An Imprint of Spain in China

SHANGHAI, CHINA

CLIENT
Spanish Cultural Center I Spanish Consulate of Shanghai I Instituto Cervantes

TYPE
Exhibitions

STATUS
Completed

Shanghai in the 1920s was a city in rapid transformation, where Eastern and Western influences converged, shaping its identity as a global hub of trade and culture. The architecture reflected this dynamism, blending styles and adapting to the evolving urban landscape.

Amid this expansion, Abelardo Lafuente, a Spanish architect working within Shanghai’s colonial scene, introduced a distinctive mix of Moorish revival and Art Deco. His contributions, once prominent, faded into obscurity as the city continued to evolve.

In 2011, South Bund 22, a former pen factory left abandoned, became the site for an exhibition dedicated to rediscovering Lafuente’s work. Commissioned by the Spanish Cultural Center and Instituto Cervantes, the project showcased the research of Alvaro Leonardo, not as nostalgia, but as a recognition of Lafuente’s influence.

The exhibition design, inspired by traditional lanterns, aimed to "bring to light" his legacy while immersing visitors in the historical layers of the city. The factory’s raw textures served as a backdrop, reinforcing the overlap between past and present in Shanghai’s architectural history.