Photos: Nanjing restoration projects
First restored in 1989, Nanjing's former senate was one of Zhou Qi's first heritage projects. Like many former government buildings in the city, the structure dates back to Nanjing's time as the capital of the Republic of China from 1927.
Although much of the Dahua Cinema's interior was destroyed to accommodate the trappings of a modem movie theater, Zhou believes that "meeting the requirements of modem use"is the key to the building's future.
Built in the 1930s, the Dahua Cinema had fallen into disuse before restoration began in 2008. The building's Art Deco design has been revived with striking red columns and golden embellishments.
The Yangtze Villa Hotel was built using 600-year-old bricks taken from Nanjingfs city wall after it was destroyed in 1911. Zhou Qi began a four-year restoration process in 2012, and the hotel is back in use once again.
Although heritage projects can be hugely expensive, historic buildings have become increasingly desirable in China. Zhou says that the restoration of the Yangtze Villa Hotel allowed its owners to significantly increase the room rates.
Zhou first sensed official interest in protecting Nanjing's pre-war architecture in the late 1980s. By the time he returned from completing a PHD in Chicago in 2003, public and private heritage projects were becoming commonplace.
Dating back to 1933, this Nanjing bank was restored in 2009. Zhou says that some openly criticized his decision to construct a glass pyramid on the roof. But he argued that "while historic buildings have to be preserved, they also have to offer new functions."
"Restoration means we can keep old buildings for our own use -- and for the next generation," Zhou said. "Through (these buildings) you can see that the city is alive."
Completed in 1923 and renovated in 2012, St. Paul's Church remains an active place of worship in Nanjing.
A digital impression of Zhou's latest project, a 1920s storage facility that is being converted into a shopping mall. It is one of the architect's most extensive restoration projects to date.
Only the exterior and supporting structures of the original building will be preserved. The concrete frame must be reinforced with steel before cosmetic work can begin.
The abundance of historic buildings in Nanjing is a result of the city's history as China's former capital.
