A Chinese documentary about Hungarian architect Ladislav Hudec, who transformed Shanghai's skyline a century ago, has aired during prime time in Hungary and Slovakia.
Although born in present-day Slovakia, Hudec is widely regarded as a Hungarian architect because he was born in what was then the Kingdom of Hungary, studied in Budapest, and later held Hungarian citizenship -- a reflection of the complex cultural landscape of Central Europe at the time.
The documentary "L.E. HUDEC", produced by the China Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio (Group) under China Media Group (CMG), follows Hudec's life, from his early years in the Slovak town of Banska Bystrica to his transformative architectural work in Shanghai, reflecting the theme that civilization thrives through exchange and mutual learning.
The architect fled the turmoil of World War I and found refuge in China. Settling in Shanghai in 1918, he helped shape the skyline of what would become the country's largest metropolis.
He went on to design nearly 70 buildings in Shanghai -- 27 of which are now recognized as outstanding historical landmarks. Among his iconic works are the Park Hotel, once the tallest building in Asia; the Grand Theater; the Moore Memorial Church; and the wedge-shaped Wukang Building, formerly known as the Normandie Apartments.
The documentary is being broadcast on Hungary's national cultural channel operated by the Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) from September 9 to October 4, and will also air on the second channel of Slovak Television from September 28 to October 26.
Chinese documentary on Hudec, architect who shaped Shanghai, airs in Hungary, Slovakia
