Ancient Chinese
Architecture
Architecture
Fully illustrated book
for a Chinese publishing house*
for a Chinese publishing house*
*currently in production
I've always been drawn to history you can touch:
buildings, objects, spaces people actually lived in.
This fully illustrated book gave me a chance to go deep:
exploring Ancient Chinese architecture, crafts, and everyday life,
and diving into a history I didn't know
nearly well enough before.
buildings, objects, spaces people actually lived in.
This fully illustrated book gave me a chance to go deep:
exploring Ancient Chinese architecture, crafts, and everyday life,
and diving into a history I didn't know
nearly well enough before.
Ancient Chinese
Architecture
Architecture
Fully illustrated book for
a Chinese publishing house*
a Chinese publishing house*
*currently in production
I've always been drawn to history you can touch: buildings, objects, spaces people actually lived in.
This fully illustrated book gave me a chance to go deep: exploring Ancient Chinese architecture, crafts, and everyday life, and diving into a history I didn't know nearly well enough before.
This fully illustrated book gave me a chance to go deep: exploring Ancient Chinese architecture, crafts, and everyday life, and diving into a history I didn't know nearly well enough before.
Work on every chapter began with detailed study of the manuscript
and visual references prepared
by the editor.
and visual references prepared
by the editor.
Every page of the book
is a complex illustration.
No white space left behind
is a complex illustration.
No white space left behind
Each spread of the book tells its own story, dedicated to a specific theme, historical period, or architectural style.
Work on every chapter began with detailed study of the manuscript and visual references prepared by
the editor.
the editor.
Every page of the book is a complex illustration.
No white space left behind
No white space left behind
Each spread of the book tells its own story, dedicated to a specific theme, historical period, or architectural style.
This chapter is about the magnificent Forbidden City.
While working on it,
I enjoyed exploring its architecture, colors, decorations, and symbolic details.
All of them reflect imperial power, hierarchy, and ideas about harmony in the universe.
While working on it,
I enjoyed exploring its architecture, colors, decorations, and symbolic details.
All of them reflect imperial power, hierarchy, and ideas about harmony in the universe.
This chapter is about the magnificent Forbidden City. While working on it, I enjoyed exploring its architecture, colors, decorations, and symbolic details. All of them reflect imperial power, hierarchy, and ideas about harmony in the universe.
This chapter is about the origins of wooden houses.
While working on it,
I was fascinated
to learn how early shelters were connected to later Chinese architecture.
It was also interesting to see how climate, local materials, and ancient building
ideas shaped its development over time.
While working on it,
I was fascinated
to learn how early shelters were connected to later Chinese architecture.
It was also interesting to see how climate, local materials, and ancient building
ideas shaped its development over time.
This chapter is about the origins of wooden houses. I was fascinated to learn how early shelters were connected to later Chinese architecture. It was also interesting to see how climate, local materials, and ancient building ideas shaped its development over time.
This chapter introduces the Eight Great Works of traditional Chinese architecture. For me, the most engaging part was discovering how many different crafts were involved in one building. Carpentry, roofing, stonework, painting, earthwork, and other techniques all worked together to create a complete architectural system.
This chapter introduces the Eight Great Works of traditional Chinese architecture.
For me, the most engaging part was discovering how many different crafts were involved in one building.
Carpentry, roofing, stonework, painting, earthwork, and other techniques all worked together to create
a complete architectural system.
For me, the most engaging part was discovering how many different crafts were involved in one building.
Carpentry, roofing, stonework, painting, earthwork, and other techniques all worked together to create
a complete architectural system.
This chapter explores heavenly palaces in Chinese architecture and imagination. I liked how it connects real buildings
with mythology, religion, and landscape. The main focus is a unique temple complex built into a rock. Its hanging wooden structures, layered roofs, and mountain setting make the architecture feel suspended between the earthly world and
the divine.
with mythology, religion, and landscape. The main focus is a unique temple complex built into a rock. Its hanging wooden structures, layered roofs, and mountain setting make the architecture feel suspended between the earthly world and
the divine.
This chapter explores heavenly palaces
in Chinese architecture and imagination.
I liked how it connects real buildings with mythology, religion, and landscape.
The main focus is
a unique temple complex built into
a rock. Its hanging wooden structures, layered roofs, and mountain setting make the architecture feel suspended between the earthly world and the divine.
in Chinese architecture and imagination.
I liked how it connects real buildings with mythology, religion, and landscape.
The main focus is
a unique temple complex built into
a rock. Its hanging wooden structures, layered roofs, and mountain setting make the architecture feel suspended between the earthly world and the divine.
Selected chapters
A few of my favourite chapters from the book
I've kept it visible so you can see how illustration and text work together on the page. Feel free to toggle it on and off for a closer look at the art!
