On January 6, 2021, second-year undergraduates from the SEM majoring in Real Estate Development and Management and Chinese undergraduate students previously enrolled in the University of Connecticut and temporarily studying in ECNU visited Moller Villa, Xintiandi, and the exotic building cluster on the Bund.
Stopped in front of Moller Villa, the students appreciated the Gothic architectural style and listened carefully to Assistant Professor Yang Muwang’s explanation of the origin and history of Moller Villa. This villa has a steeply sloped roof and a vertical spire, which is typical of ancient Nordic architecture. The roof of Moller Villa is covered with glass tiles and gray hanging tiles, and its walls are inlaid with white marble.
While enjoying the architectural characteristics of Shikumen in Xintiandi, students also learned classic examples of the reconstruction of old city. Strolling in the streets of Xintiandi was like going back in the 1920s and 1930s. But stepping inside the fashionable and modern interiors of each building brought one to the present day. This combination formed a symphony of “the yesterday, today, and tomorrow of Shanghai.”
On the Bund, the students admired the exotic building cluster on the west bank of the Huangpu River. They appreciated different columns and the application of various types of domes in different periods. At the same time, Assistant Professor Yang shared the architectural style and development story behind the super high-rise buildings in Lujiazui Financial District.
From the trip, students gained a lot from their observation of the outstanding ancient buildings in Shanghai and understood what they learned in class more deeply.
Copy editor: Henry Allen
Editor: Li Yinan
