Bagong House

Bagong House has a total floor area of nearly 5,000 square meters, with a total of 220 rooms and suites. Its floor plan is an acute-angled triangle, situated at the intersection of Dongting Street and Poyang Street, two originally parallel streets that gradually converge, resembling a ship breaking through waves. The center features a triangular patio, serving as an inner courtyard. Each of the four adjacent streets has two to three entrances, totaling nine entrances, making it easily accessible.

The entire apartment building is constructed of red brick and wood, with one basement floor and three above-ground floors (now four), and the fourth floor is an attic resembling a monk's hat, much like a Russian headdress. The main color of the building below the third floor is bright red, while the fourth-floor attic is white, creating a striking contrast. The eaves, balconies, curved railings, arches, and columns all display exquisite craftsmanship. This design was not only unique at the time but also had a profound influence on China's architectural community.

After its completion in 1910, the building was quickly rented out to managers and employees working in high-end foreign firms. It was the first apartment building in Hankou, not only boasting a beautiful exterior but also equipped with modern amenities such as telephones, gas, and flush toilets. In that era, only those with substantial wealth or respectable jobs were eligible to live there.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Bagong House became an ordinary rental property, accommodating vendors and nearby residents. In the 1950s, it became a collective housing area in Wuhan, with units allocated to employees by their workplaces. 138 families moved in, residing there for over half a century. Xu Zheng's film "Lost on Journey" was filmed here. Before the renovation, Ms. Hulu Ming visited the building and noted that while the exterior was beautiful, the interior was in disrepair, with leaking ceilings.

Post by Ariana901_Cox | Mar 21, 2025