Page 135 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Bank of China’s modern buildings

Figure 12. Schematic representation of the style and date of construction of the existing modern buildings of the Bank of China. Source: Photos by Jun
Wang and Xiaofan Du (Except for the photos of the two buildings in Hong Kong, which are obtained from the Internet)

modernization. This transformation holds particular have not undergone innovative adaptive reuse, which can
esthetic and artistic value, as depicted in Figure 12. be attributed to challenges stemming from issues related
to property rights entanglements, a lack of comprehensive
5.3. Preservation and revitalization of modern research, and unfavorable cost-benefit considerations.
buildings
Seven modern buildings have been converted into
Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of exhibition spaces, including industry museums and
China in 1949, the Bank of China underwent a transition cultural business establishments. These adaptive functions
in which it was acquired by the People’s Bank of China represent a continuation of the modern buildings’ life
(PBOC) and subsequently designated as a subordinate cycle and serve as supplementary means of interpretation
unit within the internal management of the PBOC. This (Figure 13). However, notable shortcomings persist
transition brought about complex changes in the property concerning heritage interpretation and exhibition
rights and utilization rights of the modern buildings. At education
present, these modern buildings serve various purposes: (i) Curatorial concepts and content: The exhibition spaces
some continue as original financial service spaces, while often lack innovative approaches to narrating historical
others have been repurposed as specialized exhibition journeys, typically dominated by generalized history
halls or for commercial use. Unfortunately, certain modern exhibits that fail to convey individuality, emotions,
buildings now lie vacant, deteriorating, and in desperate and memories.
need of preservation and restoration. Based on our field (ii) Forms of exhibitions: They primarily rely on traditional
research, these buildings fall into six functional categories: modes such as graphics and text, with insufficient
financial function, specialized museum exhibition incorporation of engaging exhibits, information
function, office function, residential function, mixed-use, technology, and other interactive elements.
and unused (Table 4). (iii) Operational system: The absence of professional

Despite their profound historical and architectural curators not only hampers deep integration with the
value, the majority of Bank of China’s modern buildings historic lineage concerning exhibition positioning but

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 13 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2166