Eslite Spectrum, Suzhou has received 2017 TID Award

An Exploration Stage ‧ Eslite Spectrum, Suzhou

Suzhou is historical city of culture that has undergone gradual development. Eslite aimed to provide an oasis of serenity in the city, a place where people can rest and recharge their spirits. Building off of a lifestyle Mecca with a humble attitude, we strived to create a space where environment and people can harmoniously and sustainably interact. Perpendicular to the lines of motion, the fair-faced concrete walls, wooden lattices, and linking bridges all engage in a dialogue with the space, shaping the continuity of the space and creating scenery in motion while traversing the staircases or escalators. Light moves with the sun, passing through the skylight grille and casting shadows onto the concrete walls, creating moving art on the stationary canvas. Here, people, space, and activity meet and interact, wandering through the verticals and horizontals, witnessing the calm, elegance, and friendliness of Eslite. We attempted to create a humble, classical look to punctuate Suzhou with contemporary aesthetics.

Suzhou’s Jinji Lake is located in a new cultured business district known as the jewel in the crown. Eslite, located in the heart of the bustling CBD, was designed around the concept of an aesthetic living gallery, a lifestyle Mecca with a 72 step grand stairs winding through this temple, leading to a prelude to the bookstore a performance hall and other opportunities. More than just a corridor and a plaza, the space is infused with a sense of ritual appeal. Between the lattices, the minimalist design elements and from soaring wooden grilles to stone steps that expand on the building itself and concrete walls, is created a calming atmosphere with an air of knowledge and taste, to inspire a museum and a space for nature and exploration.

The spatial framework builds on the environmental features. With its modular architecture, this must-pass route provides busy urban people with ritual-feeling path. Along it, they can feel the power of simplicity, transforming their spirits and encouraging a slower pace. As human activities naturally arise with the space, they create a rich, layered composition and appearance. Combining the image of Eslite and the imagery of Suzhou, we give expression to innovation through this sense of continuity, creating an urban oasis that we hope will become a new cultural landmark.