The Inseparable Figure of Ma Yansong and MAD Architects

Ma Yansong, a 1975-born Chinese architect, is the most influential architect who is considered to have changed the architectural landscape in China. Famous for his design concept that reflects his "Shanshui City" which echoes the balance between the natural environment, urban landscape and society using new ways through architecture.Emphasizing the need for a more relaxed architecture, as nature is connected to human emotions rather than capitalism and power. Ma Yansong graduated from the Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture and then continued to earn his master's degree in architecture at Yale University in 2002. He has an interest in contemporary art. In his career, before establishing his own architectural firm MAD Architects in 2004, headquartered in Beijing, Ma Yansong also had the opportunity to work with prominent architects with big names such as Peter Eisenman and Zaha Hadid. Zaha Hadid, apart from being his mentor at the architecture school at Yale, was also a colleague when creating projects for various competitions in China and has greatly influenced Ma Yansong.

MAD Architects Team (cr: MAD Architects)

Ma Yansong’s Potrait (cr: MAD Architects)

MAD Architects is committed to developing futuristic, organic and technologically advanced designs that embody a contemporary interpretation of Eastern culture’s fascination with nature. Having designed and been involved in projects of various scales, including commercial buildings, museums, mixed-use developments, theatres, cultural centers, and residential complexes, Ma Yansong himself has been directly responsible for them since its inception. The vision of“Shanshui City” is the core design philosophy of MAD Architects that is present in many of his works, reflected in buildings with soft curves, public spaces and gardens. One of his most famous and phenomenal works is the Absolute World Towers 1 and 2, a residential high-rise in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The two towers are seen to have varying heights. Tower 1 is 170 meters (558 feet) tall while Tower 2 is slightly shorter at 150 meters (492 feet) tall and was completed in 2012. Both buildings appear to curve naturally upwards, towering into the sky, contrasting with the other skyscrapers, dominated by basic rectangular shapes. The Absolute World Towers 1 and 2 are Ma Yansong's first major international architectural competition wins.

Absolute World Towers by MAD Architects (cr: Iwan Baan)

Harbin Opera House by MAD Architects (cr:  Hufton+Crow) 

Ma Yansong’s architecture presents bold aesthetics and utopian visions and creates emotional and spiritual spaces in everyday life. Context, space, form, and landscape become a whole in his projects. His works are often characterized by surreal and free-flowing forms, where architecture blends with its surroundings and offers a seamless experience between the inside and outside. Some of his futuristic designs include the Ordos Museum, China Wood Sculpture Museum, Harbin Opera House, Chaoyang Park Plaza, and Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort. Ma Yansong and MAD maintain their presence in international competitions and projects in Italy, France, Japan, and the United States. One of them is the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMNA) submitted by filmmaker George Lucas has a design that shows a shallow conical stone structure with an interesting gentle curve similar to the landscape of one of Lucas’ Star Wars films which has received much praise and criticism.

China Wood Sculpture Museum by MAD Architects (cr: Xiazhi)

Ordos Museum by MAD Architects (cr: ShuHe)

In line with his design practice, he also explores the cultural values ​​of cities and architecture through solo exhibitions, publications, and domestic and international artworks. Ma Yansong has received numerous awards and honors for his innovative works, including the Architectural League of New York’s Young Architects Forum in 2006 and an international fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2011. His Absolute World Towers was named the Best Tall Building in the Americas in 2012 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and in 2013, he won first place in the Emporis Skyscraper Award for 2012. Yansong’s bold and fearless style has resulted in projects challenging conventional modern developments. His approach to design that connects East with West and creates buildings that respond to people and their emotions has made him stand out on the global stage.