilson of Palmer & Turner and constructed by the Tao Guiji Construction Company. Palmer & Turner was founded in Hong Kong in 1891 (the 17th year of the Guangxu reign) and entered Shanghai in the early 20th century. Before 1916, the firm had gained a prominent reputation in Shanghai’s architectural design industry for designing and supervising the construction of the United Building at No. 4 The Bund and the Municipal Council Building at No. 193 Hankou Road. The Yong'an Department Store of the Guo family was also one of their projects. The Tao Guiji Construction Company was a long-term partner of the Guo family, having built the first, second, and third factories of the Yong'an Textile Company. The two garden villas described in this article are arranged east-west, with the eastern villa occupied by elder brother Guo Le and the western one by younger brother Guo Shun.

The brothers’ villas are built in the style of French Renaissance architecture. Renaissance architecture reflects the prevailing European style from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Theoretically based on the Renaissance ideals of the emerging bourgeoisie, it rejected the Gothic architectural style symbolic of divine supremacy in favor of reviving ancient Roman forms. It claimed that classical columns, semicircular arches, and dome-centered structures embodied their humanism. Renaissance architecture emphasizes horizontality and pursues balance, harmony, and rational unity.

The main building is situated to the north, while the garden, pond, and small auxiliary structures are located to the south. The service areas and auxiliary buildings are placed to the north of the main structure, connected on the ground floor by corridors. Although the buildings are Western in style, they incorporate elements of the traditional Chinese three-bay, two-wing layout due to the Chinese ownership and builders. The houses have three stories, with steeply pitched roofs and prominent chimney stacks. The residential facades face south, are 23 meters wide from east to west, and extend 18 meters in depth. The central south facade features a semicircular porch, with open-air terraces protruding to the east and west. Symmetrical cantilevered balconies are found on the second and third floors, and the parapet is adorned with pierced vase balustrades. The facades feature intricate moldings, delicate decorations, and dynamic, varied treatment of solid and void spaces. Details such as balconies, windows, cornices, and plinths are all uniquely crafted. Triangular arches are used at the top of the side elevations, adding to the classical character of the buildings. The plan layout and facade composition emphasize symmetry, with stacked columns in the central section — Tuscan order on the ground floor, Ionic on the second, and Corinthian on the third — showcasing the full expression of Greek columnar language. This makes it a quintessential example of European neoclassical architectural style.

The interior finishes of the residences are exquisite, particularly the entrance hall and the large and small living rooms on the ground floor, which all feature high-quality wood paneling and inlaid floors. The door frames inside are decorated with overhanging eaves and columns, creating a strong three-dimensional effect. The ceilings are adorned with painted bas-reliefs, each room featuring different patterns, predominantly of fruits and floral designs. The main staircase is located in the center of the northern part of the ground floor, is spacious with a turning platform, and has finely carved handrails. All the living rooms and bedrooms in the residence are equipped with fireplaces, each with unique colors and designs.

The large garden to the south of the main building covers an area of 1,701 square meters, lush with trees and flowers, and features undulating terrain with winding paths leading to secluded spots. It includes small caves, paths, bridges, rockeries, and pavilions. There is also an elegant classical tower-shaped fountain hidden among the greenery, built with marble and featuring a Greek statue in the center, making it truly distinctive.

Listed as an outstanding modern protected building in 1994.

Guo Le (1872–1956)

Styled Luanhui, also known as Jingchong, from Zhuxiuyuan Village near Huan Cheng. In 1892 (the 18th year of the Guangxu reign) during the Qing Dynasty, he went to Sydney, Australia, to seek a livelihood. In 1897, along with several fellow villagers, he purchased Yong'an Stall (later renamed Yong'an Fruit Stand), where he was elected manager. Known for his honesty, there was an incident when a bank mistakenly paid him an extra 500 Australian pounds, but he refused to keep the money and returned it in full. Both Chinese and Western individuals praised him for this, and from then on, Yong'an’s reputation grew, and its business flourished. He subsequently partnered with fellow villagers to establish Sheng’an Tai Fruit Stand and developed fruit orchards on Fiji Island. Since Yong'an Fruit Stand also served overseas Chinese... [More details about Guo Le]

Guo Shun (1884–1976)

Styled Hehui, also known as Jingchun. From Zhuxiuyuan Village near Huan Cheng. Born on December 10, 1884 (the 10th year of the Guangxu reign), he was the sixth younger brother of Guo Le, the founder of Yong'an Department Store, and a planner of Shanghai Yong'an Textile Company. He studied in Australia in his early years and was diligent and studious. In 1914 (the 3rd year of the Republic of China), he became the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Australia, where he united local overseas Chinese to establish the China-Australia Steamship Company and was elected chairman. In 1921, he raised funds for Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary cause and was commended by Sun Yat-sen. In 1922, he returned to China to start industries, raising capital through shares from overseas Chinese... [More details about Guo Shun]