The Bund City Hall Plaza
The new Bund City Hall Plaza, located in the Bund area of central Shanghai, is the result of the refurbishment, and extension of the existing Shanghai Municipal Council (SMC) Building. The SMC building has been a political symbol since its completion in 1922, initially as the headquarters of the British Municipal Council and later the Shanghai Municipal Government. The original design by British architect T.C. Turner was intended to occupy the entire perimeter of the city block, framing a large central courtyard. However, due to material shortages after World War I, construction ended with only three quarters of the building complete. In more recent years the building had fallen into disrepair.
The SMC building, which was listed as Cultural Heritage Building in 1989, will be restored and adapted for office use while key historic interiors will be opened to the public for the first time. A new office building will complete the urban block according to the original design, defining a courtyard space that is open to the public. A permeable and public ground floor will activate the courtyard and improve accessibility across the site. The façade of the new building is a contemporary interpretation of that of the historic building, utilising a stripped-back version of its neoclassical language. A set-back pavilion structure runs along the top of the building. It will host bars and restaurants opening on to a large terrace that offers views of the city along the entire perimeter of the site.
Within the courtyard, two buildings will define a series of spaces of different scales and character. The Red Building, an existing red brick villa built in the early 1900s that pre-dates the original SMC building, will be restored and adapted to accommodate public functions. The new City Hall building will host events and performances, replacing the former hall on the site that burned down years ago. The building’s central plan affords openness on all sides, reflecting its public role and engaging with the courtyard. Cultural and commercial spaces located in the basement are accessed from the courtyard, affirming the courtyard’s pivotal role in the project. The revitalised Shanghai City Hall will become an important public destination and an opportunity for people to better understand the role that these unique buildings have played in the city’s history.
