BIG's Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art with Ribbon Roof Revealed Ahead of 2026 Opening
BIG has revealed its design for the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art in China, a 60,000 square-meter facility scheduled to debut in 2026. Situated along the waterfront of Jinji Lake, the complex comprises 12 pavilions topped with a flowing roof made of stainless steel and glass, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese architectural styles. The layout interlinks pavilions through glazed galleries and porticoes, featuring four large pavilions designated for main galleries, alongside spaces for a grand entrance, a multifunction hall, a theater, and a restaurant. The design emphasizes passive shading, natural ventilation, and the use of locally sourced materials, earning a GBEL 2-Star Green Building certification. An upcoming exhibition titled 'Materialism' will highlight 20 significant projects. This museum is a joint effort with ARTS Group and Front Inc.
Key facts
- Designed by BIG in collaboration with ARTS Group and Front Inc
- 60,000 square-meter museum with 12 pavilions under a continuous roof
- Located along Jinji Lake waterfront in Suzhou, China
- Set to open to the public in 2026
- Roof inspired by traditional Chinese tiled eaves, clad in warm-toned stainless steel and glass
- Achieves China's GBEL 2-Star Green Building certification
- Pre-opening exhibition 'Materialism' curated by BIG to feature 20 key projects
- Collaborators include Shanghai Shuishi Landscape Design Co and Rdesign International Lighting
Entities
Artists
- Bjarke Ingels
- Catherine Huang
- Molly Hsiao Rou Huang
- Tyrone Cobcroft
- Kekoa Charlot
- Tseng-Hsuan Wei
- Matteo Pavanello
- Aileen Koh
- Amanda Lima Soares Da Cuncha
- Arda Özker Cincin
- Athena Morella
- Chih-Han Chen
- Christian Vang Madsen
- Cris Guoyu Liu
- Desislava Georgieva
- Eddie Can
- Eric Wen Tung Li
- Federico Martínez De Sola Monereo
- Filip Fot
- Filippo Cartapani
- Finn Nørkjær
- Haochen Yu
- Huiyao Fu
- Izabella Banas
- Jakub Kulisa
- Jan Magasanik
- Jana Semaan
- Jason Cheuk Hei Lee
- Jiaqi Yang
- Jiawen Huang
- Julia Wilkosz
- Jurica Pajic
- Mathis Paul Gebauer
- Megan Nhat Xuan Dang
- Narisara Ladawal Schröder
- Ole Elkjær-Larsen
- Oliver Steen
- Paula Domka
- Pei Huang
- Philip Kaefer
- Phoebe Cowen
- Riad Tabbara
- Romain Thijsen
- Shu Du
- Sol Anaid Chaocon Levin
- Tarek Shater
- Todor Todorov Rusev
- Tomasz Jakubowski
- Xavier Thanki
- Yanis Amasri Sierra
- Yihan Liu
- Yingying Guan
- Zahra Khademi
- Zhonghan Huang
- Zuzana Faskova
- Andrea Hektor
- Adele Scampoli
- Alexander Gale Heiede
- Andreas Bak
- Bjarke Koch Ørvad
- Cristina Minguela
- Ingrid Albina Oliva Lampa
- Janis Bronka
- Jens Max Jensen
- Jesús Fernández Lindqvist
- Jonathan Russell
- Kannan Selvaraj
- Konstantinos Koutsoupakis
- Maria Capuozzo
- Miles Treacy
- Thomas Lejeune
- Tim Christensen
- Ye Jianyuan
Institutions
- BIG
- ARTS Group
- Front Inc
- Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art
- Suzhou Harmony Development Group Co. Ltd
- Suzhou Industrial Park Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau
- Shanghai Shuishi Landscape Design Co
- Rdesign International Lighting
- Dezeen
Locations
- Suzhou
- China
- Jinji Lake
- Copenhagen
- Denmark
- New York
- United States
- San Sebastián
- Spain