|
|
Bund 18 was constructed in 1923 by the English at a size of 1,755 m², and it is considered to be representative architecture in the Renaissance style. The current management of Bund 18 has specially commissioned the Kokaistudios from Venice; a construction firm with abundant experience in restoring architecture to take part in the planning of Bund 18’s renovation. The crew from Kokaistudios was given the task of keeping the architecture intact and renovating it while preserving its original style. Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd; an American company with over a hundred years of expertise in the field of mechanical engineering, was given the responsibility of overlooking the design of mechanical engineering for the stores and the entire building with support from the Department of Architecture at Tongji University and the participation of building construction management companies with experience in handling aged buildings in the Bund. For over 100 days, architects led 30 local craftsmen with backgrounds in historical monument restoration in cleaning the entire building on a 6-storey scaffold with natural substances such as baking soda, olive oil soap and sepiolite powders with brushes slightly bigger than a toothbrush.
After having witnessed days of prosperity and experienced periods of toil for the past 81 years, Bund 18 was finally reopened in November of 2004. The newly renovated Bund 18 houses designer boutiques, business establishments, restaurants, lounges and art galleries. Bund 18 has turned into the physical manifestation of the essence of the modern Bund to become the brightest gem in Shanghai.
The first and second stories of Bund 18 represent the essence of architectural aesthetics of the entire building; right in the center of the square shopping arcade is an atrium of 7 meters height with two rows of marble sculptured pillars at both sides and a European style ceiling. Not only does the atrium create an atmosphere of classical elegance for the shopping arcade, it also serves as the perfect space for displays. Overlooking the magnificent atrium and the dazzling chandeliers, the second storey is more than simply an extension of the arcade; it offers patrons an alternative angle to enjoy the beautiful scenery up-close. Here in this exquisite and heart-warming mall, consumers may sip their coffee while leisurely shopping for world-class fashion apparel, jewelry and accessories.
The third floor is headquarters of Ermenegildo Zegna, a renowned Italian designer brand. It is sufficiently spacious and elegant to even host fashion shows right in their own offices. The fourth floor is the multi-purpose convention hall and it is available for short-term lease to businesses wishing to hold product exhibitions, displays of art objects, fashion shows, banquets, theme-parties or business seminars. The convention hall has been designed at 4.5 meters in height with large French windows facing the waters. One can see the entire Bund and the architectural cluster of the Pudong District from the luxurious convention hall.
The fifth floor houses “Tan Wai Lou”; a Chinese restaurant that serves Cantonese style seafood and Shanghai specialty dishes. The restaurant adopted a combination of Chinese calligraphy with modern touches as its theme of interior decoration and promotes the notion of “enjoying oriental cuisine in a western way” by placing additional emphasis on the nutritious value of its dishes as well as concentrating on color, aroma, taste and texture. Tan Wai Lou is dedicated to provide patrons with a brand new experience in Chinese cuisine.
The sixth floor is the French restaurant “Sens & Bund”; the one and only across the entire Mainland China featuring three-star Michelin chefs and owned by the French Group JDS (Jardin des Sens). The Pourcel brothers (Laurent and Jacques) are the youngest winners of the Michelin three star award in French history and they will be hosted by the restaurant to bring exquisite delicacies and excellent service to gourmands in Shanghai. For the uninitiated, in the Michelin Guide (Le Guide Michelin), three stars is the highest rating a restaurant can achieve and there are no more than 27 restaurants in the entire France that have this prestigious recognition. This should give you an idea of the sensation that “Sens & Bund” will cause once it reaches the shores of Shanghai.
“Bar Rouge” on the seventh floor is a close relative of “Sens & Bund”. It was launched on the 27th of November, 2004 with great anticipation. Bar Rouge hires the best bartenders and famous DJs directly from France to bring patrons great drinks and the latest in European dance music. Picture this in your mind: the night has fallen, and you are holding a glass of fine wine, listening to some smooth beats while feasting on delectable dishes; you make your way to the windows and gaze at the breathtaking nightsights on the banks of the Huang Po River. The opening of Bar Rouge marked the birth of another gem in the architecture cluster at the Bund, adding another excellent and unique entertainment venue for Shanghai nights.
Bund 18 has been awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards 2006. The evaluation expert committee of UNESCO believed that the success of Bund 18 rested in the successful combination of international heritage professionals and local Chinese craftsmen to transform the old building into a modern commercial construction through state-of-the-art restoration techniques and traditional Chinese construction skills executed in the highest technical and construction standards.
|
