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“Shikumen” Lane Houses Are Being Torn Down Across Shanghai, And I Wanted To Capture These Historic Streets Before It Was Too Late (22 Pics)
My name is Cody Ellingham, I am a photographer and nightcrawler from New Zealand. The aging and ornately beautiful "Shikumen" lane houses were being torn down across Shanghai, and I set out on a mission to capture the historic streets before it was too late.
I have embarked on a project to explore the disappearing communal Shikumen lane houses unique to Shanghai’s oldest districts, as part of my Shanghai Streets series.
More info: codyellingham.com | Instagram | Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
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#2
Final score:
49points
#5
Final score:
37points
Chris Miilu 7 years ago
Only an electrician could make a serious comment on all the wires strung on these homes. They look like unregulated dangerous wiring, tragic accidents waiting to happen.
#6
Final score:
35points
Janine Randall 7 years ago
I guess there's no preservation for Historic Buildings? Although 1928 is probably not very historical for them
#7
Final score:
31points
Chris Miilu 7 years ago
Is electrification in Shanghai unregulated? If you want electricity, you can wire your house in a DIY project? This is insane in a crowded street.
#8
Final score:
29points
#9
Final score:
28points
Sterling Williams 7 years ago
I love this one. The roof will dump all the water directly down on the air conditioner !
#10
Final score:
27points
Dianna Slowey-Thomas 7 years ago
What happens to the people, businesses and families whose homes are being bulldozed for profit? How much are they paid for the loss of their livelihoods, family and community?
#13
Final score:
20points
Koalamonster 7 years ago
Is that indeed someone's home?? Seems so weird to me. In a place that isn't really that isolated having your doors open like that just strikes me as odd. Honestly it is probably quite nice airflow wise and other than the photographer it doesn't look like many people are out.
#14
Final score:
17points
Dianna Slowey-Thomas 7 years ago
An excellent juxtaposition showing the cold blue lights and stark future on one inside of the wall, almost resembling a prison, with the warm colors and signs of freedom on the outside, soon to be destroyed.
#15
Final score:
17points
#16
Final score:
15points
Koalamonster 7 years ago
It looks kind of like someone hung a large piece of string art on the building on the right and it's just kind of deteriorated and crumbled under its own weight. How can you tell what wires go to what buildings?
#17
Final score:
14points
Koalamonster 7 years ago
Love these doors. I do wonder if they used to have glass or something else when they were first put up. Looks like they were just replaced one at a time which gives it a neat kind of patchwork.
#18
Final score:
14points
Miranda Noble 7 years ago
i love this photo!! it took me a bit of staring to know that those are legs & feet that look so ghostly!! I love this!!
#19
Final score:
13points
#20
Final score:
12points
Koalamonster 7 years ago
That's a cool garage set up!! I mean, they have to work outside, but if they live behind it they'd have a lot more room in their house, and otherwise I imagine it saves on rent. And with the gate and the doors it's probably pretty secure.
#22
Final score:
8points
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Kathy Prendergast 7 years ago
When I lived in Shanghai (I returned home 7 years ago) I loved walking around the increasingly rare old neighbourhoods in the city; even in the poorest and most rundown ones people seemed to live with a lot of dignity and you could tell they were friendly and safe communities. I would sometimes get some curious looks but never felt unwelcome there. People seemed to take pride in their homes and kept them clean and pleasant as possible. Lots of residents had small garden plots to grow flowers or vegetables. Entering them felt sometimes like stepping back in time, or entering a small rural village, where life proceeded at a slower and more natural pace.
Diver Driver 7 years ago
Yes, amazing Country. You just cannot describe China and give it justice to someone who has never been... I tell people it is over the top in so many ways. I was lucky enough to be in many cities and even country side.
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Simon Kwan 7 years ago
Great photos for certain but having also lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and having been in some of these old homes, I can attest the reality is that most of these old buildings are health hazards and not up to modern standards for fire safety, plumbing, or general health such as heating and ventilation and certainly not mold. It's easy to romanticize these old neighborhoods but try actually living in them.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
Why not renovate them instead of just razing them? The neighborhoods sprang up organically just outside the downtown business and shopping district. Why not preserve at least the best of them, to give future generations some context of how the city grew. By just tearing them all down and replacing them with the same kind of skyscrapers you find everywhere around the world, you totally gut your city’s own, distinct, individual character. Who wants to live somewhere that looks like it came off some pre-packaged metropolitan city assembly line? It’s like a “McDonaldsization” of a place that used to be unique.
Load More Replies...
Kathy Prendergast 7 years ago
When I lived in Shanghai (I returned home 7 years ago) I loved walking around the increasingly rare old neighbourhoods in the city; even in the poorest and most rundown ones people seemed to live with a lot of dignity and you could tell they were friendly and safe communities. I would sometimes get some curious looks but never felt unwelcome there. People seemed to take pride in their homes and kept them clean and pleasant as possible. Lots of residents had small garden plots to grow flowers or vegetables. Entering them felt sometimes like stepping back in time, or entering a small rural village, where life proceeded at a slower and more natural pace.
Diver Driver 7 years ago
Yes, amazing Country. You just cannot describe China and give it justice to someone who has never been... I tell people it is over the top in so many ways. I was lucky enough to be in many cities and even country side.
Load More Replies... Simon Kwan 7 years ago
Great photos for certain but having also lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and having been in some of these old homes, I can attest the reality is that most of these old buildings are health hazards and not up to modern standards for fire safety, plumbing, or general health such as heating and ventilation and certainly not mold. It's easy to romanticize these old neighborhoods but try actually living in them.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
Why not renovate them instead of just razing them? The neighborhoods sprang up organically just outside the downtown business and shopping district. Why not preserve at least the best of them, to give future generations some context of how the city grew. By just tearing them all down and replacing them with the same kind of skyscrapers you find everywhere around the world, you totally gut your city’s own, distinct, individual character. Who wants to live somewhere that looks like it came off some pre-packaged metropolitan city assembly line? It’s like a “McDonaldsization” of a place that used to be unique.
Load More Replies...
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