Shanghai Navy YMCA, Heritage building in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Navy YMCA is a nine-story building on Sichuan Middle Road at number 630, featuring blue glazed tiles and stone-arched gates. The structure combines European architectural standards with Chinese decorative elements in its exterior and interior spaces.
The building was completed in 1923 and served during the 1930s as a meeting place for naval personnel and Chinese intellectuals during the period of Japanese aggression. Afterward, the structure was adapted for different purposes over subsequent decades.
The building displays a blend of traditional Chinese design elements such as beamed ceilings and latticed windows combined with modern Western architectural principles. This combination creates a space where both cultural influences are visible in its visual language.
The building now functions as a hotel while maintaining a small exhibition area with historical photographs in the lobby. Visitors can explore this space during regular business hours to learn more about the site's past.
The building was one of the first projects in Shanghai where Chinese architects successfully combined Western building methods with elements of imperial palace design in a modern structure. This approach set it apart from other buildings of its era, which typically followed a single style.
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