The last Slaughterhouse on Earth:1933 Shanghai

1933 Shanghai, Shanghai

This 4 story Massive Solid concrete maze Slaughterhouse built in early twenteeth century is maybe the one single thing that’s the most inspiring architecture standing in Shanghai and even in the world. I am totally impressed.

Located in the historic Hongkou District, 1933 Shanghai (上海1933老场坊) was built amidst the vibrant urban landscape of pre-communist Shanghai. Designed originally by British architects, and built in 1933 by Chinese developers, the building was originally intended for use as a slaughterhouse but served a number of purposes over the years from medicine factory, cold storage facility, to its current incarnation as a ‘commercial hub for creative industries’. And this is the last one left such built out of 3, one in London and one in US, but they are demolished by now.

The building was commissioned by the then Shanghai Municipal Council with the high-quality cement aggregate required to support the load-bearing needs of the building was imported from the Portsmouth area of the UK. After being abandoned and falling into disrepair the building was extensive restoration in 2008. Built around a central atrium, which served as the abattoir’s workshops, each floor is connected to an outer shell by a series of interlocking ramps, bridges, and spiral staircases which were designed to control the flow of both people and cattle being processed through the building.

Here are the pics.

The facade of 1933 Shanghai, the ultimate formal Slaughterhouse.

Here to the right, the central Atrium to the right and so called ” air bridges” to transport and control cattles.

So beautiful and So haunting. Imagine all those cattles flowing up there in their deadly heavy marching…

After the RMB100 million restoration back in year 2008, the formal slaughter house became this one gigantic commercial space such as cafes, interior shop, high end restaurant and creative office spaces for many design and architect firms. It is still quite deserted ( I mean this space is Massive) but there are handful of business that are interesting.

Hmmmm.

Check out the cattle signs.

The Bull Restaurant, Shanghainese Cuisine.

There are 26 ‘air bridges’ of various widths splayed out at different angles, provoking feelings of both confusion and fascinating at how it could have been conceived.