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Western-style Residences
http://www.tj-summerdavos.cn 2014-09-08 19:55


  The Astor Hotel

  The Astor Hotel, located at 199 Jiefang North Road, Heping District, is a historical building under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The hotel was set up in 1863, the first hotel operated by foreigners in China. Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China, and former U.S. president Hoover once stayed in the hotel. The hotel was originally built as a one-storey complex, but later in 1884, it was expanded into a three-storey structure with British classic architectural style, becoming the biggest and highest erection in the British concession in Tianjin. In 1929, the fourth storey was added. After several times’ renovation, the hotel’s two buildings are now in good condition. A three-storey building at the street corner stands out with its steady and straight shape. The square turret erected at the turning point of the street makes the structure vertically streamlined, and its well-decorated outer walls, adopting many classic architecture symbols, look simple and succinct.


  Bohai Building

  Bohai Building, located at 275-281 Heping Road, Heping District, is under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government for its historical and architectural significance. Designed and built in 1934 by a French construction corporation, it was the tallest and modernist commercial and residential building in Tianjin, and was seen as the city’s landmark. Standing 47.47 meters in height, it is an 8-floor concrete structure with steel framework. The building’s outer walls, shaped by brown tapestry bricks, look steady and generous. The facade’s vertical lines make the whole building look solemn and upright, a feature commonly seen in the modernist style buildings.


  Quanyechang

  Quanyechang, a huge commercial building, is located at 153-166 Binjiang Road, Heping District and protected by the Tianjin municipal government for its historical and architectural importance. It was designed by the French engineer Mueller, and built in 1928 by a French construction corporation. The framed structure has five floors (in some parts eight floors); its outer walls are covered with stone bricks; and the windows are of different shapes. The building reflects the application of eclecticism in architecture. Quanyechang was then the largest emporium in North China. Its name, containing five Chinese characters written by Hua Shikui, a once well-known calligrapher in China and curved in a wood plaque, is seen on the building’s eave. Inside the building there used to be facilities of different functions. For example, it had eight venues for entertainment purposes, and also exclusive places for shopping and other leisure activities. Quanyechang is a time-honored brand that was once the symbol of Tianjin.


  Former French Public Discussion Bureau

  Former French Public Discussion Bureau, situated at 22 Chengde Road, Heping District, is a government-protected historical building. Designed by Manderson from Credit Foncier d'Extreme-Orient in Belgium, the building is constructed with concrete and steel. With a basement, its main building has three floors, and both wings have two. The outer walls are covered with blocks made of granitic plaster. The symmetrical layout, diversified shapes, well decorated internal walls and delicate craftsmanship make the whole building magnificent internally and externally, a typical feature of classical architectural styling. The French Public Discussion Bureau used to be the executive body responsible for implanting decisions from the Board of the French Concessions. Its functions were carried out by three branches: programming, donating and accounting. The building also bore witness to the surrender-signing of the Tianjin-stationed Japanese army on October 6, 1945.


  Former Tianjin Postal Bureau in Qing Dynasty

  The building located at 103-111 Jiefang North Road, Heping District is the former Tianjin Postal Bureau of the Qing Dynasty. It is now under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government as a historical architecture. Constructed at the end of the 19th century, it is a two-storey structure (with a basement) built with bricks and wood. The outer walls of the building use black bricks with elegant carving, featuring arched doors and windows. The building is a perfect combination of European classical architecture and traditional Chinese tile-carving art. The former body of the Postal Bureau was the Office of Letters of Tianjin Customs, which was officially established in 1878 and then published stamps printed with curled-up dragons and Chinese characters meaning “The Postal Bureau of the Great Qing”.

  The building was renamed as Tianjin Postal Bureau in 1897.


  Jingyuan

  Jingyuan (Garden in Quiet) located at 70 Anshan Road, Heping District, is a historical architecture under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The building was completed in 1921, comprising the main building, library, maid rooms, kitchen and garage. The main building is a two-storey structure (with three floors in some parts) built with bricks and wood. The first floor served as living room and dining room, while the second floor was the bedroom. The outer brick walls are skimmed with plaster while some wall surfaces are not painted. The pitched roof is covered with semicircle-shaped tiles. Corridors are built to connect each part of the building, reflecting the application of eclecticism in architecture.

