On September 29, 2021, the Suzhou Museum West Building, known as the “West Building,” designed by GMP Feng Gekang, Marg and Partner Architects, was officially completed. This marks a new milestone for Suzhou, following the completion of the Suzhou Museum designed by I.M. Pei fifteen years earlier. The West Pavilion complements the historic Beishi Su Bo in eastern Suzhou and stands as a significant cultural landmark within the Yangtze River Delta, embodying the city’s rich urban culture.
GMP won the international design competition for the West Pavilion in September 2017 and subsequently collaborated with Zhongheng Design Group on the project. Construction began in March 2018 and the building was topped out by August 2020. After four years of dedicated design and construction, the museum officially opened just before the National Day holiday in 2021.
Located at Shishan Cultural Square in Suzhou’s High-tech Zone, the West Pavilion covers 37,600 square meters, with a total building area of 48,300 square meters and an exhibition space of 13,400 square meters. The project aims to establish a large-scale modern museum with multifunctional capabilities. This new museum hosts domestic exhibitions such as the Suzhou Local History Exhibition and Suzhou Craftsmanship Exhibition, while also featuring international exhibitions, including collaborations with the British Museum. It pioneers a digital experience museum designed for the 5G era and includes a dedicated experience hall for youth. This hall will enhance public education and serve as a valuable supplement to both school and community education in Suzhou. The West Pavilion complements and expands the functions of the historic Su Bo Museum, creating a dynamic cultural extension to the city.
Shishan Square, situated in the core of Suzhou High-tech Zone’s CBD, spans 1,200 acres, with Shishan itself covering 240 acres and Shishan Lake 160 acres. It is planned as a public open space and a central urban cultural square. The West Pavilion occupies the south wing of Shishan Square, with plans for three new venues: a museum, a science museum, and a theater. Unlike the large-scale, free-form theaters and science museums, the West Pavilion is designed as a cluster of geometric cube structures. These small cubic buildings are nestled within a lush forest on the southeast side of Shishi Mountain, emphasizing a harmonious integration with the natural landscape.
The architectural concept of the West Pavilion draws inspiration from Suzhou’s classical residential buildings and its lively streets and alleys. The museum complex consists of cube-shaped buildings, each about 25 meters on a side, echoing the scale of traditional Dongwu dwellings. The spacing between cubes, approximately 5.8 meters, recalls the narrow alleys and paths characteristic of historic neighborhoods. Natural stone is used extensively throughout the interior and exterior facades, extending from the rooftop to the underground courtyard. Perched at the foot of Lion Rock, the building strikes a sculptural pose that bridges history and the future through a modern, minimalist architectural language.
All ten exhibition halls feature solid exterior walls, while narrow alleyways framed by glass curtain walls allow visitors to move freely throughout the complex. During exhibition breaks, guests can enjoy views of the park lake and Lion Rock outdoors. This interplay of solid and transparent elements gives the building a unique charm: it blends seamlessly into the surrounding lake and mountain scenery, integrating the enchanting landscape into its structure. The sunken Chinese-style garden within the complex draws inspiration from Suzhou’s famed garden landscapes, further embedding the West Pavilion in local culture and enhancing the overall spatial experience.
From a functional standpoint, the interior layout is designed to meet the operational needs of museum staff. Exhibition spaces can be flexibly combined both horizontally and vertically to accommodate a variety of permanent and touring exhibitions. Interior design enhances visitors’ orientation within the complex while offering a continuous and memorable experience throughout their visit.
The main visitor flow follows a clockwise path from east to west and north to south. The entrance hall, positioned in the central exhibition space facing the lake, creates a grand and ceremonial atmosphere. Sunlight streams through scattered windows, enriching the spacious interior with natural light and a unique spatial ambiance.
The atrium in each exhibition hall acts as the central hub of the gallery, visually connecting all major exhibition spaces from the basement to the three upper floors. Visitors can circulate clockwise around the atrium to access exhibits on every level. The atrium’s top floor features skylights, allowing natural light to illuminate the basement. The walls and floors continue the light-colored natural stone theme found on the exterior curtain walls, creating a cohesive aesthetic throughout.
The basement houses a restaurant, an academic lecture hall, and a shared central hall serving several exhibition areas. Unlike the expansive atrium spaces, this central hall is designed as a more intimate, human-scaled environment. Soft furnishings and transparent glass walls bring the serene sunken courtyard views inside, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Project Drawings
Top View
△ General Plan 1
△ General Plan 2
Project Information
Architectural Design: GMP Architecture Firm
Area: 48,300 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: CreatAR Images
Partner: Zhongheng Design
Location: Suzhou, China
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