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Shanghai: 1990 - 2010 [800x955] (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by [deleted]

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[–]aaaaaaaargh 58 points59 points ago

This photograph makes everyone assume Shanghai used to be a shitty backwater town in 1990, while in fact it was a wonderful city full of art deco architecture.

[–]cao-ni-ma 19 points20 points ago

It is still a wonderful city full of art deco architecture-- few, if any cities has more art deco than Shanghai.

[–]koopa2222 4 points5 points ago

I'm sure NYC does

[–]cao-ni-ma 0 points1 point ago

Maybe, maybe not. Shanghai, NYC and Chicago are all up there. Tokyo was said to have the most art deco in the world after it was rebuilt after a massive earthquake around the turn of the last century. The vast majority was destroyed by American bombings during WW2 though, leaving NYC, Shanghai and Chicago as the cities with the largest collections.

[–]koopa2222 1 point2 points ago

I'm pretty sure Rapture has the most Art Deco

[–]paulderev 1 point2 points ago

Havana, Cuba. It's virtually all Art Deco. Just putting that out there.

[–]daftbrain 1 point2 points ago

Napier in New Zealand has quite a bit of art deco too.

[–]the_minimalist[!] 0 points1 point ago

yes, its a shame a lot of it was destroyed in the earthquake. there's still a lot though.

[–]cao-ni-ma 0 points1 point ago

Definitely. It should be the city with the highest proportion of art deco in relation to the entire building stock. Though Napier is way too small to match the big boys in total numbers.

[–]Lolworth 3 points4 points ago

Miami?

It's all crumbling to shit mind. Shithole of a city.

[–]VentureBrosef 2 points3 points ago

Miami is a shithole?

The Art Deco is concentrated in South Beach, but many of the hotels are being refurbished. It's far from a shithole.

[–]Lolworth 2 points3 points ago

I went there and thought it resembled a crumbling seaside town - full of people stuck up their own arses and clubs which couldn't command the entrance fees they were charging, stuffed full of whores. Yes this was South Beach... a real let down.

[–]VentureBrosef 3 points4 points ago

http://www.mustseemiami.com/images/miami-attractions-map.gif

Where it says Art Deco District, that's South Beach. Miami as a whole is huge.

South Beach's Art Deco buildings were only recently being reincorporated, with many being refurbished right now.

You cannot judge all of Miami by your experiences in South Beach.

I've been to crumbling seaside towns, the Miami up and down Miami Beach is some of the highest per capita in the world. Just because old unused 1920s architecture is being either torn down or reincorporated in to new hotels, doesn't make it a depressed area. Many of the art deco hotels weren't used in 50 years, and only recently were purchased to convert.

Yes the clubs are expensive. The only one I recommend is Liv at the Fontainebleau, but that's because it's constantly rated one of the best in the world.

Whores? Guess you wouldn't be happy going to Los Angeles or Las Vegas. I hope you don't mean literal whores, just women, because South Beach doesn't have hookers.

You should've went to Coconut Grove, Brickell (the Adult South Beach), or many places up and down the coast in the area.

[–]imamidget 2 points3 points ago

There's a lot of Miami that is really shitty, though. Hialeah comes to mind. Parts of it are really nice and classy, other parts are crime-ridden and falling apart.

[–]VentureBrosef 0 points1 point ago

I agree. I was specifically talking about the tourist zones

[–]IWetMyselfForYou 0 points1 point ago

I agree with almost everything you said. Especially the Grove, I love that place.

But this:

because South Beach doesn't have hookers.

is insanity. It's not overrun with hookers, but there is a hell of a lot of them. It's a popular spot for transgender prostitution. And there's a lot of big money hookers. Hell, I've been propositioned while walking down the street with my wife and daughter.

[–]VentureBrosef 0 points1 point ago

I guess I was wrong in this respect. I've spent a considerable time in Miami Beach for the past 20 years. I've never personally been propositioned or seen a street walker in South Beach. I haven't seen them on Washington, Collins, or Ocean Drive.

Maybe they're in the areas I don't frequent, but I'm surprised if they're so prevalent that I haven't seen one.

[–]StaticDude 0 points1 point ago

mabye you don't strike their interest.

[–]Lolworth 0 points1 point ago

No, I meant actual hookers. Crawling with them. I got propositioned enough times to know what was up, frankly.

[–]cakedBeef 4 points5 points ago

Having lived here all my life, I have to agree. I'm dying to get out of here.

[–]vicefox 1 point2 points ago

Miami is far from a shithole.

[–]Lolworth -2 points-1 points ago

I thought it was.

[–]cao-ni-ma 0 points1 point ago

Miami has a lot as well but it is mostly centred in a few districts whereas in Shanghai (and NYC for example) it is literally scattered throughout the entire urban area.

[–]ace17708 -2 points-1 points ago

*HAD

[–]cao-ni-ma 4 points5 points ago

A great deal has been town down, of course, but most of the demolished neighbourhoods weren't art deco buildings but rather old shikumen housing. Most of the art deco, bauhaus and streamline moderne buildings and areas still stand.

