Article
The original premises occupied by the Bank of Communications on the Bund had been built in 1902 for the German Asiatic Bank by Heinrich Becker, who also designed the Russo-Chinese Bank next door. The Bank of Communications moved in on 25 th February 1920. The second and third floors of their new four story, Italian neo-Renaissance style building had been formerly let out as luxurious apartments. Whilst work on rebuilding the bank was underway in 1948, a safe, dating back to the years of its original German occupants, was found hidden deep in its walls. Despite speculation that it contained secret German documents or a hoard of gold and gems nothing of interest was brought to light. The building’s architect, C. H. Gonda, who put together designs for the building 11 years earlier, had revolutionized the appearance of bank buildings in Shanghai with his modernist design for the Bank of East Asia on nearby Central Sichuan Road in 1928.
The building now houses Shanghai Council of Trade Unions and Bank of Shanghai Shang Gong Branch.
Photo taken on May 19, 2014 shows the Bund No.14.