Jinling Diamond Art Pavilion
When visiting a city, the atmosphere that lingers in the air, the hum of bustling crowds, and the kaleidoscope of sights form a vivid portrait of its cultural essence. Among these elements, some buildings fade into the background of daily life, while others stand as artistic symbols of history and culture, carrying the imprints of time and human experience. Standing before the Jinling Diamond Art Pavilion in Nanjing, one cannot help but marvel at the intricate, twisting form of this architectural masterpiece. It invites contemplation—an attempt to uncover the layers of thought and storytelling embedded in every line and gesture crafted by AZL Architects.
The pavilion’s innovative contours are brought to life by 139,000 custom-made ceramic bricks, meticulously arranged to evoke the shimmering interplay of light and water. The color palette draws inspiration from late Eastern Jin Dynasty bricks, honoring the material heritage of Nanjing. While uniform in size, the ceramic bricks feature varied surface treatments—some glazed to a smooth finish, others left raw and textured. This duality lends the façade a layered richness, infusing the pavilion with depth and soul while paying tribute to Nanjing’s storied tradition of brick and stone craftsmanship. As a city that has endured millennia of triumphs and tribulations, Nanjing embodies resilience and vitality. The Jinling Diamond Art Pavilion captures this spirit with its twisting form, which symbolizes steadiness and inclusivity. It is a modern architectural response to a city steeped in history, gracefully blending the legacies of the past with the vision of the future.
In 2023, AZL Architects undertook a formidable challenge: to design a small art pavilion under the theme “The Renaissance of Jinling under Sycamore Trees.” Immersing themselves in the essence of the site, the design team delved into the rich heritage of Nanjing—known historically as Jinling, the "Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties." As a cradle of Chinese civilization and a beacon of classical Chinese culture, the city’s legacy provided profound inspiration.
In ancient Chinese texts, the character “陵” conveys a spirit of upward growth, standing firm upon the land. The Jinling Diamond Art Pavilion extends this ancient metaphor, reflecting the city's historic significance through its dynamic architectural form. The pavilion’s base aligns with the neighboring high-rise residential buildings to the north and south, while its upper structure gently twists into a distinctive diamond shape. This interplay between the rectangular base and the twisting upper volume creates a rich dialogue between interior and exterior spaces. Simultaneously, the diamond-shaped form echoes the geometry of Nanjing’s ancient city walls, seamlessly bridging the city’s historical context with contemporary architectural expression.
The pavilion’s innovative contours are brought to life by 139,000 custom-made ceramic bricks, meticulously arranged to evoke the shimmering interplay of light and water. The color palette draws inspiration from late Eastern Jin Dynasty bricks, honoring the material heritage of Nanjing. While uniform in size, the ceramic bricks feature varied surface treatments—some glazed to a smooth finish, others left raw and textured. This duality lends the façade a layered richness, infusing the pavilion with depth and soul while paying tribute to Nanjing’s storied tradition of brick and stone craftsmanship. As a city that has endured millennia of triumphs and tribulations, Nanjing embodies resilience and vitality. The Jinling Diamond Art Pavilion captures this spirit with its twisting form, which symbolizes steadiness and inclusivity. It is a modern architectural response to a city steeped in history, gracefully blending the legacies of the past with the vision of the future.
Site Area | 474 m2
Location | Jianye District, Nanjing, China
Principal Designer | Lei Xiaohua, Zhang Lei
Participates · Architecture | Li Zheng, Feng Yujun, Weng Xin, Li Yuxi, Li Yabin, Qi Qing, Hong Siya；Interior | Du Yue, Yan Keqian, Zhu Yongjian, Che Sujing
Construction Drawing Collaboration | Nanjing Jinhai Design Engineering Co., Ltd.