[–]ace17708 -4 points-3 points ago

wow thats amazing i would have thought they tore down everything but they saved it

[–]leondz 5 points6 points ago

Yeah, it's just comparing the Pu Dong peninsula - the vast majority of Shanghai is behind the camera

[–]be_more_canadian 14 points15 points ago

I think the 1990 version looks fine

[–]fernguts 6 points7 points ago

I think it looks better. Many of the newer buildings are quite tacky to my eye.

[–]peas_inapod 9 points10 points ago

Agreed. Also, I like the patch of trees in the middle of a city.

[–]diulei 1 point2 points ago

For those of you with this sentiment, here is what the other side of the river looks like if you were facing the opposite way this photo was taken, probably not what most of you were expecting. It has a European look due to the history of China and Europe in the 1800s and such and has mostly escaped the massive skyscraper craze of the 1990s and 2000s.

The skyscrapers have mostly been limited to the other side of the bund and also scattered throughout the rest of the city in a less dense fashion (ala Brusselization).

Some more pictures: here and here.

[–]fernguts 0 points1 point ago

I can't help but laugh at how many Chinese flags are flying over every building on the Bund.

[–]diulei 0 points1 point ago

Wonder what the Chinese equivalent of 'Murika! and 'Schland! is...

[–]coffeeisking 0 points1 point ago

Yes, people have quite strong opinions about the pearl tower. That one is so bad.

[–]this_sort_of_thing 17 points18 points ago

Will be interesting to see this same comparison in 2030, although I don't think it would be that as much of a change.

Similar to how NYC had a phase of looking completely different but now doesn't look too different over the past few decades.

[–]N_Sharma 13 points14 points ago

Well the fog in 2030 might make taking pictures more challenging.

[–]Zelius 12 points13 points ago

Would 2027 suffice?

[–]this_sort_of_thing 5 points6 points ago

I never understood what the fuck that thing was in the sky, or what purpose it had, or what was the practicality of it

[–]Zelius 10 points11 points ago

I think the idea was that due to high population density, everything needed to be built further upwards. This construction effectively allows them to have two levels to build on.

Though the main reason was probably along the lines of "because it looks freakin' awesome!"

[–]this_sort_of_thing 1 point2 points ago

Haha yeah, although I doubt anyone would want to live under perpetual shadow underneath...so that place would become a dead zone or a slum at the very best. So in reality you would just shift people from the bottom to the top....and nothing would change!

[–]paulderev 1 point2 points ago

I think I just came.

Source?

[–]Zelius 2 points3 points ago

It's art from the videogame Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which partly takes place in Shanghai (Hengsha island in particular), in 2027.

This art in particular is from one of the trailers and can be found here: http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/File:Heng_sha_skyline_trailer.jpg

[–]willOTW 0 points1 point ago

Is there any more info on this? As a person who jus took a Structures course... no.

(unless there is a lot of stuff to back it up)

[–]Zelius 2 points3 points ago

Ah, I probably should have clarified a bit. This is simply a screenshot/concept art from the videogame Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It takes place in 2027, and Shanghai is one of the places you visit.

[–]arvinja 8 points9 points ago

Wow, it's is like night and day!

[–]browncow7 24 points25 points ago

Holy crap. All that in only 20 years? That's pretty amazing.

[–]giraffricanamerican 20 points21 points ago

Japanese growth was almost exactly the same in the '70s and '80s. Entire cities were built in a few years.

[–]browncow7 5 points6 points ago

Equally amazing.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]Rekksu 19 points20 points ago

Oh great, this shit again...

[–]EastenNinja -5 points-4 points ago

Sounds like you don't agree?

Why?

[–]Rekksu 0 points1 point ago

The WTC is the exception because of all of the bullshit involved (the building is required to be almost indestructible and thus had to be redesigned several times / lots of compromises were made).

There are tons other giant projects underway (or about to be) in New York that are on track and don't have to deal with politics.

[–]garyg 4 points5 points ago

Well, keep in mind we only had the competence to actually start building it once:

  • we tossed out all the earlier designs that were packed with useless jingoistic themes at the cost of utility and functionality, which predictably inhibited any consistent funding/support.

  • we stopped naming it the lame "Freedom Tower." (Yes, it's not called Freedom Tower any longer)

...and as a result of the above reasons, WTC 1 now has plenty of support to be finished in reasonable time. Naturally this all happened after Bush left office.

[–]thedrew 5 points6 points ago

Not sure how Bush affected the Port Authority, but otherwise, great points.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points ago

The building on the right side looks like a lemon zester.

[–]UhOhPoopedIt 8 points9 points ago

I'd say bottle opener, but maybe it's a dual purpose building.

[–]5evertim 2 points3 points ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_World_Financial_Center

In the eyes of some, the building resembles a giant bottle opener. In fact, metal replicas of the building that function as actual bottle openers are sold in the observation deck gift shop.

