In the Chinese city of Suzhou, construction of the Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), is nearing completion on the shores of Jinji Lake. The 60,000-square-meter complex is scheduled to open in 2026.
The museum’s design is conceived as a Chinese village of 12 pavilions under a single ribbon roof and is inspired by classical elements of Suzhou gardens. The architecture combines local traditions and contemporary forms. The pavilions are connected by glass galleries, forming a “Chinese knot” of courtyards and exhibition spaces. The facades are clad in ribbed glass and stainless steel in warm shades.
Before its official opening in 2026, the museum will present the exhibition “Materialism,” curated by BIG itself. Visitors will see large-scale models and models of 20 BIG projects, including the studio’s Copenhagen headquarters and Google Bay View, and learn how earth, metal, wood, and plastic shape architecture.
