THE CONCEPT BEHIND XIN TIAN DIXintiandi provided an answer for preserving the old architecture of Shanghai that would be representative of its historical and cultural heritage. The Shui On Group raised the new idea of Shikumen conversion as early as in 1997: To abandon the residential function of Shikumen, and promote its role as a business district, turning the centennial antique quarter into a world full of vitality, vigor and cultural prestige.
The Shikumen buildings within Shanghai Xintiandi retain the antique walls, tiles and exterior of the Shikumen housing of old Shanghai, while the internal spaces have been designed and decorated to suit the up tempo lifestyle of the 21st century urbanites, with infinite details that exude the casual elegance of modern city living. Shanghai Xintiandi is where "yesterday meets tomorrow in Shanghai today."
Before the development of Shanghai Xintiandi, the area it encompasses had been a spread of aged lanes crowded with mid-19th century Shikumen buildings which had witnessed the vicissitudes of time. The Shikumen style was a combination of influences from home and abroad, showcasing Shanghai's culture of that era. With the city's drive toward progress and modernity, Shikumen, as a form of residential design, began to fall out of favor, prompting some experts to predict that by the 21st century Shikumen style houing would altogether disappear.
WHERE OLD MEETS NEW, WHILE ORDINARY IS MADE EXTRAORDINARY
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