Page 139 - JCAU-6-2

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

hubs, libraries, financial clubs, study centers, landmark This paper holds significance in two key aspects. First,
attractions, and cultural meeting rooms. This approach amidst limited practitioners and financial education in
aligns with development needs with local economic and China, it contributes to enhance public understanding of
cultural legacy perpetuation. bank buildings. By reducing one-sided criticisms of these
structures as mere colonial heritage, it highlights their
6.2.4. Institutional value: Organizational capacity significance as national treasures of the early 20 century.
th
building Second, considering the property rights and historical
The adaptive reuse of modern buildings implies sustainable symbolism of these buildings, their renovation and
development. Therefore, revitalizing and utilizing Bank of management necessitate government intervention. This
China’s modern buildings while offering functional services paper provides directions for their subsequent protection
to society necessitates fostering strong social bonds around and utilization from the perspective of value interpretation
these architectural heritages. Specific measures include and demonstration.
enhancing collaboration between responsible enterprises, Furthermore, the interconnections between heritage
heritage protection departments, and the public. They can protection, value interpretation, and adaptive reuse
organize diverse economic and cultural activities to involve of buildings warrant further exploration. Extensive
the entire society in the preservation and utilization of the
modern buildings of the Bank of China. discussions on building renovation design, feasibility,
and tailored support construction will be crucial for these
7. Conclusion buildings to play a significant role in improving the esthetics
and vitality of urban space within the contemporary urban
China, like many post-colonial nations, boasts a significant renewal landscape of China.
legacy of modern bank buildings influenced by Western
financial concepts and architectural culture. As the Acknowledgments
witnesses to the colonial era fade away, these buildings
increasingly signify past memories. Consequently, many We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the
will be considered as cultural heritage, acquiring new individuals who generously shared their guidance and
meaning in contemporary contexts. This paper addresses support throughout the entire writing process. We extend
the challenge of studying these buildings comprehensively, our special gratitude to Yifei Wang, Shaoyuan Liu, Xu
ensuring good integration into urban environments while Zhang, and Kai Wen for their invaluable insights. Our
preserving their cultural identities. thanks also go to the Bank of China offices for providing
us with valuable historical information and architectural
Using the Bank of China, a pioneer of China’s modern drawings.
financial industry, as a case study, this paper analyzes
the history and current situation of its remaining Funding
architectural heritage. The findings highlight the rich Some of the field research was supported by a grant from
historical value embedded in the Bank of China’s modern
buildings, symbolizing critical events in China’s modern the Party Affairs Department of the Bank of China for a
architectural, social, and cultural history. Unfortunately, a project named “Research on the Value of Historic Buildings
lack of comprehension regarding the historical and cultural of Bank of China and Utilization Planning.”
significance of these buildings among owners often results Conflict of interest
in a standardized and crude approach to renovation,
leading to the erosion of historical integrity. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
In this paper, these bank buildings are regarded as Author contributions
a serial cultural heritage, interpreted across various
thematic values, and future directions for their use from Conceptualization: Jun Wang, Mengyuan Zhou
the perspective of regional development are proposed. Formal analysis: Jun Wang, Mengyuan Zhou
Emphasizing the necessity for ongoing value research Investigation: Jun Wang, Mengyuan Zhou
and interpretation across all stages of modern building Methodology: Jun Wang, Mengyuan Zhou
lifecycles, this paper underscores the shared mission Writing – original draft: Jun Wang
and responsibility of architects and restorers to present Writing – review & editing: All authors
and renovate the architectural heritage in a manner that
preserves historic significance while creating a “living” Ethics approval and consent to participate
tradition to meet contemporary societal needs. Not applicable.

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 17 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2166