Cool Gang

Clouds is a temporary installation on the outdoor public terrace of Suzhou Center, commissioned by the client during the renovation of their outdoor spaces in 2021. The goal was to add extra value to the commercial complex's outdoor life, especially for children and families, while enhancing the look and feel of the terrace. The design concept derives from the main building's facade: the roofline parapet has a series of soft, flowing, curvy outlines that remind the team of clouds drifting over Suzhou, a city famed for its canals and classical gardens. The installation is therefore designed as a cloud, not the standard fluffy cartoon cloud, but a contemporary, abstract, streamlined cloud that complements the architecture and provides three-dimensional urban furniture for children's play and adults' leisure. The cloud is divided into four modules with a total length of about 30 meters: three small clouds and one big one, each hosting a specific function. The big cloud acts as a climbing net for kids with a slide on its underside, and the three smaller clouds offer resting seats at different heights, small slides, and interactive play elements. Circular holes punched through the body add play value: kids can peek, crawl, and climb through them. The modules are interconnected so that children can wander back and forth between clouds. The choice of white, different shades of grey, and blue follows the existing building palette. Lighting is essential: adjustable warm-light spots are hidden inside, acting as night lighting, while neon strips along the bottom glow on the floor and outline the cloud at night, creating the surreal feeling of clouds floating in the air.