Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art opens in China

The Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art has officially opened on the edge of Jinji Lake in Suzhou, China. Designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with ARTS Group and VIA Inc., the 60,000-square-meter complex is the firm’s first museum project.

The architecture draws inspiration from traditional Suzhou gardens, utilizing the concept of the ‘lang’—a covered corridor that connects various spaces. The structure is composed of twelve interconnected pavilions unified under a single, undulating, ribbon-like roof that evokes traditional Chinese eaves and the Pan Chang infinite knot.

The facility includes four primary galleries, a grand entrance hall, a multifunction space, a theater, and a restaurant. The design employs rippled glass and warm-toned stainless steel to create a sense of transparency, aiming to dissolve the boundaries between the exhibition spaces and the surrounding landscape.