BIG . photos: © StudioSZ Photo / Justin Szeremeta
Situated along the waterfront in Suzhou, the Jinji Lake Pavilion merges the traditional Chinese courtyard typology with the offerings of a modern public space. Four distinct buildings are interconnected to form a gathering space for visitors and locals, as well as a resting point for walkers along the 13-km Jinji Lake trail.
The pavilion is one of the eleven permanent pavilions developed as part of the city’s initiative to create a vibrant and welcoming waterfront.
Steel and glass facades reflect the surrounding trees and waterfront, visually blending the pavilion with its natural environment. The glass allows views of the landscape from inside, while the polished steel surfaces mirror light and greenery, creating a subtle connection between the pavilion and the waterfront park.
The roof is lifted on each side, creating generous double-height entrances that guide visitors into the central courtyard where a tree serves as a tranquil focal point at the heart of the space.
From the courtyard, guests can access the four sections of the pavilion, each housing its own function: a coffee shop, a boutique, a restaurant and a visitor center.
Drawing the surroundings into the pavilion, the roof structure features two layers of perforated shading elements – an outer layer integrated into the glass assembly and an inner layer forming the ceiling. The layers provide glimpses to the sky and allow daylight to come through the perforations, casting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day.
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PROJECT INFORMATION
Name: Jinji Lake Pavilion
Size: 1.200 m2
Location: Suzhou, China
Client: Suzhou Harmony Development Group Co., Ltd.
Collaborators: Arts Group
PROJECT TEAM
Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Catherine Huang
Project Manager: Molly Hsiao Rou Huang
Project Manager: Dora Jiabao Lin
Design Lead: Sarkis Sarkisyan
Team: Arda Özker Cincin, Caroline Anastasia Senyszyn, Desislava Georgieva, Eleonora
Niccoli, Gwanghyoen Park, Jason Cheuk Hei Lee, Jonathan Yi Ren Chin, Kekoa Charlot,
Mathis Paul Gebauer, Matteo Pavanello, Mike Munoz, Paula Zaklina Domka, Pei Huang,
Simone Parigi, Tseng-Hsuan Wei, Yanis Amasri Sierra, Yingying Guan, Zhiyuan Zhang.
Photographs by Justin Szeremeta & Ye Jianyuan
