Friedman Apartments (1931), eighty years apart
Friedman Apartments, 112 Ferry Road, in 1931.
Friedman Apartments in 2021. Baidu street view.
This apartment house, on the northeast corner of Nanyang and Ferry (now Xikang) Roads, was designed by Algar & Co. for Katie and Max Friedman. The building was given the owners’ name, Friedman Apartments; it opened in April 1931. (The engineer Max Friedman, who together with his brother Leon operated the Star Garage and China Motors, had spent more than 30 years in China and died in 1934.)
According to Israel’s Messenger, the building had five 5-roomed flats and fifteen 4-roomed flats: “All the flats have a south aspect, the rooms are of generous size, and ample cupboard space is provided. The ground floor is occupied by garages, box rooms, etc., while one servant’s room is incorporated in each apartment. The flat roofs are available for the use of tenants and should prove a popular feature. The flats will be finished to a good standard with hardwood floors and joinery, tiled kitchens, bathrooms, etc., and provision is being made for both electric and gas cooking and for refrigerators.”
Now known as Nansha Gongyu 南沙公寓 and also (for some reason) as Paramount Apartments 派拉蒙公寓, the former Friedman Apartments stands at 112 Xikang Road 西康路112号. The second building, further from the corner, has received an added floor. Various views of the buildings can be found here: https://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5d1bdf480102z2u8.html