  Jingyuan was formerly called Qianyuan, a private residence of Lu Zongyu, the minister of Beiyang Government’s embassy to Japan. In 1929, Puyi, the last emperor of Qing, moved to Qianyuan and changed its name to Jingyuan, which implies “cultivating one’s noble spirit by living in a quiet environment”. In 1931 Puyi escaped from here for Dalian, and then became the emperor of Manchukuo, a puppet regime ruled by the Japanese army behind the scene.

  After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Jingyuan was first used as the government office, and later became a shared residence place. In October, 2005, the Tianjin municipal government moved the 45 households in Jingyuan to other places and cleared the illegal buildings in the garden in accordance with the Conservation Regulations of the Historic Architectural Buildings in Tianjin. The government also took effort to renovate Jingyuan so as to recover its original look. In July, 2007, Jingyuan was reopened to the public after all the renovation projects came to completion.


  Mansion of Prince Qing

  Mansion of Prince Qing, located at 55 Chongqing Road, Heping District, is a historical building under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The mansion was built in 1922 by Xiao Dezhang, a eunuch in the Forbidden City. Surrounded by high walls, the mansion is built as a two-storey structure of bricks and wood with a basement. Inside the high walls lies a spacious courtyard. Under the mansions’ eaves, a two-tier portico, succinct and lively in form, is built. Within the building there used to be a huge hall for hosting leisure activities typical of western life. With its walls covered by granitic plaster and railings made of conventional Chinese colored glaze, the building’s inside looks more beautiful and splendid. Its windows and doors use glass imported from Belgium and are carved with lifelike birds and flowers characteristic of traditional Chinese painting. The structure, combining Chinese and western architectural elements, was an outstanding representative among the constructions of its kind at the time.

  Prince Qing was born in 1876 and inherited the royal title of “the founding general”. He was later ennobled as Beizi, a rank of nobility in the Qing Dynasty. In 1902 he was appointed as commissioner to extend greetings in the UK when the British king came to throne. Afterwards, he was also invited to visit Belgium, France, the U.S. and Japan. In 1906, he headed the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce in the Qing Dynasty. Prince Qing purchased the mansion in 1922 and had lived here until his death. He invested his money to buy Quanyechang and Jiaotong Hotel, both of which were built in the late Qing Dynasty.

  Mansion of Prince Qing, which had been used as government offices since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, was open to the public in October 2011 after its renovation was completed.


  Former British Club

  Former British Club is located at 201 Jiefang North Road, Heping District and is a historical building under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The existing building was rebuilt in 1904. As a two-storey building with a basement, it is constructed with bricks and wood, and the structures are built in symmetry. The Ionic pillars between the windows highlight its vertical architectural styling. The facade’s elegant decoration and arched windows and doors demonstrate a perfect use of classical eclecticism.

  The British Club, also called the Billiard Room, was built around 1860, with a theater attached. The construction fees came from the British expatriates living in the concession. Every winter the expatriates would gather in the club and relax themselves in various activities such as balls, afternoon tea, music concerts and dramas. The club was the art center in Tianjin’s foreign concessions at the time.


  Xikai Catholic Church

  Xikai Catholic Church, located at 11 Xining Road, Heping District, is a historical relic under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The church, standing 42 meters high, was built in 1916. The giant dome has a green copper surface on the outside, supported by a wood structure and topped with a bronze cross. The walls are checkered with red and yellow tiles and framed with white water masonry. Circular windows, columns, large indoor paintings, a large pipe organ, and semi-circular windows accent the building. It is the largest Roman cathedral in North China.

  The church was originally called St. Joseph's Church. As located in Xikai, it was also called Xikai Catholic Church. After the church was built, the French authorities took the chance to spread its concession to the Old Xikai area under the name of protecting the church, which caused the “Old Xikai Incident”.


  Former HSBC Bank

  Former HSBC Bank, located at 82 Jiefang North Road, Heping District, is a historical relic under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The building, finishing its construction in 1925, was designed by Idickson and Dallas Engineering Company. The building with three floors is constructed with steel and concrete. In the building’s front and two sides stand 12 Ionic pillars, reflecting the grandness and magnificence commonly seen in ancient Roman column-architecture style. The bank’s interior is also elegantly decorated and the whole building is consistent with a classical architectural style.

