In 2001, a small number of abandoned historic residences still stood in Pudong, Shanghai’s financial district, even as extensive redevelopment transformed the surrounding area. Separated from new construction by a fenced-off golf driving range, these houses formed the last traces of domestic life in a rapidly changing landscape.

Today, the skyline is presently distinguished by prominent skyscrapers, notably the Shanghai Tower, a twisting edifice rising to 632 meters (2,073 feet) with 127 floors, and the Jin Mao Tower, which stands at 420.5 meters (1,380 feet) and comprises 88 stories. This photograph captures a moment preceding the complete replacement of the low-rise domestic landscape by the vertical skyline.