DREAM MAKING

Ma Yansong's daring approach to architecture is a methodical exploration of humanity, nature and creativity

- Olha Romaniuk 

Chinese architect Ma Yansong has risen to international prominence as one of the most daring and innovative architects around today. Since the founding of his firm, MAD Architects, in 2004, Beijing-born Ma’s oeuvre has been described as futuristic, organic, and imbued with rich inter-cultural references that seem to defy conventional and structural limitations.

It might come as a surprise that Ma initially wanted to become a filmmaker. The gestural work of British studios Archigram and Zaha Hadid Architects, which “seemed more like fiction”, intrigued Ma enough for him to turn his interest in architecture into a career path.

Ma possesses a strong belief in storytelling and believes that architecture can make a positive difference to cities and societies, no matter its scale. As an example, he brings up one of his smaller recent projects, the Cloudscape Library in Haikou, China, where visitors not only come to read but also to interact with others.

With the expansion of MAD Architects’ offices to locations in Rome and Los Angeles, Ma’s roster of architectural works has grown to include multi-typology projects that range from commercial and residential to cultural venues. What especially piques his interest are projects that let him challenge himself creatively as an architect. Indeed, MAD Architects has completed numerous international projects that spark curiosity and, on a deeper level, connect people to their context. Ma’s inventive projects also display an unbridled imagination, represented by a desire to design beyond the typical matchbox buildings in cities.

Having developed an admiration for buildings that at times seem to defy gravity, Ma is looking forward to a future in which architecture will become more responsive to human emotion, and place equal emphasis on technology and nature.