Garden House at 5 Dongping Road

The beginning

Why was it built here?

Built around 1918, the house is attributed in the authority’s drawing-based account to China Realty architect W.S.; the initials are not expanded into an unverified name.[1] [2]

In 1924 Percy Tilley designed a billiard-room extension east of the main house. Later alterations mean the building represents several phases of work.[1] [2]

Look up, then look closer

Details worth a closer look

One building, changing roles

Read the building through time

Captions distinguish photographic dates from publication dates; periods without reliable images are covered in the text.

1. c. 1918

   House built

   Early drawings link the house to China Realty architect W.S., with construction around 1918.[1] [2]

2. 1924

   Eastern extension

   Percy Tilley’s eastern billiard-room addition expanded the house and its leisure facilities.[1] [2]

3. 2023

   School library

   The housing authority recorded use as a music primary-school library; school use does not imply open visitor access.[1] [2]

Shanghai and the world

Read history across the neighbourhood

Neighbouring apartments, houses and public spaces have different construction and use histories. Addresses, photograph directions and records together reveal how the neighbourhood developed.[1] [2]