Courtyard
A small, open-air space at the entrance. It provides light and ventilation to the front rooms and symbolizes a connection to nature, acting as a transitional buffer between the public lane and the private home.
Parlor
The formal reception room at the front, directly accessible from the courtyard. It's the most public room in the house, used for receiving guests, family gatherings, and ceremonies.
Upper living room
Located directly above the parlor on the first floor. It is the main living space for the family —more private than the parlor — and typically houses the master bedroom or primary family sitting area.
Staircase
A narrow, often steep, wooden staircase connecting the floors. It is usually tucked away in a corner behind the parlor, leading to the upper living room, loft and garret.
Kitchen
Located at the very back of the ground floor, behind the central living areas. It is a functional, often compact, space that opens to the rear sub-lane, where many residents prefer to enter or exit the building.
Garret
A small, low-ceilinged room built on the mezzanine level between the first and second floors, often above the kitchen and facing the narrow rear alley. It was the least desirable space —poorly lit and ventilated — and was historically rented out to students, writers, or artists at low cost.
Flat roof
It is the open-air terrace, typically located at the very back of the house on the second floor, adjacent to the garret. It was an essential multi-purpose utilitarian space.
Loft
The attic space under the sloped roof, above the upper living room. Used for storage or as an extra, cramped sleeping area, accessible by a ladder or the final section of the staircase.
Sub-lane
The sub-lane is where the neighborhood comes alive. The Shikumen lane functioned as the vital artery of a community, where every daily interaction, from a simple nod to a collective bargain, pulsed with the warm, bustling life of old Shanghai.
