Suzhou has maintained a deep connection with the Grand Canal since ancient times. Even today, nearly half of the city’s freight is transported via waterways. Visiting the ancient canal at night reveals a stunning interplay of lights along the shore, harmonizing with the historic architecture of the city. On one side, you find Suzhou’s ancient cultural relics such as Panmen, Xumen, and Changmen, while on the opposite side rise modern skyscrapers. This project is situated on the east bank of the Grand Canal, where history meets contemporary life.
△ Lim Coffee, Parks and Ancient Canals © Hu Zhenyu
Lim Coffee Canal Park is located within the Canal Park Scenic Area in Suzhou. It is one of the few green spaces nestled among the urban high-rise buildings. The project involved a comprehensive renovation of the coffee shop’s exterior facade and interior, which had been operating for five years. The goal was to create a comfortable and lively leisure space that rejuvenates both body and mind.
△ Lim Coffee, Parks and Urban Tall Buildings © Hu Zhenyu
△ Front night view effect © Xu Yingda
The original structure was converted from a traditional Chinese-style antique building within the park. It features a classic double-pitched roof, white walls, and black tiles. Large French windows dominate the facade, with the building’s mass slightly fragmented. The design aimed to refresh the building’s appearance at a low cost. To achieve this, a new skin layer was added to the original building, reorganizing the facade by adjusting the size, position, and proportion of each window. This approach maximizes visual impact while preserving the existing floor-to-ceiling glass and minimizing construction expenses.
△ Original state of the building © Xu Yingda
△ Daytime facade effect © Xu Yingda
For the new facade material, considering the owner’s vision of transforming the coffee shop into a bar at night, polycarbonate panels were chosen. These panels offer a light, elegant color during daylight hours, complementing the original sloping roof without clashing. Additionally, they provide a richer texture compared to ordinary white paint.
△ Side night scene effect © Xu Yingda
△ Side night scene effect © Xu Yingda
At night, a light strip installed between the sun panel and the original wall illuminates the entire building, turning it into a glowing centerpiece within the dark park, drawing attention from visitors.
△ Side view effect © Xu Yingda
During the facade redesign, three decorative steel columns on the balcony of the second floor were removed, creating a cleaner, more streamlined form. The newly added solar panel layer wraps around the protruding eaves and wall piers on both sides of the original building, enhancing the facade’s sculptural and blocky quality.
△ Entrance facade effect © Xu Yingda
△ Sun panel and red paint accents © Hu Zhenyu
Besides the new sun panel skin, color was introduced to the facade design. The first floor walls were painted red, visually separating the first and second floors and creating a striking presence.
△ Repainted outdoor stairs and added circular platform © Hu Zhenyu
Stairs bathed in sunlight © Hu Zhenyu
The bold red paint stands out against the lush greenery and lake water of the park. Its visual weight emphasizes the lightness and floating feeling of the second-floor sun panels, giving the entire building a distinctive character.
△ Night scene effect on the back of the building © Xu Yingda
△ Night view effect on the side of the building © Xu Yingda
Under the night sky, the entire building becomes a beacon of light that brightens the park, warmly welcoming visitors who walk, exercise, chat, and enjoy drinks.
A bright light in the park © Hu Zhenyu
Project Drawings
△ Plan view © A bit of architectural design
△ Facade and Node Diagram © A bit of architectural design
Project Information
Project Name: LIM Coffee Canal Park Store
Designer: Somewhat Architectural (Suzhou Somewhat Architectural Design Co., Ltd.)
Design & Completion: December 2022 to March 2023
Principal Designers: Wang Yitong, Lin Guijiadong
Interior Designer: Xu Fei
Construction: Horizontal and Vertical (Suzhou) Architectural Decoration Engineering Design Co., Ltd.
Location: Canal Sports Park, New District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province
Building Area: 500 square meters
Photography Credits: Xu Yingda, Hu Zhenyu
Client: LIM Coffee
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