Rhythm of the City Extended to the Lakeside
On a lakeside platform in Central Park, Huqiao, Kunshan, Jiangsu, there once stood an old sunshade pavilion. Despite the lush greenery and beautiful views, the space had long gone unnoticed due to its limited functions—until the installation of the ‘Bloom Box,’ which drew people to linger.
The small, box-shaped structure features movable walls that respond to time, weather, and user needs. Folding doors, sliding façades, and translucent materials create a sequence of openings and closings, blurring the building’s boundaries. Beyond mere function, this movement visually expresses the passage of time and establishes a rhythm within the city. When the walls are open, the interior is fully revealed, inviting people in; when not in use, the structure folds into a compact single mass.
The floor is finished in bamboo, while the main structure combines a lightweight steel frame with aluminum panels. The envelope consists of adjustable, movable elements that allow the building to adapt to different operational scenarios, seasonal changes, and lighting conditions. This combination of a stable frame and a dynamic skin extends the building’s lifespan while enabling it to continuously adapt and respond to its urban environment. When open, the surrounding spaces provide shade and allow wind and light to pass naturally. A sunshade and seating opposite the building operate in tandem, forming an open exterior area. The sunshade transforms previously closed spaces into zones of active interaction, supporting a variety of uses—from waiting for coffee and enjoying the view to hosting pop-up events and outdoor gatherings. The Bloom Box is not merely an object; it functions as an interface where daily life unfolds.
This space can serve as an outdoor café for a warm drink, a comfortable spot to relax by the lake with someone, the starting point of a weekend flower market, or a hideout for friends to gather. With no fixed program, its use is diverse and open. Fragrance, light, and water combine to create a gentle urban pocket, making the Bloom Box a living space that constantly changes as people come and go. Every day lightness and flexibility activate the place through use, fostering connections between people and nature, and among people themselves. In this way, even a small box becomes part of the city’s collective memory.
Project: The Bloom Box / Location: Central Park, Huqiao, Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China / Architect: SoBA (Wang Ruo, Tang Haiyin) / Project team: Chen Tuo, Li Chuanzhang, Wang Yuan, Shen Yichen, Li Zizhen / Consultant: Huaqiao Economic Development Zone Planning and Construction Bureau / Structural engineer: Zang Yuhong / Lighting engineer: Shanghai Guangyue Lighting Design Co., Ltd. / Contractor: Wenshanglv Group Kunshan Chuanshi Hezhong Advertising & Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd. / Client: Huaqiao Town, Kunshan Municipal Government / Use: cafe / Site area: 100m² / Bldg. area: 40m² / Design: 2023.9- 2024.7 / Construction: 2024.8-2025.1 / Completion: 2025 / Photograph: ©Wen Studio (courtesy of the architect)
