Located in the Fengqiao area of Suzhou, the Fourth High Tech Zone High School is surrounded by rich cultural heritage. The area is famously captured in the song “Night Mooring at Fengqiao,” which portrays it as an ideal resting place for students. Jiangfeng Bridge holds ancient relics, the canal glimmers with fishing fires, and the bell of Hanshan Temple resonates deeply, all contributing to the profound historical atmosphere of Fengqiao. Additionally, the traditional Jiangfeng Thatched Cottage, with its flowing water and elegant gatherings of literati, represents the refined cultural legacy of the region.
In the 1990s, urban development dramatically transformed the Fengqiao area. Similar to many southern cities, extensive demolition of residential areas made way for new buildings, quickly replacing the original urban fabric. As a result, the peaceful cultural identity of the neighborhood gradually faded from memory. Faced with this complex and layered environment, the design needed to satisfy the functional demands of large, open campus spaces while preserving the distinctive Jiangnan architectural style and conveying the historical charm of this culturally rich town.
The courtyards found in Jiangnan residential architecture, especially in Suzhou gardens, embody the philosophy of harmony between humans, nature, and space. These courtyards serve as a fundamental symbol and collective memory for the people of Jiangnan, shaping their initial understanding of architecture and spatial relationships. This cultural significance made the courtyard a natural prototype for designing the Fourth Middle School campus.
The campus is organized into five interconnected courtyards, each dedicated to different functions: teaching, experimentation, library, sports, and a central core courtyard that links all areas through corridors. This layout encloses the entrance and pathways within the building volumes, creating a ceremonial progression through the campus from south to north via the front square, front yard, central courtyard, and backyard, fostering a strong sense of community and tradition.
These multiple courtyard units also create diverse forms such as outer and side courtyards through their spatial relationships, enhancing functional connectivity. Moving through the courtyards enriches the spatial experience and rationalizes the functional zoning, balancing internal and external spaces, active and quiet areas, as well as primary and secondary zones. Campus life here can be likened to playful garden strolls.
The organization of Jiangnan residential settlements traditionally follows a “top-down” process, where regional cultural influences shape courtyard-style homes connected by alleys, forming distinct patterns like fishbone and chessboard alleys. In contrast, the design of this campus was developed using a “bottom-up” approach, starting from spatial elements and linking multiple courtyards through corridors, side and outer courtyards, and alleys. This method preserves the traditional Jiangnan residential cluster’s urban texture.
Our design translates traditional elements beyond courtyards to include long corridors, enriching the spatial experience. These corridors evoke the “water corridors,” “curved corridors,” and “complex corridors” of the Humble Administrator’s Garden, creating a natural continuation of Jiangnan’s courtyard culture and regional climate characteristics.
Technical Drawings
△ Section 1-1
△ Section 2-2
△ East Elevation
△ South Elevation
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ General Layout Plan
Project Information
Project Name: Refactoring “Jiangnan Academy”: Suzhou High Tech Zone Fourth Middle School
Designer: Zhongheng Design Group Co., Ltd
Company Website: __AI_ST_URL_0__
Project Design & Year of Completion: 2015, 2016
Main Creators and Design Team: Ping Jiahua, et al.
Project Location: Suzhou High Tech Zone
Building Area: 48,367.59 square meters
Photography Copyright: Qin Wei
Partners:
Construction: Kunshan Shengxin Construction Engineering Co., Ltd
Interior Design: Suzhou Huali Meideng Decoration Co., Ltd
Client: Suzhou High Tech Zone No.4 Middle School
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