CARPENTER’S LOVE FOR OLD SHANGHAI
Former trading hub’s buildings from pre-Communist era are left to decay
CARPENTER Ma Jiale has spent much of his working life lovingly repairing some of the city’s most attractive — if rather decrepit — historical buildings.
The Chinese city is well known for its skyscrapers, but its preCommunist days as a cosmopolitan trading hub has left a legacy of assorted architecture ranging from French-style villas to Edwardian mansions and Art Deco buildings.
Authorities say they are committed to preserving the best of the old structures — and Ma is doing his part.
The 57-year-old grandfather cycles — old tools hanging from the handlebars — from job to job in a pocket of the northeast district of Hongkou.
“If Shanghai only has skyscrapers, then it is not Shanghai any more,” said Ma, known affectionately in the neighbourhood as “Master Ma”.
“I am not saying modernisation is not good, but historical buildings should be preserved.”
In a 2002 report, the World Bank described this part of Hongkou as a key historical site not just in Shanghai, but for China.
Past residents included writers, a Communist Party leader from the late 1920s and, according to local legend, one of Mao Zedong’s ex-wives.
Recently, Ma worked on a century-old house that from the outside would not look out of place in a wealthy London suburb.
Now divided into several rather ramshackle apartments, Ma said that Japanese used to live there — Hongkou was once known as “Little Tokyo”.
Ma uses tools handed down by his predecessors because he fears that modern or electrical ones will damage the original features of the house.
They include arched floor-toceiling front windows, high ceilings and a grandiose tiled fireplace.
There are no original drafts to work off, so Ma uses his experience and instinct to make the new door frame fit with its surroundings of faded grandeur.
“My job is to protect historical buildings and pass on our craftsmanship,” said Ma.
“What is made by machines is cold and lacks a human touch.”
Ma works for a state-owned property management company and proudly declares that he is a member of the ruling Communist Party.
After the Communist takeover 70 years ago, political campaigns denouncing symbols of China’s past “feudal” era consigned many properties to decay.
The Shanghai government is playing catch-up, but in recent years stepped up its efforts to protect and preserve historical buildings, Ma said.
But in a country where people are often afraid of speaking out, Ma is open about what he feels is the inadequate upkeep of some of Shanghai’s attractive old architecture.
“We just roughly repair windows, doors, floorboards, wooden frames,” said Ma, calling for more money to be directed to the preservation effort.
“For decades, Shanghai’s historical buildings haven’t been well protected. Small repairs from property management companies cannot solve the big problem.”