This year marks the tenth anniversary of Shanghai’s Long Museum West Bund, a milestone for one of the most significant buildings in China’s modern architectural history. Designed by Atelier Deshaus, it took an audacious stance, embracing the site’s industrial relics rather than erasing them—a bold gesture amid the "demolish-and-rebuild" era of the time. Retaining the iron tracks and coal hoppers of the 1950s industrial site, Atelier Deshaus integrated these remnants with new concrete structures that pay homage to their past, creating a unique, sustainable urban tapestry.

Since my student days in Shanghai, I’ve returned often to document this museum’s impact on the local community, watching it evolve from a fresh landmark into a gathering place woven into daily life. The museum’s transitional space—a public passage linking the neighbourhood to the riverside—has become a sanctuary for all: families, skateboarders, street performers, photographers, and even the occasional resting delivery worker.

A landmark of art and architecture, the Long Museum has also sparked renewed appreciation for Shanghai’s industrial heritage, prompting a shift toward preservation along the Huangpu River. As dusk settles and flute notes drift on the breeze, the museum stands quietly, witnessing the city’s past, present, and future—a lasting testament to the poetry of place.