  HSBC Bank was founded in 1864 with its headquarters in Hong Kong. The Tianjin Branch was open to business in 1881 as the first foreign bank in the city. It was the major bank responsible for the settlements of Tianjin’s foreign trade, and was authorized the trusteeship to manage tariffs and salt tax. It also had the right to print paper money, playing a determined role in Tianjin’s foreign exchange market. The bank withdrew itself from the city in 1954.


  Former Major Building of Institute of Industry and Commerce

  Former Major Building of Institute of Industry and Commerce is located at 117-119 Machang Road, Hexi District. It is now the No. 1 Building of Tianjin Foreign Studies University and a historical relic under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The building was completed in 1925 by a French construction corporation. The three-floor building is built with concrete and steel and has an ox-tongue-shaped pitched roof. The building’s walls are framed with water masonry, and the structure is horizontally symmetrical and vertically streamlined. On the top of the roof stands a Jules Hardouin-Mansart's dome. There is also a half-circular domed chapel at the western side of the building.

  Tianjin Institute of Industry and Commerce, was funded by the French catholic churches. In 1920 the project went into the preparation stage, and one year later, the institute decided to be settled in Machang Road in the British concession. In 1922 the residential departments for the teaching faculty and students were built, and the institute started offering courses in industry and commerce in 1923. It was renamed as Tianjin Institute of Industry and Commerce in 1933, and the Department of Architecture was added in 1937 as the first program focusing on architecture education in Tianjin. It recruited well-known architects to teach here, such as Shen Liyuan, Yan Ziheng, Chen Yanzhong and French architect Mullar. In 1948 the institute was changed into Jingu University. After the People’s Republic of China was founded, the Program of Industry was absorbed into Tianjin University and the Program of Commerce into Nankai University. The Program of Teacher Training was expanded into Tianjin Teachers’ Institute. In 1970, Tianjin Foreign Languages Institute was set up at the site.


  Boling Building of Nankai School

  Boling Building of Nankai School is located at 20-22 Naikai Simalu Road, Naikai District. Now it lies in the campus of Naikai High School and is a historical relic under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The building was established in 1906 as a central building in Nankai School. In 1976 the building was damaged in the earthquake and one year later, it recovered to its original form after being rebuilt. The building is a two-storey structure with the outer walls built with water masonry. The pitched roof is coated with grey tiles. In the walls of the first storey are square-shaped windows, and the walls of the second floor are dotted with arched windows. The circular-shaped doors highlight the entrance. The design of the whole architecture focuses on both simplicity and complexity.

  Naikai School was founded in 1904. It was the earliest private secondary school in Tianjin, with its founders being Yan Xiu and Zhang Boling, both of whom were famous educators. The original name of Nankai School was Private Secondary School, later changed into Jingye Private Secondary School. In 1905, it was called No.1 Private Secondary School. New school buildings were completed in 1907, and the school was renamed as Nankai Private School. After the People’s Republic of China was founded, the school was changed into a public secondary school. In 1960 the school took the name of Naikai High School as what it is today. Former Premier Zhou Enlai studied here from 1913 to 1917. And between 1954 and 1960, former Premier Wen Jiabao also studied here.


  Former Warehouse of Continental Bank

  Former Warehouse of Continental Bank, located at 223 Zhang Zizhong Road, Heping District, is a historic architectural relic under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government. The building was built in 1926. It has four floors and in some parts six floors. Constructed with concrete and steel, the walls are covered with water masonry. The whole building is mass and solid, and inside it there is a heavily-guarded bank’s coffer which is still in use. In the 1920s, to guarantee port storage and mortgage loans, the bank built huge warehouses to store various commodities, taking 70 percent of the market shares from foreign merchants in the warehousing business.


  Former Main Building of Tianjin West Railway Station

  Former Main Building of Tianjin West Railway Station, a historical relic under special protection of the Tianjin municipal government, is located at 1 Xizhanqian Street, Hongqiao District. The building was built in 1910 as a key station and transportation building along the Jin-Pu Railway. The government of the Qing Dynasty started to build the Jin-Pu Railway (from Tianjin to Pukou) in 1908. The whole line was open to traffic in 1912. The main building, comprising two floors, is built with bricks and concrete. It faces south and the structure looks like the Chinese character “郵” on the flat surface. The outer walls are covered with water masonry. The pitched roof is shaped like the ox-tongue. The elevation of the building highlights the symmetry with rich forms in structure. Windows and window frames go against uniformity and the whole building is consistent with architectural eclecticism.

Source:Enorth.com.cn

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