Kunshan Urban Ecological Forest Park is situated northwest of Kunshan City, just 4 kilometers from the city center, covering a total area of 3,150 acres. This public urban park offers free access. Adjacent to the south entrance, along the river, is a former sales office site spanning approximately 1,310 square meters. The owner intends to redevelop this area within the original building’s footprint to create a new visitor center for the park. This center will provide comprehensive services and support both park and urban management, while seamlessly integrating with the surrounding landscape.
Additionally, the expansive green space north of the former sales office has been underutilized. This project aims to revitalize that area, enhancing its value and accessibility for visitors.
The design concept is straightforward: a small architectural cluster created by “breaking down the whole into parts.” Each component is designed with flexible and adaptable functions to accommodate diverse needs initially and allow future changes.
The layout encourages movement through the site, providing access to the forest and waterfront beyond. Some structures feature a square perforated metal grille roof, creating semi-outdoor covered spaces perfect for public events and relaxation in an atrium-like setting—essentially functioning as pavilions.
Visually and spatially, the design can be described as “small houses and a large pavilion.” The small buildings feature two-story sloped roofs clad in natural-colored aluminum-magnesium-manganese panels and glass. The thin-walled grille roof measures approximately 22 by 32 meters and is finished in dark gray. A central glass skylight provides protection from rain.
The roof structure uses thin-walled steel plate modules measuring 1.8 by 1.8 meters with a height of 700mm, forming a hollow grid beam system. Within this grid, dark gray aluminum plate grids (300x300mm, 700mm height) fill the spaces between beams, creating a visually unified 300mm square thin-walled lattice roof that appears as a seamless structure.
This distinctive roof design originated from a previous unimplemented project that experimented with a thin-walled steel grid roof intended to provide natural, even indoor lighting year-round without shadows. That design required a 900mm thickness based on solar elevation calculations. Although not realized then, the concept was adapted for Kunshan’s “Grand Pavilion” by simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
By calculating sunlight angles, the current design intentionally allows dappled sunlight to filter through, evoking the sensation of being within a forest as light casts patterned shadows on surrounding trees.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ South Facade
△ Section Diagram
△ Unit Module Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Shanghai Arkomixing Architectural Design Firm
Area: 1,025 m²
Year: 2023
Photographer: Wu Qingshan
Principal Architects: Zhuang Shen, Ren Hao, Tang Yu, Zhu Jie
Design Team: Zhuang Shen, Zhu Jie, You Shiyu, Zhang Jie, Liu Qian, Wang Jingjing, Xu Yonghao (intern)
Owner: Kunshan Urban Construction Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd.
Structural Engineer: Yuan Gui Architectural Structural Design Firm (General Partnership)
Mechanical & Electrical Consultant: Zhongcheng Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Contractor: Shanghai Xunfa Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
Intelligent Systems: Broccoli Digital Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
Construction Contractor: Jiangsu Kaixiang Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Location: Suzhou, China
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