Hangzhou, China – 2010

Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province, is the southern terminus of the ancient Grand Canal waterway, which originates in Beijing. Its West Lake, celebrated by poets and artists since the 9th century, encompasses islands (reachable by boat), temples, pavilions, gardens and arched bridges. On its south bank is 5-story Leifeng Pagoda, a modern reconstruction of a structure built in 975 A.D.

In October 1999, the provincial and municipal governments decided to rebuild Leifeng Pagoda on top of the ruins of the old one. The new pagoda opened on 25 October 2002. It is composed of a 1400 tonne steel structure with 200 tonnes of copper parts. It contains four sightseeing elevators, and modern amenities such as air conditioning, television, and speakers. At the entrance of the pagoda, there are two autonomous escalators to carry visitors to the base of the pagoda.

St. Tropez, France – 2016

Legendary club of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, internationally renowned, Les Caves du Roy, located within the Byblos Hotel, is the place to be every season in Saint-Tropez. Christian Voigt associates with this place with special memories since living in St. Tropez for several decades.

Baalbek, Lebanon – 2017

The Temple of Bacchus is part of the Baalbek archaeological site, in Beqaa Valley region of Lebanon. The temple complex is considered an outstanding archaeological and artistic site of Imperial Roman Architecture and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. This monument to Bacchus is one of the best preserved and grandest Roman temple ruins; its age is unknown, but its fine ornamentation can be dated to the second century CE.

The temple was probably commissioned by Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (r. AD 138-161). No information was recorded about the site until a 4th-century Greek conquest, by which point the temple would likely have been closed due to the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire. When the complex fell into disrepair, the Temple of Bacchus was possibly protected by the rubble of the rest of the site’s ruins.

It was not until 1898–1903 that a German expedition excavated two of the large temples and began reconstructions on the site. In 1920, the State of Greater Lebanon was proclaimed and protections and repairs of the site were mandated by the Lebanese government.

In the mid-1970’s the Lebanese civil war broke out and protections of the site ceased as Al-Biqā became a stronghold for Palestinian and Syrian forces. In 1984 the ruins at Baalbek were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Preservation of the site began in the 1990s following the end of the war.

The German Archaeological Institute’s Orient Department has done a number of archaeological excavations and research on The Temple of Bacchus and the entire temple complex.

Myanmar – 2014

Organizations like the Yangon Heritage Trust were actively fighting to prevent the demolition of these historic sites in favor of modern high-rises. 

Here, Christian Voigt captures a building in disrepair.

Prague, Czech Republic – 2015

The Baroque Library Hall is an exquisite and notable feature of the Clementinum complex in Prague, Czech Republic. This mesmerizing library hall showcases the splendid architecture and design style of the Baroque era. The library was established as part of the Jesuit College in 1722.

Upon entering, you are immediately captivated by the grandeur and elegance of the space. The hall features stunning frescoes adorned with intricate designs, created by Jan Hiebl. The ceiling portrays various allegorical themes like Wisdom, Knowledge, and Divine Providence.

The library houses an extensive collection of over 20,000 books, including valuable historical manuscripts and rare texts. Among its treasures is a comprehensive selection of academic works from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.

Walking through the aisles feels like stepping into a different time period. Rows upon rows of beautifully crafted bookshelves line both sides of the hall – a true bibliophile’s dream come true.

Not only does this library impress with its magnificent architectural elements, but it also holds exceptional literary value. Some famous works that have found their home in this impressive collection include early editions of Copernicus’ De Revolutionibus and Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius.

Today, you can explore this enchanting library hall as part of guided tours within the Clementinum complex. This extraordinary experience allows you to immerse yourselve in history while surrounded by awe-inspiring beauty and knowledge.

The Baroque Library Hall at Clementinum offers a remarkable blend of breathtaking artistry and intellectual significance. It stands as a testament to both human creativity and an unyielding appreciation for literature throughout history.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 2011

The Burj Khalifa (known as the Burj Dubai before its inauguration) is a megatall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it is the world’s tallest structure, with a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, or just over half a mile) and a roof height (excluding the antenna, but including a 242.6 m spire) of 828 m (2,717 ft). It has also been the tallest building in the world since its topping out in 2009, surpassing Taipei 101, which had held the record for a half-decade.

Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004; the exterior was completed five years later. The primary structure is reinforced concrete. Some of the structural steel for the building was salvaged from the demolished Palace of the Republic in East Berlin. The building was opened in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. It was designed to be the centerpiece of large-scale, mixed-use development.

The building is named after the former president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The United Arab Emirates government provided Dubai with financial support as the developer, Emaar Properties, experienced financial problems during the Great Recession. Then-president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed, organized federal financial support. For his support, Mohammad bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai, changed the name from “Burj Dubai” to “Burj Khalifa” during inauguration.

The design is derived from the Islamic architecture of the region, such as in the Great Mosque of Samarra. The Y-shaped tripartite floor geometry is designed to optimise residential and hotel space. A buttressed central core and wings are used to support the height of the building. The Burj Khalifa’s central core houses all vertical transportation except egress stairs within each of the wings. The structure also features a cladding system which is designed to withstand Dubai’s hot summer temperatures. It contains a total of 57 elevators and 8 escalators.

Capri, Italy – 2008

Capri is a world-renowned Italian island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea at the edge of the Gulf of Naples. Famed for its rugged limestone cliffs, crystalline blue waters, and upscale atmosphere, it has been a luxury destination since the Roman era.

The island’s lively social hub. It is home to the famous Piazzetta (Piazza Umberto I), high-end designer boutiques on Via Camerelle, and vibrant nightlife. Here, however, Christian Voigt chooses to capture the tranquility of the natural landscape.

Paris, France, 2019

The Galerie d’ Anatomie Comparée in Paris is part of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle and is housed in a magnificent building, 80 meters long, inaugurated in 1898. The result is a building that meets the scientific, educational and museographic requirements from Albert Gaudry, professor of paleontology, Georges Pouchet, professor of comparative anatomy, and Ferdinand Dutert, talented architect, used to worked together. Cut stones and bricks decorate the metal framework, bay windows and stained-glass windows provide the necessary light, wooden floors and landings embellish the whole, sculptures and high reliefs by artists such as Fremiet or Barrias decorate the exterior of the building. In this Art Nouveau ambience, the visitor is guided through the fascinating spectacle of the worlds of ‘yesterday’s’ and ‘today.’

As soon as you cross the threshold of the gallery, the collection unfolds a herd of large land and water vertebrates. Remarkable species such as a whale nearly 20 meters long can be seen here, as well as Steller’s rhytine (sea cow), extinct since 1768, or the marsupial wolf, extinct since 1936. Also, the elephant of Louis XIV and the rhinoceros of Louis XV are on display.

Strahov Monastery, Prague, Czech Republic, 2015

The Monastery of the Premonstratensian Order at Strahov in Prague has a history reaching back to the 12th century and is a listed National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic. The monastery was founded during the reign of King Vladislav II on the impetus of the Bishop of Olomouc Jindřich Zdík. The monastery acquired its current Baroque appearance in the years between 1671 and 1674, when an extensive rebuilding was carried out according to design by the architect Giovanni Domenico Orsi. Additional alterations were carried out in 1742 by the architect-builder Anselmo Lurago. The beginnings of today’s library of the Strahov monastery can be placed in the era of Giovanni Domenico Orsi’s rebuilding work. Visitors to the Philosophical Hall are immediately drawn to the painting on its ceiling titled, “The Spiritual Progress of Mankind” by the artist Franz Anton Maulbertsch, who was assisted by his pupil Martin Michl. The artist worked on the painting from April till October 1794. The book collection of the Philosophical Hall library contains works on history, theology, poetry and liturgical texts.

Nepal – 2017

Khumbu Glacier is a glacier in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It is the highest glacier in the world with an altitude of 8,000 meters. It is fed by the slopes of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse and begins in the “Valley of Silence,” the highest cirque on earth with up to 6,000 meters altitude. At the end of the Valley of Silence, the Khumbu Glacier has a steep breakaway, the Khumbu Icefall, about 600 meters high. At the end of this icefall, the glacier turns from its initial northwesterly course to a southwesterly direction. Here is also the base camp for the ascent of Mount Everest via the southern route (5,400 m).