Jinji Lake Pavilion

ⓒChen Hao

ⓒArch-Exist Photography

Lakeside Services and Urban Branding

The Jinji Lake area in Suzhou Industrial Park aims to establish a future urban center. The waterfront public space integrates existing structures to form a lakeside pavilion service system within a 15-minute walking radius, showcasing the urban brand. Each of the 11 pavilions (5 new, 6 renovated) includes commercial spaces, rest areas, and restrooms. An international architectural competition in 2022 selected firms like Arata Isozaki & Qian Hu Studio and GALAXY ARCH, with the latter winning for the Wooden Cabin Pavilion, completed in April 2024 and housing Suzhou's first illy café.

 

ⓒArch-Exist Photography

ⓒArch-Exist Photography

Lakeside Memories Continued

Reconstructed on its original site, the Wooden Cabin Pavilion retains its nostalgic appeal with a modern twist. Its pitched roof and gable design evoke traditional dwellings, while curved entrances and elevated structure add distinctiveness. Situated on tiered platforms, it provides seating, prevents flooding, and mimics ripples on the lake. Main entrances are on the east and south, with a secondary ramp from the camphor forest on the north. The eaves create a semi-outdoor space for interaction with nature.

Under the Eaves, Beside the Camphor Forest

Approaching through the camphor forest, visitors encounter the metal roof’s play of light and shadow. The low eaves invite exploration and interaction with nature, while the west side's tall gray space, enclosed by steel and wood, offers a flexible, intimate outdoor area.

 

ⓒArch-Exist Photography

ⓒChen Hao

ⓒChen Hao

ⓒGalaxy Arch

Steel Frame, Wooden Soul

Combining steel and wood, the structure uses steel beams and columns with CLT panels for floors and NLT systems for the roof, balancing durability and visual effect. The steel frame minimizes view obstructions, while wooden elements provide warmth. Precision in construction was crucial due to the mixed design. Douglas fir planks, fire-resistant wood veneers, and merbau flooring enhance the wooden cabin experience, especially in the intimate second-floor space.

Interwoven Lines and Light

Night lighting includes interior illumination, wall washers, ground lights, and linear lights along the eaves and platforms, enhancing the holiday atmosphere and harmonizing with the camphor forest.

 

ⓒArch-Exist Photography

Public Service and Popular Spot

The 400-square-meter wooden cabin hosts illy café, with outdoor seating, an observation deck, and public restrooms. Separate entrances for the café and public services are connected internally. Amenities include rentals and vending machines. The cabin has become a vibrant meetup spot, reviving cherished local memories and creating new ones.

 

SITE PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

SECTION

SECTION

ELEVATION

 

 

건축가  Galaxy Arch
위치  장쑤 성, 중국
용도  파빌리온
대지면적  1,966 ㎡
건축면적  250 ㎡
연면적  400 ㎡
준공  2022.12 - 2024.04
대표건축가  Ji Xin
디자인팀  Ji Xin, Ge Jiaqi
구조엔지니어  iStructure Studio
시공  Suzhou Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd.
사진작가  Chen Hao, Arch-Exist Photography, Lv Xiaobin, Galaxy Arch