Next year's return, exclusive | Shanghai adds another open historical building! 90 Year Old Rashid Medical School Starts Renovation History | Architecture | Rashid

Shanghai will add another historic building open to the public. The 10th of this month is China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. The reporter learned from Jing'an District yesterday that the former site of Lester Medical College, located at 1320 Beijing West Road, is about to start renovation and will be completed in the first half of next year. At that time, citizens and tourists will be able to enter this historic building.

Another cultural heritage of Leister in Shanghai

Leicester Medical College, full name Leicester Medical Research Institute, was designed in 1930 and completed for use in 1933. The hospital has established medical professional departments such as Physiology and Pathology Clinical Research and Experimental Surgery. Famous physiologists such as Iben, Cai Qiao, Shen Jichun, and virologist Tang Feifan have successively engaged in scientific research here. In 1957, it was renamed as Shanghai Medical Industry Research Institute. In 1994, the former site of Rashid Medical College was announced as the second batch of excellent historical buildings in Shanghai.

Historical images of Leicester Medical College

Henry Reistadt, who donated funds to establish the Reistadt School of Medicine, was a legendary figure.

He was born on February 26, 1840 in Southampton, England and received vocational education as an architect and land surveyor in London. Around 1863, he came to Shanghai and became one of the earliest foreign architects to enter the city. In 1870, Leicester established Yingshangde and Yanghang, leaving Shanghai with architectural heritage such as the Xianshi Company Building, Zilin Xibao Building, Riqing Building, Puyi Building, and Taiwan Bank Building. Yingshangde and Yanghang became one of the most famous architectural design firms in Shanghai at the beginning of the 20th century.

Historical photos of Trinity School

During his lifetime, Rashid accumulated a large amount of wealth. Some people say that it is equivalent to the assets owned by HSBC that year, ranging from £ 2.5 million to £ 3 million.

Lester remained unmarried throughout his life, guarding such a large amount of wealth. He made a decision: in his will, he used all his huge assets to establish education, medical care, and charity in Shanghai. There were many units and organizations that received donations, including donations for the reconstruction of the affiliated school of St. Trinity Church; Donate a large amount of funds to Chinese hospitals; Cash gifts to existing charitable organizations; Establish a Rashid Fund with remaining assets, and the foundation will oversee the establishment of Rashid Scholarships; Establish the Rashid Medical Research Institute and Rashid Engineering Research Institute in Shanghai. On May 14, 1926, Leicester passed away in Shanghai. Up to now, the Raymond Foundation is still in operation, mainly supporting Chinese students studying in the UK and engaged in architectural research.

In November 2022, after completing repairs, the Leicester Institute of Technology, built in 1934, made its grand appearance to the public: from a distance, it looked like a ship sailing at sea, and from the air, it looked like an airplane spreading its wings. At present, the area is used by Shanghai Innovation and Creative Design Research Institute.

Historical photos of Leicester Institute of Technology

Bird's-eye view of Rex Institute of Technology after renovation Photograph: SFAP

"Leicester College of Technology is a building that combines British Gothic Revival style and Art Deco style." Su Xinbao, Vice Dean of Huajian Group's Historical Architecture Protection and Design Institute, who has participated in the renovation of Leicester College of Technology and Leicester College of Medicine, told reporters that Leicester College of Medicine is mainly in modernist style, a square volume building with decorative art style features in local details. Both buildings are important historical and cultural heritage left by Leicester for Shanghai, and are also an important component reflecting the diverse modern architectural styles of Shanghai.

Presenting a historical style in its original and authentic form

After experiencing wind and frost, the Leicester Medical School is about to embark on the largest renovation project in 90 years. Su Xinbao told reporters that this repair mainly includes the repair of the exterior facade and the repair of key protected indoor areas.

The main facade of the building at Leicester Medical College is in a central axis symmetrical form, with a simple facade design and geometric decorative moldings applied to local components. In order to restore the historical style of the building's fa ç ade back then, this renovation adopts corresponding techniques based on the degree of pollution and damage to different parts and materials, trying to preserve the original traces and sense of vicissitudes, while achieving the overall harmony of the fa ç ade.

The rendering after the renovation of Leicester Medical College

The designer discovered through historical photos that there were originally a pair of copper lamp columns standing on both sides of the main entrance of the original building. The middle of the copper lamp post is a scroll shaped pattern, which is a typical decorative art style. After 90 years of washing, the lamp post no longer exists. This renovation will restore the entrance lamp post based on historical photos and fully restore the original style of the historical building.

Original lamp post

The entrance hall, east auditorium, staircase classrooms, west library, and stairwells on both sides of the Leicester Medical College are all key protected spaces, retaining some historical relics. After restoration, these exquisite historical spaces will carry core functions such as display, reception, and communication in the future.

Based on some historical photos and existing artifacts, the renovation project will fully preserve the original indoor layout and details of the key protected space: for example, restoring the original layout of the original library on the east side; We will protect and repair historical artifacts such as the ceiling and caisson in the lobby, the column head decorations on both sides of the large space, the wooden protective walls on both sides of the walkway, and wooden doors and windows; Restore the terrazzo floor and pattern style in the original foyer.

Original internal space

It is worth mentioning that the other spaces of the Leicester Medical College, although not key protected areas, all reflect the indoor style characteristics of the building, especially the U-shaped corridors on each floor, which are important manifestations of this historical architectural spatial pattern. At present, the second and third corridors are occupied by rooms on both sides, with low ceilings and a cramped spatial experience. In the renovation, the original corridor scale will be restored, reproducing the simple decoration and spacious characteristics of historical buildings.

Renovated foyer rendering

Before the renovation, the Jing'an District Bureau of Culture and Tourism provided 34 high-definition photos with historical value as evidence for historical research and restoration, helping relevant institutions to better compare history, improve repair details, and recreate the highlights of history.

"Make every effort to present the historical style of Leicester Medical College in its original and authentic way, inherit history, and continue the context," said Su Xinbao.

Leicester Medical College was once a famous medical research institution in modern Shanghai. After renovation, it will continue its function as a medical institution and plan to establish the Harmony Family Jing'an Campus. As a public medical institution, the renovated Leicester Medical College will be open to the public, and citizens will be able to enter this historic building.