MAD Architects' Ma Yansong on Nature, Hutong Preservation, and Global Design Philosophy

MAD Architects, founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong with partners Dang Qun and Yosuke Hayano, operates studios in Beijing, Los Angeles, and New York. Notable projects include Hutong Bubble 32 (2009) in Beijing, Gardenhouse (2018) in Los Angeles, and the China Philharmonic Concert Hall (2019) in Beijing. Ma Yansong integrates the philosophy of Chinese scientist Qian Xuesen, envisioning future cities that allow a 'return to nature.' In 2008, ICON magazine named him among the 20 most influential young architects; he received an International Fellowship from RIBA in 2011, and the World Economic Forum selected him as a Young Global Leader in 2014. In an interview, Ma discusses Beijing's recent demolition of hutong neighborhoods, but notes a reversal trend exemplified by their Hutong Bubble 218 project. He advocates for small-scale artistic interventions to attract new people and resources to aging communities, fostering dialogue between old and new without disrupting the urban fabric. Asked about common threads across diverse international projects, Ma emphasizes restoring the individual-nature connection in urban contexts, adapting their design philosophy to each cultural setting. On architecture's societal role, he sees it as a form of culture that reveals social history and shapes future cities, urging architects to consider the cultural legacy they leave.