Jinji Lake Pavilion in Suzhou by BIG

Jinji Lake is a flat, 7 km² freshwater reservoir in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou. It is one of the most popular recreational areas in this metropolis of 12 million inhabitants. In recent years, tourist infrastructure has been developed, particularly on the north and west shores. This includes eleven pavilions, through which the city aims to enhance the beauty of the lakeshore. One of these pavilions has recently been completed by the Danish firm BIG in collaboration with local architecture firm Arts Group.

The square inner courtyard serves as a communal meeting place and provides an oasis of calm. © Justin Szeremeta & Ye Jianyuan

The design combines the typology of traditional Chinese courtyard houses with the requirements of a public building. The four-winged roof is striking. Inside, there is an inner courtyard, around which four different uses are grouped: a café, a boutique, a restaurant and a visitor centre. Double-height passageways on each side connect the courtyard with the outdoor area. According to Catherine Huang, a partner at BIG, the roof structure is inspired by the surrounding vegetation. “Nestled under the grand camphor trees along the lake, the Jinji Lake Pavilion provides a tranquil space for the community. It is envisioned as an extension of the surrounding canopy of foliage”.

© Justin Szeremeta & Ye Jianyuan

The double-shell structure consists of two layers of perforated sheet metal. The outer layer is integrated into laminated glass, and there is a supporting structure in between the two layers. Catherine Huang describes the effect as follows: “The perforated sheets cast shadows and imitate the pattern of leaves. At the same time, they reduce heat transfer into the building.” For BIG, the 1,200 m² pavilion is just the beginning of a much larger project: the firm plans to complete the nearby Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art on the lakeshore before the end of this year. The museum is made up of 12 pavilions with characteristic staggered pagoda roofs and a translucent shell of curved glass. With a floor area of around 60,000 m², the museum will be around fifty times larger than the pavilion.