Project Statement
Fourth Forest in Suzhou City reimagines urban living by embedding a thriving, self-sustaining forest within Suzhou’s Xiangcheng District. This fourth-generation vertical forest residence transcends conventional green design by recreating the ecological complexity of a wild woodland, where native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers grow in untamed harmony. The project’s core innovation lies in its ability to dissolve the boundary between urban infrastructure and primal nature—5.8-meter topographic variations carve out sunken valleys, cascading waterfalls mimic mountain hydrology, and multi-layered canopies (featuring Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Acer palmatum, and Betula species) form a living microclimate. Unlike curated gardens, this landscape embraces natural succession: moss colonizes weathered basalt, vines clamber over cantilevered walkways, and seasonal changes dictate spatial rhythms. The design’s radical restraint—eschewing manicured forms for organic growth patterns—allows residents to experience the therapeutic chaos of an authentic forest, complete with birdsong, dappled light, and the scent of damp earth, all within their daily commute. By proving that wild ecosystems can coexist with high-density housing, “Lí Táng Sēn Yǔ” offers a replicable blueprint for cities seeking to restore biodiversity while addressing urban heat and mental well-being.
Technical Integration
The project’s 22,000㎡ site achieves 85% native plant coverage, with root systems structurally integrated into building foundations. Stormwater feeds recirculating streams, while wind corridors funnel Yangcheng Lake’s breezes through the forest canopy to passively cool interiors.
• Other credits:
Client: Cifi Management & Suzhou Xiangcheng Jingkai Guoyou Capital Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.
• Location of the project
Chengyang Residential District Chengxing Street and Chunshenhu East Road Intersection Southeast 160 Meters, Xiangcheng
Suzhou
Jiangsu China
