Ma Yansong

Ma Yansong

Ma Yansong is the Principle Architect and Founder of MAD Architects. Through his work, Ma is committed to creating a vision for future city that is inspired by the spiritual and emotional needs of its residents. Over the past 16 years, Ma has gained worldwide attention in the architecture field for his international practices with cultural consciousness. Signature projects include: Absolute Towers, Harbin Opera House, Hutong Bubbles, Chaoyang Park Plaza, Quzhou Sports Park, and Yiwu Grand Theater. In 2014, Ma was selected as the principal designer for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which made him the first Chinese architect to design an overseas culture landmark. Parallel to his design practice, he also explores the cultural values of cities and architecture through domestic and international solo exhibitions, publications, and art works. Recent exhibitions include: “Mad X”, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France (2019); “Tunnel of Light”, Echigo Tsumari Art Field Triennial, Japan (2018). Ma’s works are part of numerous public collections, such as M+ Museum, Hong Kong and Centre Pompidou, Paris. Ma holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture, and holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Yale University. He has been an adjunct professor at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tsinghua University, and the University of Southern California.

© Greg Mei

More Stories

Roof sculpture at a ski resort

Yabuli Congress Centre in China by MAD

In Yabuli, a ski resort in northern China, Ma Yansong’s MAD Architects studio have completed an architecturally top-class congress centre. The client is the China Entrepreneurs Forum, which wants to establish the location as a meeting point for the business elite.
Between science fiction and James Bond

Congress Centre by MAD at the Yabuli Ski Resort

Panels of white aluminum cover an enormous roof which evokes associations with a tent or a large seashell: MAD Architects have designed an architecturally top-class congress centre.
Village square in Beverly Hills: Gardenhouse by MAD Architects

MAD Architects’ first project in the USA organises housing typologies into a little village on top of a shopping zone.
Virtual happy hours: How is the Beijing office of MAD Architects dealing with the Corona pandemic

Ma Yansong, founder and principal partner of MAD, describes the changes from their virtual working routine during quarantine to a slowly post-lockdown renormalisation at their office in Beijing.
A sailing ship of glass: Yiwu Grand Theater by MAD Architects

Yiwu Grand Theater by MAD Architects seems to float on Dongyang River thanks to its look of a traditional Chinese junk and its glass sails.
Five elements: Restoration of Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel by MAD Architects

MAD Architects has restored Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel for the 2018 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.
An Alpine World of Concrete: Huangshan Mountain Village in China

In one of China’s most beautiful mountain landscapes, MAD Architects have created ten unusual residential mounds of concrete and glass.
Light & airy: Concert hall by MAD Architects

Thanks to the light and airy effect of its translucent white skin, the new residence of the China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing is sure to magnetise visitors, especially when it takes on a particularly shimmery appearance at night.
A playful place: Kindergarten by MAD Architects

For many years the siblings Kentaro und Tamaki Nara operated a popular kindergarten from their own home until it simply became too small for the purpose. When that happened they had the two-storey building transformed into a nursery school that they wanted to be modern on the one hand but seem like a home away from home for the children on the other.