The Former Residence Complex of the Bao Family

The Former Residence Complex of the Bao Family

The Former Residence Complex of the Bao Family is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Former Residence Complex of the Bao Family (Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Era: Republic of China

Listed on March 16, 2005

It consists of two parts: the Bao Family Western-style Villa and the Old Residence Courtyard, covering a land area of 13,400 square meters and a built-up area of 2,926 square meters. The Bao Family Western-style Villa is a brick-concrete structure, facing south, with three stories, a width of five bays, an overall width of 22.80 meters, and a total depth of 16.27 meters. The central and side bays feature front porches, and the front eaves are supported by Ionic columns extending to the third-floor terrace. Both the second and third floors are equipped with Western-style railings. On the eastern and western corners of the third-floor terrace are Western-style domed pavilions. A wall gate faces south, featuring four pillars and three bays, with the central bay adorned with an arched gateway. The Old Residence Courtyard is arranged along both longitudinal and transverse axes. The longitudinal axis comprises three rows of buildings: eastern, central, and western. The central row has five sections from front to back, all wooden structures and single-story, with varying bay numbers totaling 35, and the first three sections have their central bays connected by barrel vaults. The column and beam framework is finely crafted. The eastern wing features 17 bays, with an overall width of 59.5 meters, in traditional wooden structure. The western wing has eight bays, with an overall width of 30 meters, also in traditional wooden structure. The transverse axis retains one remaining section, with 21 bays, an overall width of 64.9 meters, and a depth of 5.95 meters, also in traditional wooden structure.

The Former Residence Complex of the Bao Family boasts a grand scale and exquisite craftsmanship. It integrates both Chinese and Western architectural styles, embodying the "Western influence spreading to the East" during the Republic of China period. It stands as a building with typical characteristics of its era in the Shaoxing region and holds significant value for studying the development history of modern architecture in the area.

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Network

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units