Suzhou is a city with 2,500 years of history, and the Suzhou Museum is the epitome of that history and of the very special garden and water culture for which Suzhou is famous. It is a fitting tribute to the unique local character of one of China's most beautiful cities. Pei is one of the most significant architects of the twentieth century - the leading Chinese architect of world fame. Born in Guangzhou in 1917, his ancestors were of a noble Suzhou family. As a child he lived in the Pei family house in the Suzhou Lion Forest Garden - a few yards from the new museum. He left China in the mid thirties and studied at MIT and Harvard. The new Suzhou Museum reflects the continuity of the architectural style of historical Suzhou and embodies Pei's design philosophy of tradition, innovation and diversity. It blends with its neighbouring gardens and landscapes - each reflecting and enhancing the others' glories. Pei uses the traditional elements of white walls and black tiles in a new contemporary context. In terms of structure, the design of the roof overcomes the lack of light in traditional Chinese building by employing a glass and open steel structure to make the indoor full of daylight. The landscape design in the garden derives from the classic Chinese garden, which integrates organically the innovative landscape with elements of pool, artificial rockery, small bridge, pavilion and bamboo with the traditional Suzhou garden. Pei used Chinese style with innovation, and Suzhou style with creativity. It not only creates an iconic building for the city of Suzhou but represents a new international development in Chinese architecture. 130 colour illustrations
