ARCHIVE № 026

Normandie Apartments / Wukang Mansion

Hudec's signature work, riding like a great ship into the corner of Huaihai and Wukang Roads

Completed in 1927 to a design by László Hudec, this veranda-corridor apartment block was the first of its kind in Shanghai and home to generations of film artists; today it is the most recognizable landmark of the Hengshan-Fuxing (Hengfu) Historic Area.

Former names: Normandie Apartments, Dongmeite Apartments
Also known as: the Flatiron Building

Hand-drawn elevation of Normandie Apartments / Wukang Mansion

The record

Completed: 1927
Begun: 1924
Architect: László Hudec
Architecture firm: R. A. Curry's practice
Developer: 万国储蓄会（旗下中国建业地产公司）
Contractor: 法商华法公司
Style: French Renaissance style
Structure: Reinforced-concrete structure
Storeys: 8
Type: Apartment Building
District: Xuhui
Address: 1842-1858 Middle Huaihai Road
Historic area: Hengshan–Fuxing Roads Historic Area
Heritage listing no.: 2D012
Coordinates: 31.206272, 121.433621

Shanghai Heritage ArchitectureBatch 2 · Listed 1994

Timeline

1924
Land Purchased, Work Begins
The China Jianye Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the International Savings Society, bought the plot at the corner of Huaihai and Wukang Roads and commissioned László Hudec to design an apartment building.
1927
Normandie Apartments Completed
The building opened, named after the Normandy peninsula in France, becoming Shanghai's first veranda-corridor apartment building.
1930
Eastern Annex Added
The International Savings Society added a brick-and-concrete annex east of the original block, expanding the apartments.
1953
Renamed Wukang Mansion
With the renaming of the road, the Normandie Apartments officially became Wukang Mansion.
1994
Listed as Heritage Architecture
Inscribed on Shanghai's second list of Heritage Architecture.
2019
Systematic Restoration
The facades, veranda columns and other elements were comprehensively restored alongside the burying of the surrounding overhead lines.

Uses over time

Historic uses: High-class apartments (Western expatriates and staff of foreign trading houses)
Residential building favored by film artists
Mixed housing for government work units and residents
Today: Residential building with commercial premises on the ground floor

Visiting

Closed to the public

The building is a private residence and its interior is closed to visitors; most people photograph the exterior from across the street. Crowd-management measures are in place during peak periods.

László Hudec
veranda-corridor apartments
Internet-famous landmark
home of film stars
flatiron corner

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