Lacime Architects based the layout of Shimao Longyin Leisure Centre, in China, around a series of classical Chinese gardens to create serene outdoor circulation areas.
The Shanghai-based studio designed the leisure centre as a contemporary interpretation of Suzhou's traditional architecture.

Landscaping firm Landao International Design helped to introduce elements representing the region's rich heritage of classical Chinese garden design.
"The leisure centre combines inner space and landscape together using an asymmetrical spatial mode, creating a traditional spatial pattern that evokes the Suzhou Garden style," said Lacime Architects.

The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were built during a period from the 11th-19th centuries, and are now included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They were mostly built by scholars and feature constructed landscapes designed to mimic idyllic natural scenes dotted with pagodas and pavilions. Much of the site for the leisure centre is dedicated to landscaping and the creation of a carefully designed walking route that offers varying perspectives of the building as guests move around.

Three main courtyards arranged along the route generate what the architects described as a "symmetry and orderliness" that defines the character of the site.
Large entrance gates open onto a paved outdoor space with a circular pond at its centre. Beyond this is an elongated courtyard containing a series of reflecting pools containing trees a...