Located in the heart of downtown Shanghai, the historic Rong family residence is regarded by many as a legendary landmark. This grand three-story mansion was originally owned by Rong Zongjing, a renowned Chinese entrepreneur of the early 20th century. Together with his brother Rong Desheng, he founded 21 textile and flour mills. Given that both industries produced daily necessities, the Rong brothers, at the height of their business empire, were popularly said to “own half of China.”
In 2011, Prada leased the property and undertook a six-year restoration project. Architect Roberto Baciocchi, who had previously participated in the restoration of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, was responsible for restoring the structure of Rong Zhai. Additionally, a specialized team from Italy was tasked with restoring various interior details, including missing or damaged glass skylights, metal chandeliers, plaster walls, fireplace tiles, and staircase railings. When the restoration was first completed, the residence was open to the public free of charge for a period of time, leaving visitors awestruck by both the artisans’ dedication to sourcing authentic period materials and Prada’s substantial financial investment.
This marks the second time Rong Zhai has opened its doors to the public, and the first time it has been genuinely utilized as an exhibition venue. Admission is quite affordable at just 50 yuan. The exhibition features a modest collection of just over 30 pieces, with a few items displayed in each room. Italy in the 1950s was an era defined by post-war reconstruction and modernization; as mass-produced, standardized goods became ubiquitous, people gradually began seeking out niche artworks, giving rise to numerous artistic movements during this period.
Selected exhibits include:
Selected architectural features include:
Photos in this post taken with a SONY A5100 + 16-50 f3.5-5.6, post-processed in Lightroom.
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