By Wang Xinyu
Old architecture carries historical memory of a city. For Shanghai No.1 Rehabilitation Hospital located at 349 Hangzhou Road, the earliest architecture among its historical architecture protection group has a history of 100 years. Nowadays, old architecture is repaired as old, "revamped" while preserving the heritage. Buildings 2# and 3# in the first phase engineering of renovation project have been successfully completed and put into service recently, currently as rehabilitation wards of the hospital.
Open the window to see green, wind under corridor and sunshine on outer wall of architecture, shining like stars, which is a unique visual effect of stone washing process. Passing through the foyer, rustic atmosphere of old architecture touches the face directly, coupled with two uneven stained glass panels in rich colors. "Our hospital has century-old architecture, repaired as old. While improving inpatient conditions, it retains historical heritage and taste." Zhang Zhenzhong, a Chief of Infrastructure Construction Department of Shanghai No.1 Rehabilitation Hospital, introduced to reporter; in an effort to restore original style of old architecture to the utmost, the costs of manpower and time are multiplied during the renovation. For example, a two-storey stairwell can complete renovation and restoration within two to three days using ceramic tiles of modern process and mechanized measures, but traditional terrazzo process takes two weeks.
Renovation engineering of old architecture is performed by three phases. In addition to the completed buildings 2# and 3#, buildings 5# and 6# will also kick off construction soon, estimated to complete renovation within this year.
According to introduction, the predecessor of Shanghai No.1 Rehabilitation Hospital is the Shengxin Hospital founded in 1923 with a history of nearly a hundred years. The original site of Shengxin Hospital functioned as Inpatient Department of Yangpu District Central Hospital (349 Hangzhou Road) in November 1958, treating numerous patients over nearly half a century, and providing superior medical services to the people in eastern Shanghai. In July 2014, it was officially renamed as "Shanghai No.1 Rehabilitation Hospital" and continues to this day.