Commemorative Plaques in Ramos' buildings

Official Placement of Commemorative Plaques in Spanish and Chinese languages in Shanghai's Heritage Buildings. A new milestone for this project and research has been achieved since September 2024, due to the centenary of the construction of these two symbolic "still standing" heritage buildings by Abelardo Lafuente.

Thanks to the invaluable help of the new Spanish Cultural Center of the Instituto Cervantes and jointly with the Municipality of Shanghai (Hongkou District authorities where both buildings are located). Special Plaques have been able to be produced and placed on the facades of two 1924 buildings built by Abelardo Lafuente for the Spanish Tycoon Antonio Ramos. One was his Summer Mansion and the other one was called Ramos Apartments a private investment from both friends. Although built at the same time and being designed by the same architect, both have two completely different styles, one Spanish neoclassical and the other one Spanish historicist with Moorish influence.

This historic recognition opens the door to further collaboration and to gradually discovering more about this fascinating history from over a century ago. We are particularly pleased and hope to be able to continue in the future to investigate further.