Shanghai Ruitai Lane, a century-old Shikumen and a retro London elevator

Ruitai Lane, located at No. 232 North Suzhou Road and No. 371 Tiantong Road, is integrated with Ruikang Apartment in its layout. This row of two-story brick-wood Shikumen buildings was built earlier than Ruikang Apartment, in the 1920s. The facade of the apartment has the dual characteristics of modernist and Art Deco styles, typical of 1930s apartment buildings. The corner along the street is designed with a graceful arc, and the facade emphasizes the vertical effect of the clear red brick walls between the windows and the rhythmic changes in the horizontal direction. The decoration is simple, and it is also listed as an excellent historical building. Its highlight is the old-fashioned elevator inside the apartment, which is said to have been designed by the British in the early 19th century. When you step in here, even amidst the bustling Suzhou River, you can feel the wonderful sensation of traveling back to Shanghai a hundred years ago.