[–]EastenNinja 0 points1 point ago

got to get one of those!

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

It was built by a Japanese firm. It was supposed to be a rising sun but the city forbid that from being the final design.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

I'm liking the downvotes for factual information.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]ChronisBlack 0 points1 point ago

....developed by Mori Building company of the Mori Tower/Roppongi Hills Fame. He recently passed away if I am not mistaken

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mori_Building_Company

[–]cynest 3 points4 points ago

It would be nice to have the camera position a bit closer to the orignal.

[–]aahxzen 3 points4 points ago

anyone else notice how much smaller the river appears in 2010?

[–]thewhoiam 3 points4 points ago

It really does look smaller. I think it's a combination of a higher camera angle and taller buildings in front of it.

[–]ianpauli 5 points6 points ago

I think the newer one is actually from further back too; you can see the building in the bottom left in the 1990 picture with the green top in the 2010 picture and it's a LOT smaller. Unless they just decided to shrink the building. You can also see the building that has the clock in it that's on the right side of the 1990 picture closer to the middle of the 2010 picture.

[–]sthree 0 points1 point ago

yes, it is.

[–]BDGLZ 3 points4 points ago

I think the framing gives the affect that all of the buildings in 1990 are gone now. Look at the clock tower to the right of the first image. You can see it still standing (though somewhat refurbished) just to the left of the middle of the second image. Similarly, the building with the pyramid-shaped roof on the left of the first image can be seen in the same part of the second image (though further away and smaller). If we adjust for that framing, we can also see that much of the green area is also still there.

In spite of this, Shanghai has clearly grown a lot, but many buildings still seem to be there.

[–]TargetTango 2 points3 points ago

Shanghai: 2027

[–]Fieel 0 points1 point ago

lol i already knew that was from DE

[–]lucasjv 6 points7 points ago

Looks more like 1890 to me..

[–]VentureBrosef 10 points11 points ago

Pudong used to be a park before 1990.

The city center was on the other side of the river, but you can't see it in the picture.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]lucasjv 2 points3 points ago

Yea, I looked it up because I couldn't believe it.

[–]jason-samfield 1 point2 points ago

Stunning!

[–]MrCavallis 1 point2 points ago

wow this is incredible

[–]atigerinafrica 1 point2 points ago

Very cool picture. What an insane transformation.

[–]noirecity 1 point2 points ago

The spoils of success...

[–]Jer0nimo 1 point2 points ago

This morning a teacher showed the exact same thing in class, really amazing

[–]v-alentine 2 points3 points ago

operation cwal

[–]jaaake 0 points1 point ago

HA

[–]ImAmazing 1 point2 points ago

All I can think of when I see that sign is "I <3 SHIT"

[–]Grandmaofhurt 4 points5 points ago

All you do is repost things.

[–]edwinhere 4 points5 points ago

Property rights and freer trade FTW

[–]shomer_fuckn_shabbos 2 points3 points ago

~ Carl Sagan

[–]jmls10thfloor 0 points1 point ago

Surprisingly the same time of day!

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

As the old saying goes, "better a bed in Puxi than a house in Pudong". It's not likely to be as true today...

[–]vinnard 0 points1 point ago

I'd like to see this year by year. It would be interesting to see how fast it all went up.

[–]daysweregolden 0 points1 point ago

Whoa. Just saw this in a presentation at the University of Minnesota today. Coincidence?

[–]sanguinekane 0 points1 point ago

Looks awesome except for one building, and that's the tower with the bulbs/spheres. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that thing looks ugly and ridiculous.

I really like the tallest tower, with the open space at the top, however.

[–]MiniDriver 0 points1 point ago

I guess the U.S.' free-trade agreement with them has really worked in their favor.

[–]Kilngr 0 points1 point ago

What happened to the clouds? Does Shanghai have a smog problem now?

[–]hoobsher 0 points1 point ago

20 years? hot damn

[–]NotoriousADD 0 points1 point ago

Huh.

[–]Fieel 0 points1 point ago

and that church at the right down corner of teh photo? Wtf? destroyed?

[–]bfro2893 3 points4 points ago

It's not a church, it's an embassy from the 20's. And it's still there, you can't see it since the photo is not the exact same as the original. I live there now.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]GregPatrick 20 points21 points ago

Yeah, I've seen it before too, a bunch of times, but there are many, many, many people who have not, so gives a shit if we've seen it? They haven't. It's like complaining about reruns.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, I didn't see this yesterday.

[–]dziban303 -2 points-1 points ago

Thanks for the photo,

LickMyAsshole

[–]ru4ku92 -2 points-1 points ago

thanks, LickMyAsshole

[–]dovahkiin15 -1 points0 points ago

FUCKING NO LIFE

[–]daftTR0N -2 points-1 points ago

what a shame

[–]cummyface -3 points-2 points ago

I wasn't completely convinced by the authenticity of this photo comparison until I found this article in the Atlantic.

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