Located on Huashan Road, the Brookside Apartments, built in the 1930s, is renowned in Shanghai for its distinctive Spanish architectural style and its 2,500-square-meter garden.
It has earned the reputation of being one of the “famous buildings in Shanghai.” Today, this nearly century-old apartment complex has been rejuvenated, with its century-old well “resurfacing” and showcasing the charm of “rinsing stones and resting by the stream.”
A High-end Apartment in the 1930s
The Brookside Apartments were originally a garden residence built in 1900 by the British-funded Tai Hing Bank.
It was soon purchased by the Li Hongzhang family. Li Jingmai, the third son of Li Hongzhang, commissioned the renowned American design firm Haslett & Erdman to redesign and reconstruct the original site into a 7-story apartment building, which was completed in 1931.
In the early 1930s, the trend of building high-rise apartments emerged in Shanghai, and the Brookside Apartments were considered a first-class residential building at the time.
The apartment complex featured a garden, lawn, rock formations, and flowing water, as well as a basement and swimming pool, which were rare in apartment buildings at the time.
As early as the 1930s, the Brookside Apartments had already installed elevators.
The name “Brookside” is derived from “A New Account of the Tales of the World,” which means “rinsing stones and resting by the stream,” hoping that people living here can temporarily escape the hustle and bustle and live a life of tranquility.
The term “Brookside” also perfectly complements the apartment’s English name.
The construction and decoration quality of the Brookside Apartments was considered high-end in the 1930s.
The building has an L-shaped floor plan, with the main entrance facing north. In addition to its grand and elegant appearance, the Brookside Apartments also put a lot of effort into its interior decoration.
It is said that the bedrooms at the time were all suites, and the bathroom equipment was imported from well-known brands.
The window frames were made of steel, the door handles were made of copper, and the floors were laid with sandalwood. Each unit’s living room had a fireplace, and there was always a pantry separating the dining room and kitchen.
The entire building had central heating and water heaters installed. The rooftop platform was open to residents, suitable for distant views and walks. The basement was equipped with an indoor swimming pool. These facilities were undoubtedly advanced and first-class at the time, resulting in continuous year-round leases.
A Cultural Hub Not to Be Overlooked
The historical and cultural value of the Brookside Apartments lies not only in its architectural features but also in the many cultural celebrities who have lived here, giving it a profound historical and cultural significance and imbuing this old building with vibrant life.
Among the many resident stories of the Brookside Apartments, the most haunting is that of Zhou Xuan, a famous singer and actress known as the “Golden Voice” in the last century.
Zhou Xuan was one of the first celebrities to move into the Brookside Apartments. From 1932, she lived in a 150-square-meter unit on the sixth floor until her death in 1957.
During her more than 20-year career, Zhou Xuan starred in over 40 films, sang more than 200 songs, and left behind hundreds of records.
After 1949, the vacant rooms in the Brookside Apartments were allocated to high-level intellectuals and others.
Well-known residents included journalist Xu Zhucheng, director Zhu Duanjun, writers Zhou Erfu, Jun Qing, and Wang Mulan, literary theorist Ye Yiqun, painter Shen Roujian, film and drama performers Qiao Qi and Sun Jinglu couple, Sun Daolin, Xu Xing, and Yue opera performers Fu Quanxiang, Fan Ruijuan, and Wang Wenjuan.
Century-old Well Accidentally Discovered
Nearly a century has passed, and in the eyes of outsiders, the Brookside Apartments still exude an exceptional charm.
After a period of “micro-renovation,” people passing by the Brookside Apartments on Huashan Road recently discovered that this nearly century-old historic building had become even more beautiful: the 2,000-square-meter back garden is lush with green grass, and residents stroll along the circular walkway…
These are all changes brought about by the community’s micro-renovation of the Brookside Apartments.
Among them, the most noteworthy is the century-old well, regarded as the “source of Brookside,” which was accidentally discovered during construction.
This well, which many residents remember, has now been transformed into a small fountain, becoming the “finishing touch” of today’s garden, quietly telling the story of the present tranquil times.
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