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Suzhou Chapel, Suzhou

Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

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Designer
Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Client
Octave
Floor area
700.00 ㎡
Completion
2016

The design of the Suzhou Chapel takes its cues from vernacular architecture of the Jiangnan region of China - known for its soft palette of textured grays and whites. Brick walls of different heights interweave to form a choreographed landscape journey guiding the visitor’s approach. Assembled in various bond patterns, the brick walls add a textural layer to the façade, building patina over time, in which the architecture begins to emerge as if having been there for generations in a seamless integration with the surrounding natural landscapes.

The white box perched atop is composed of an inner layer punctured with openings and an outer layer of perforated metal. The use of a double layered façade creates a sense of mystery and spectacle to the building - in the daytime, it emits a subtle reflection, while at night it glows from within. Contained within the white box is the main chapel space, a light-filled 12-m-high room, with a mezzanine and a cage element with wooden louvers hanging above. A grid of glowing light bulbs and delicate bronze details give a touch of opulence to the otherwise quietly monastic spaces. Bespoke wood furniture and crafted wood details compliment the simple material palette of gray brick, terrazzo, and concrete.