Benoy’s Suzhou Center Mall is the largest mall in the city and boasts the world’s largest free-form monocoque roof. Located in the heart of the western central business district (CBD) of Suzhou Industrial Park, the 300,000m2 retail development is the largest mall in the city.
Benoy is the Architect, Interior Designer and Masterplanner behind Suzhou Center Mall, which will assist with the city’s urbanisation push, combining innovative architectural design with an expansive retail offering that houses over 600 brands and public spaces that connect people and place. Comprised of seven storeys, six of which being above ground and one retail basement level, the mall is a new city landmark.
Featuring an undulating multi-coloured roof, it is the world’s largest free-form monocoque roof at over 36,000m2; its silhouette emulating phoenix wings to signify Suzhou’s growth taking flight. Suzhou Center Mall boasts 60,000m2 of lush greenery across its numerous outdoor terraces, rooftops and the landscaped cantilever bridges that extend from two ends of the mall to the lakefront.
A 45-metre-wide and 25-metre-high water curtain adorns the mall’s façade facing Jinji Lake. In front of the western entrance is a 1,600m2 semi-outdoor courtyard, the designated venue for large-scale public events. Two giant LED screens – each measuring 20 metres in height and 70 metres in width – artfully integrate with the design of the monocoque roof and offer stunning picture quality when turned on.
The strong value proposition of Suzhou Center Mall as a premium urban lifestyle centre with a strategic location in a fast-growing Chinese city has attracted keen interest from retailers. The mall opened with a high commitment of more than 90% for its net lettable area of approximately 152,000m2. Suzhou Center Mall is designed as a green oasis that meets local and international design and sustainability standards. Source and images, Courtesy of Benoy.