Shanghai's creative scene is burgeoning thanks to government policy, Yu Ran reports.
The establishment of creative industry complexes in Shanghai has been a key factor in the development of the fashion, design, new media, advertising and arts scene in the city. At the end of 2009, there were 80 creative art industry hubs in Shanghai, most of which were developed in old factories and warehouses. Here are some of the best.
1. Highstreet Loft
The Highstreet Loft once housed the Three Gun Textile Group. The building was renovated by Italian designer Filippo Gabbiani. The Highstreet Loft is home to numerous outlets devoted to fashion, including cosmetics, luxury accessories, public relations, media and clothing. It is also a major venue for hundreds of creative and fashionable events at the Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival, Shanghai Fashion Week, the Shanghai Tourism Festival, and designer art shows and fashion shows.
Address: 508 Jiashan Road, Xuhui District
2. 2577 Creative Garden
This was once the Jiangnan Firearms Factory. The buildings here were constructed at different times and six are protected historic sites. 2577 Creative Garden is focused on new media, specializing in advertising design, exhibition planning, artistic creation and other design and consulting services.
Address: 2577 Longhua Road, Xuhui District
3. Shanghai Fashion Hub
The Shanghai Fashion Hub was established in an old factory by the China Fashion Association and Changning district government in 2004. This complex moves away from high-end fashion labels and explores the characteristics of local fashion brands. Many of the companies in the hub have good reputations and are influential in the fashion industry in China. The hub also supports the development of the urban fashion industry by providing training for those in fashion design, image design, animation and game design.
Address: 1718 Tianshan Road, Changning District
4. M50
The M50 complex was one of the earliest creative clusters in Shanghai. It spreads throughout different industrial buildings built between the 1930s and 1990s. M50 concentrates on contemporary art, galleries, advertising, film and TV, fashion design and industrial design. It houses creative agencies from 20 countries and regions. It also houses the most influential contemporary art gallery in China, the ShanghART Gallery, and China's top design agency, Mooma Design.
Address: 50 Moganshan Road, Putuo District
5. The Bridge 8
The Bridge 8 was once the factory buildings of the Shanghai Automotive Brake Company. The complex was renovated using energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies, creating a free, open and people-oriented space. With many advanced techniques like solar energy power generating and ground source heat air-conditioning, The Bridge 8 is a model for energy-saving renovations of historic buildings in Shanghai. The space is home to more than 70 creative enterprises from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, the United States and Italy, covering the fields of architectural and interior design, fashion design, advertising, consulting, and film and TV.
Address: 8 Jianguo Road M, Luwan District
6. 1933 Old Millfun
Honored as an Outstanding Historical Building in Shanghai, 1933 Old Millfun once housed the Shanghai Municipal Council Slaughterhouse. The complex focuses on creative fashion lifestyles and brand promotion. The space houses about 30 creative enterprises, including some top brands like Unisono, Ferrari and Shanghai Automotive Group.
Address: 10 Shajing Road, Hongkou District
7. 800 Show Creative Industry Park
800 Show Creative Industry Park is centrally located. The park has attracted a large number of design, public relations, luxury brands and fashion media enterprises by integrating fashion shows, creative businesses and leisure entertainment. A magnet for international fashion brands in Shanghai, the park is an important link in the extension of fashion chains. For the Expo 2010 Shanghai, 800 Show was chosen by the Netherlands Culture Foundation as a branch of the Netherlands Pavilion to host forums, lectures and fashion shows during the Expo.
Address: 800 Changde Road, Jing'an District
8. Creative Warehouse
The Creative Warehouse, a five-storey building was constructed in 1927. Hungarian architect L. E. Hudeche, who also designed the Park Hotel, a Shanghai landmark, designed the warehouse. The Creative Warehouse was one of the early creative parks in the city focusing on urban planning, architectural design and environmental art. It has a flexible space for public events, making it a good place for parties, fashion shows and exhibitions.
Address: 181 Guangfu Road, Zhabei District
9. Red Town
In Red Town the renovations to convert the abandoned industrial buildings into public art centers have given the space an artistic energy and modern spirit. It was originally created to build a public platform for culture and arts. The Shanghai Sculpture Space, inside Red Town, is the first and largest gallery in China focusing on sculpture. The excellent blending of the original buildings and modern elements has attracted about 80 creative enterprises with international influence and has become a new urban landmark.
Address: 570 Huaihai Road W, Changning District
10. Golden Wisdom 3131
What used to be town factories built in 2002 on farmland are now the Golden Wisdom. Different from other creative complexes focused on fashion design, Golden Wisdom 3131 concentrates on e-commerce, covering the fields of payment, logistics, business chain management and creative design. By attracting and supporting many related projects and institutions, it is gradually moving toward its goal as the first interactive online shopping mall in China that integrates e-commerce services and a platform for information and investment.
Address: 3131 Jinshajiang Road, Jiading District
