The social value of a heritage community : the case of Longchang apartment in Shanghai

Abstract

Originally a British police station built during the International Concession Period in the 1930s, Longchang Apartment has evolved into an interesting, and perhaps unique, residential community. For a long time, the complex has been a forgotten piece of architectural relic, but it became famous after the 2004 hit movie Kung Fu Hustle, the set of which was modelled after Longchang Apartment. Today, the complex is a registered heritage building with maintenance issues and an uncertain future. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the police station lost its designed function and converted to residential use. Over time, the old police station was referred to as the Longchang Apartment and became a residential complex resided by about 256 registered households of low-income families. Despite its deteriorating condition, the complex houses a lively community, but there seems not to be a sustainable future for this community. As such, while the interest in the architecture has led to fairly well documentation and understanding of the building, the community is neglected and little study has been carried out to document this unique community that seems destined to disappear in the near future as the residents are resettled in better housing. This thesis will therefore focus the research gap present in the study of Longchang Apartment, which is about its community – the neglected and under-appreciated social aspect of the architectural heritage. In this dissertation, the author investigates and documents the social conditions and social value of the Longchang Apartment, so that there will be a record for future generations of this unique community.