novel at that time, which would become Gonda's signature. In 1927, Gonda's other project rose in the downtown – the Shahmoon Building, at 21 Museum Road (today's Huqiu Lu 虎丘路), the property of S. E. Shahmoon & Co. Its architectural design was praised for its originality, simplicity and restrained ornamentation. The curved facade featured three horizontal divisions topped by a classic stepped-back art deco pinnacle – a recurring element in Gonda's buildings. The Shahmoon Building housed the Capitol Theatre at the bottom and offices of major film studios on the five floors above. The 1000-seat Capitol Theatre was Shanghai's first air-conditioned movie house, and the first to feature a pillar-less design, for unobstructed sight lines. The foyer was richly decorated with frescoes – the work of the Russian artist Victor Podgoursky – and twenty allegorical sculptures representing various arts, created by the Hungarian George Koppany. Concealed lighting fixtures and ornamental copper grills lent the space its theatrical and elevated atmosphere. In February 1928, C. H. Gonda relocated his practice to the Shahmoon Building and announced a partnership with the German architect Emil Busch, under the name Gonda & Busch (Chinese name 鸿宝). The new studio produced the design of the Grand Theatre (大光明电影院), on Bubbling Well Road opposite the Racecourse, which opened in December 1928. The movie house, constructed in the old Carlton Ballroom building, was called “the most luxurious in the Far East.” Besides a 1200-seat auditorium, it had two tearooms decorated in jazz patterns. Gonda & Busch were said to have “achieved a noteworthy effect in combining the beautiful old circular staircases, spacious lounges, and rotunda with the most advanced ideas in theatrical design.” The walls and staircases were treated with filigree flat-oil stain in old gold – the first use of this technique in China – executed by the studio of the Russian artist Jacob Lehonos. Melchers Godown was among other projects of Gonda & Busch, which was the construction of the 50,000 square-foot 5-story warehouse, owned by the German A. Widmann, which opened in May 1929 on East Broadway (now Dongdaming Lu 东大名路). At the end of the year, the Gonda & Busch partnership dissolved. In December 1929, C. H. Gonda publicized his design of the 16-story Grand Hotel, to stand next to the Grand Theatre facing the Racecourse. The 560-room hotel was appointed to the top floors, while the lower floors provided ten lounges, ballrooms,