Former Site of the French Municipal Council

Former Site of the French Municipal Council

The former site of the French Municipal Council is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former building of the French Municipal Council is located at No. 12 Chengde Road, Heping District, Tianjin. Constructed between 1929 and 1931, the initial design was created by French architect Mourelle, and the final design was carried out by engineer Mendelssohn of the Société Française des Batignolles. It is a two-story mixed-structure building with a semi-basement and partial third floor. The architectural style is Roman Classical Revival. The classical three-part composition is clearly defined, with the central main body emphasized, the left and right wings symmetrical, and an overall simple design, where the ground floor serves as the base. The cornice is topped with a parapet, and the pointed ends on both sides feature broken pediments with shield ornaments, reflecting Baroque influences. The entire building is constructed with imitation granite blocks, giving it a stately and majestic appearance. After completion, it served as the office building of the French Municipal Council in the former French Concession. The structure is stately and well-preserved, possessing significant historical, scientific, and artistic value.

Among the buildings of the various foreign concessions' administrative institutions in Tianjin, this building is the largest in scale, highest in artistic quality, and best preserved Western-style architecture. Historically, it was also the highest governing authority of the French concession in Tianjin. It was also one of the important birthplaces where foreign powers exploited China for huge profits. In 1945, the surrender ceremony of the Japanese troops stationed in Tianjin to the Chinese army was held here.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units