Japanese architectural design in Shanghai: A brief review of the past thirty years

This paper reviews Japanese architectural design since 1980 in Shanghai, China's largest city, through studies of typical examples: the Ruijin Building, the Garden Hotel of the 1980s, buildings in Hongqiao of the 1990s and three projects built in the new millennium. The design merits and local people's attitudes towards these buildings are examined and compared with prominent contemporary buildings, designed by local and overseas architects. The study is set against a background of technical advance and modernisation within the building industry in Shanghai. The paper showcases the unique experiences a fast-growing city gained in its progress towards modernisation. © 2009 The Journal of Architecture.