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Showing posts from December, 2011

Shanghai 1933 Old Millfun - Former Abattoir

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Shanghai 1933 Old Millfun, is an imposing building down 10 Shajing Lu, in the historic Hongkou district. Architecturally described as art deco, perhaps for its geometric-pattern grating and period motifs on its facade, it looks more brutalist with its intimidating down-tapered columns and monolithic slabs, all left unfinished in raw concrete. There is a menacing air about its appearance, something befitting its past role as a killing machine.  Opened for business in 1933 as the city slaughterhouse, this grand old building has shed its dark side to become the home to fashion boutiques, bridal studios, fine restaurants and creative shops. It even hosts the Ferrari Owners’ Club of China, with a F1 car on display in the adjoining souvenir shop cum cafe.  An open-air four storey high atrium curves round the central meat-processing facility separating it from the rest of the block. Bathed in natural lighting this unique space is crisscrossed by narrow “air bridges” linking a maze of ram