Shanghai Daily News

The city's artists are increasingly locating their studios in deserted warehouses and stores. Those old buildings, originally of low economic value, have, through their creative renovation, assumed great importance to the artistic and cultural scene of the city. Famous gatherings of painters and designers such as 33 The Bund and 50 Moganshan Road have become symbols of the city.

Now the Changning District is setting up another paradise for artistic types, as well as those companies engaged in the creative industries. Early this month, Shanghai Creation Garden in Tianshan Park opened its doors to domestic and overseas visitors. Another creative center Shanghai Creation Creek, has absorbed about 10 art and design companies who have all moved in since January.

Creative Industry

The creative industries, which include advertising, industrial design, online gaming and cartoon films, to name but four, is a new and fast growing industry in China.

The market value is estimated to rise to 201 billion yuan (US$ 25 billion) by 2010, and capital and governmental support is being injected into these exciting new industries.

The Shanghai Creation Garden is a new concept in the warehouse-art studio mold. Visitors can overlook the nearby Tianshan Park on a pavilion renovated from an old water tower. Encompassed in the view there is 52,000 square meters of green park, a lake and several sky-scrapers in the distance. It's an ideal place where staff can have a casual talk during their afternoon tea break. For those who work in the creative industries, working in this kind of environment allows them freedom from the central business district and the normal stifling office environment.

Address:

613 Kaixuan Road

Exhibition Hall

Thursday's media and product exhibition marked the opening of Shanghai Creation Garden Creative Industry Park. Seven screens played different short films and interactive programs impressed visitors when they first stepped foot in the hall. To the left of the main exhibition, a large screen and a driving system leads you to a virtual trip of various properties. Another interactive projection system displays dancers with patterns projected by a special camera that change according to the dancers' gestures and movements.

On November 25, a new Porsche show will take place in this hall.

Address:

613 Kaixuan Road

Digital and Design Enterprises

The 4,300-square-meter Shanghai Creation Garden, was once part of Shanghai Rubber Factory. The renovation has maintained the thick red brick walls, as well as the seven- to 10-meter wooden roof with windows. The advanced digital technology company Flycool has now settled in. Mainly consisting of two big deserted warehouses, the company has first-class facilities and software. The office halls employ white, black and red colors, with navy blue stone floors in the staff rest area.

UUPark, who runs the online and offline business of hot cartoon character Frog Leon, created its cartoon world in another warehouse with transparent glass walls and stylish inner decorations. The cartoon image is everywhere on drinking cups, photo frames, toys and badges.

Address:

613 Kaixuan Road

Shanghai Creation Creek

This is another art and design industry park along the Suzhou Creek. Unlike the 50 Moganshan Road and 33 Bund areas that are mostly geared toward art galleries and antique shops, this three-story building is the new home of more than eight art and design studios and companies, many of them well-known.

The two red-brick houses, built in the 1930s by Japanese businessmen, were once the cotton warehouses of a large cotton factory. The two buildings are connected by a metal staircase left over from the old factory. There is now a glass house and painted flowers on the nearby terrace, giving the old factory look a soft contrast. One of the studio managers, surnamed Yao, said that the high roofs and open spaces give him more inspiration and this was one of the reasons why they moved there.

Address:

2170 Wanhangdu Road

Harvester Coffee Shop

On the first floor of the Creation Creek main building is the fifth Harvester Coffee Shop in Shanghai. Facing the Suzhou Creek, the shop is not as crowded as those downtown. It has a steady flow of customers from the art and design companies, as well as the art students from nearby colleges. The interior is pure wood. The most interesting design is the lighting system - bulks are suspended from the roof by a narrow string, with a transparent plastic ball enclosed. A meeting desk, which could not possibly appear in other coffee shops, is provided for customers seeking somewhere to hold a group talk.

Apart from their latte, the Harvester Coffee Shop's specialties are spaghetti carbonara and super deluxe feast pizza.

Price: 40 yuan (US$5) for each person on average

Address:

2170 Wanhangdu Road