The academic symposium themed “Surf on the Changing Time: Action Oriented Architecture” was held at Hall 4 of Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, SIP on Nov 8.

Jointly convened by Zhou Rong, architectural critic and associate professor at School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, and Wang Xiaosong, executive curator of Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, the event brought together internationally influential architects and scholars for in-depth dialogues on the cultural positioning and practical approaches of contemporary architecture.

Bjarke Ingels, founding partner of BIG, Li Hu, founding partner of OPEN, Ma Yansong, founding partner of MAD, and Xiong Xing, founder of XING DESIGN, delivered keynote speeches, exploring architecture’s role and possibilities in modern society from diverse perspectives.

Drawing from BIG’s global practice, especially the design for the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, Bjarke Ingels illustrated how sustainable elements can help achieve symbiosis between architecture and nature. He emphasized that the museum’s design is rooted in Suzhou’s classical garden culture, aiming to reinterpret its essence through a modern architectural vocabulary.

A roundtable discussion followed, moderated by Li Honggu, editor-in-chief of Sanlian Lifeweek, engaging the guests in a multidimensional exploration of the theme of the event.

November 9, 2025