I've kept it visible so you can see how illustration and text work together on the page. Feel free to toggle it on and off for a closer look at the art!
As the book is still in production,
the text you see here on the pages
is a draft. The final layout and typography will be handled by
the publisher.
the text you see here on the pages
is a draft. The final layout and typography will be handled by
the publisher.
As the book is still in production, the text you see here
on the pages is a draft. The final layout and typography
will be handled by the publisher.
on the pages is a draft. The final layout and typography
will be handled by the publisher.
This chapter is about the magnificent Forbidden City. While working on it, I enjoyed exploring its architecture, colors, decorations, and symbolic details. All of them reflect imperial power, hierarchy, and ideas about harmony in the universe.
This chapter is about the origins of wooden houses. I was fascinated to learn how early shelters were connected to later Chinese architecture. It was also interesting to see how climate, local materials, and ancient building ideas shaped its development over time.
This chapter introduces the Eight Great Works of traditional Chinese architecture. For me, the most engaging part was discovering how many different crafts were involved in one building. Carpentry, roofing, stonework, painting, earthwork, and other techniques all worked together to create a complete architectural system.
This chapter explores heavenly palaces in Chinese architecture and imagination. I liked how it connects real buildings with mythology, religion, and landscape. The main focus is a unique temple complex built into a rock. Its hanging wooden structures, layered roofs, and mountain setting make the architecture feel suspended between the earthly world and the divine.
Selected chapters
A few of my favourite chapters from the book
As the book is still in production, the text you see here on the pages is a draft. The final layout and typography will be handled by the publisher.
I've kept it visible so you can see how illustration and text work together on the page. Feel free
to toggle it on and off for a closer look
at the art!
to toggle it on and off for a closer look
at the art!
I've kept it visible so you can see how illustration and text work together on the page. Feel free to toggle it on and off for a closer look
at the art!
at the art!
Take a closer look
Some details of the book: temples, buildings, cross-sections, textures, statues, frescoes, ornaments, and characters
Take a closer look
Some details of the book: temples, buildings, cross-sections, textures, statues, frescoes, ornaments, and characters
Work process
From a rough sketch to the final book pages
Each illustration went through several rounds of revision — working out composition, architectural details, and the balance between image and text on the page.
I worked in a close collaboration with the editor, who provided references and carefully reviewed every spread for historical and architectural accuracy.
What you see here is one spread from the first lines to the finished colored version
I worked in a close collaboration with the editor, who provided references and carefully reviewed every spread for historical and architectural accuracy.
What you see here is one spread from the first lines to the finished colored version
Each illustration went through several rounds of revision — working out composition, architectural details,
and the balance between image and
text on the page
I worked in a close collaboration with
the editor, who provided references
and carefully reviewed every spread
for historical and architectural
accuracy.
What you see here is one spread
from the first lines to the finished
colored version
and the balance between image and
text on the page
I worked in a close collaboration with
the editor, who provided references
and carefully reviewed every spread
for historical and architectural
accuracy.
What you see here is one spread
from the first lines to the finished
colored version
Work process
From a rough sketch to the final book pages
Each illustration went through several rounds of revision — working out composition, architectural details, and the balance between image and text on the page
I worked in a close collaboration with the editor, who provided references and carefully reviewed every spread for historical and architectural accuracy.
What you see here is one spread from the first lines to the finished colored version
I worked in a close collaboration with the editor, who provided references and carefully reviewed every spread for historical and architectural accuracy.
What you see here is one spread from the first lines to the finished colored version
What you've seen here is only a part of it. There's more that simply wouldn't fit on one page. When the book is published, I'll update this page with photos of the real, printed book.
Phew, it's been quite a journey!
Thank you for wandering through this project with me
If you're working on illustrated books, museum guides, educational materials, or heritage projects,
I'd love to be part of it!
Find my contacts below.
I'd love to be part of it!
Find my contacts below.
What you've seen here is only a part of it. There's more that simply wouldn't fit on one page. When the book is published, I'll update this page with photos of the real, printed book.
Phew, it's been quite a journey!
Thank you for wandering through this project with me
If you're working on illustrated books, museum guides, educational materials, or heritage projects,
I'd love to be part of it!
Find my contacts below.
I'd love to be part of it!
Find my contacts below.
Contact
I’m open to the new projects, commissions and collaborations.
Let’s create beautiful pictures together!
Let’s create beautiful pictures together!
Terms
2026 © Asya Alexandrova
Contact
I’m open to the new projects, commissions and collaborations.
Let’s create beautiful pictures together!
Let’s create beautiful pictures together!
Terms
2026 © Asya Alexandrova
Fill out the form, or write to me directly:
Feel free to contact me for commissions and collaborations!
