Mix of preservation and regeneration
Beijing has the Bird's Nest and Shanghai the 101-storey World Financial Centre but, as a symbol of China's transformation into a global economic power, few buildings are more iconic than Guangzhou's White Swan Hotel.
It was there, from the mid-1980s, that many initial contacts took place between mainland officials and western business leaders, as China opened its doors to the world and embarked on the course that was to redefine the nation.
Keith Griffiths, chairman of architectural firm Aedas, clearly recalls his first visit in 1985 and is acutely aware of the historical significance of the hotel and of Shamian Island, where it stands.
He has, therefore, taken a personal interest in overseeing the feasibility study for redevelopment which, in conjunction with the city's master plan, will turn the area into a high-end cultural and entertainment district.
The focus will be on preservation and regeneration.
'We want to make it a very exclusive, very beautiful island with indoor and outdoor features,' Mr Griffiths said.
'As part of that, we are looking to preserve the White Swan tower. It is iconic, a part of Guangzhou, and has a very powerful place in modern Chinese history. It is also an embodiment of international style, one of the world's most important architectural movements, best represented by the Pirelli building in Milan, the Pan Am building in New York and Centrepoint in London.'
The provisional plan, he said, was to convert the existing tower into an all-suite hotel with rooms of 45 square metres, and to add three storeys for penthouses. There would be a ballroom for 1,800 people with a breakout space leading on to a deck overlooking the Pearl River, and the restaurants, retail areas and public facilities would undergo a complete refurbishment. Importantly, though, the water feature in the lobby - a backdrop for millions of photos - would remain but be enhanced.
A new adjacent tower, slightly to the west, would house a boutique hotel and serviced apartments, and a 300-metre stretch of waterfront would be open to the public.
Work should start by the end of the year, with phase one due for completion in time for Guangzhou to host the Asian Games late next year.
'The designs break down the massing of the buildings to refocus the space and respond to the scale and nature of the 19th-century buildings around,' Mr Griffiths said.
'This will allow views you couldn't previously see, and establish a vibrant area which integrates shops at the base of the hotel with those in the beautiful old buildings across the street,' Mr Griffiths said.
