MAD Studio explained

MAD Architects
Type:	Architecture & Design Practice
Industry:	Architecture, interior design, product design, furniture, planning, art installation
Location City:	Beijing, Los Angeles, & Rome
Foundation:	2004
Founder:	Ma Yansong

MAD Architects (sometimes referred to as MAD) is a global design practice led by founder Ma Yansong, and partners Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano. MAD Architects boldly challenges conventions in thought, action, and spirit by pushing the boundaries of architecture, urbanism, interior and product design, fashion, and art. With offices located in Los Angeles, Rome, and Beijing, MAD's strength and inspiration comes from a team of over 150 architects and designers from 15+ countries representing all walks of life from every corner of the world.

MAD Architects portfolio is a testament to innovative and thoughtful approach, spanning from master plans to cultural spaces and from residential to hospitality, office, mixed-use, education, transportation, sports, and adaptive reuse projects. MADs projects are imbued with a forward-looking perspective, integrating nature in surreal, dreamy ways to create beautiful, experiential spaces that are accessible and inclusive. Their designs foster a deep connection to people and the environment, promoting physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.

MAD Architects pioneers advanced technologies and sustainable principles into their work. Their constructions not only stand the test of time but also redefine it. MAD is a renowned leader in creating bold, memorable designs that inspire and elevate the human spirit and natural experience.

Significant Projects

• Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, On-going – Los Angeles, California, USA^[1]
• Jiaxing Train Station – Jiaxing, China
• Quzhou Sports Park – Quzhou, China
• Harbin Opera House, 2015 – Harbin, China^{[2] [3]}
• Yue Cheng Kindergarten Courtyard – Beijing, China
• FENIX Museum – Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Tunnel of Light – Echigo, Japan^[4]
• Shenzhen Bay Culture Park - Shenzhen, China
• Pingtan Art Museum - Pingtan, China^[5]
• Harbin Grand Theatre, Harbin, China^[6]
• China Wood Sculpture Museum, 2012 – Harbin, China^[7]
• Ordos Museum, 2011 – Ordos, China^[8]
• National Art Museum of China - Beijing, China^[9]
• Hutong Bubble, 2009 – Beijing, China^[10]
• Wormhole library, 2021 – Hainan

Residential/Hospitality projects

• One River North (ongoing) – Denver, Colorado, USA^[11]
• Gardenhouse, 2020 – Beverly Hills, California, USA^[12]
• Huangshan Mountain Village, 2017 – Huangshan, China^[13]
• 71 Via Boncompagni, 2019 – Rome, Italy^[14]
• Sanya Phoenix Island, 2018 – Sanya, China
• UNIC (Parc Clichy-Batignolles), 2019 – Paris, France^[15]
• Baiziwan Social Housing, 2017 – Beijing, China
• Conrad Hotel, 2013 – Beijing, China
• Absolute Towers, 2012 – Mississauga, Canada^[16]
• Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, 2012 – Huzhou, China
• Fake Hills, 2015 – Beihei, China
• Soho Shanghai – Shanghai, China
• Urban Forest, 2009 – Chongqing, China
• Taichung Convention Center – Tai Chung, Taiwan
• Hongluo Clubhouse – Beijing, China

Commercial/Office projects

• Xinhee Research & Design Center, 2018 – Xiamen, China^{[17] [18]}
• Chaoyang Park Plaza, 2017 – Beijing, China^{[19] [20]}
• Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, Under construction – Nanjing, China^[21]
• Sino-Steel International Plaza & MGM Mirage, 2018 - Tianjin, China^[22]

Educational projects

• Clover House, 2016 - Aichi, Japan^[23]

Exhibitions

• 2016 "Invisible Border", Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy
• 2015 "MADe in China", Danish Architecture Center, Solo Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 2015 "Architectures for Dogs", Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, China^[24]
• 2015 Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism Architecture, Shenzhen, China^[25]
• 2014 Shanshui City Exhibition, Solo Exhibition, Beijing, China ^[26]
• 2014 “The Changing Skyline” - Beijing Design Week, Beijing, China ^[27]
• 2014 “Future Cities -- High Mountain, Flowing Water” China Shan-Shui City Design Exhibition Berlin, Germany^[28]
• 2014 “Silhouette Shanshui”, “Across Chinese Cities - Beijing”, 14th Venice Architecture Exhibition Venice, Italy^[29]
• 2013 Shanshui City Exhibition, Solo Exhibition Beijing, China ^[30]
• 2012 Between the Modernity and Tradition, Solo Exhibition, ICO Museum Madrid, Spain^[31]
• 2011 Verso Est: Chinese Architectural Landscape, MAXXI, Rome, Italy Rome, Italy^[32]
• 2010 "Feelings Are Facts", Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), Exhibition with Olafur Eliasson, Beijing, China

Art/Installation projects

• Super Star: A Mobile China Town, 2006-2018 - 11th Venice Architecture Biennale
• Rebuilt WTC - New York, USA
• Ink Ice, 2006 - Beijing, China
• Fish Tank, 2004

Notes and References

1. Web site: Los Angeles approves long-awaited George Lucas art museum. CNN.
2. Web site: Move over, Sydney: The new Harbin Opera House is a force of nature . .
3. http://www.i-mad.com/work/harbin-cultural-center/?cid=4 Harbin Opera House MAD Page
4. Web site: Angelopoulou . Sofia Lekka . August 6, 2018 . MAD's architectural installations transform historical tunnel for the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale . Designboom.
5. Web site: Pingtan Art Museum / MAD . 23 July 2013 .
6. Web site: Move over, Sydney: The new Harbin Opera House is a force of nature . .
7. Web site: China Wood Sculpture Museum / MAD Architects . 11 April 2013 .
8. Web site: New Ordos Museum by MAD Architects. Bojovic, Marija. 28 January 2013. www.evolo.us/.
9. Web site: MAD architects: National art museum of china, beijing . 29 September 2012 .
10. Web site: Ma Yansong's Hutong Bubble. McGetrick, Brendan . 16 December 2009. www.iconeye.com/.
11. Web site: Howarth . Dan . November 11, 2021 . MAD Architects reveals Denver tower with 10-storey "landscaped rift" . Dezeen.
12. Web site: Planned Wilshire complex reimagines the suburban yard - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. July 2016.
13. Topographic towers: The Chinese mountain village that blends into the landscape . Wired UK .
14. Web site: MAD architects transforms urban block in rome with green residences . 11 December 2014 .
15. Web site: MAD Architects Reveals Its First European Project and Paris's Newest Residential Building. 8 June 2016. Mafi, Nick. www.architecturaldigest.com/.
16. An Empathetic Twist – Absolute Towers. November 2012. Allen, Matthew. Domus.
17. Web site: MAD Architects Design Veiled Xinhee Design Center in Xiamen. Lynch, Patrick. 10 August 2016. www.archdaily.com//.
18. Web site: Solar-powered Xinhee Design Center is inspired by human skin and bones. 12 August 2016.
19. Web site: Chaoyang Park Plaza by MAD Architects Tops Out in Beijing. Stevens, Philip. 30 June 2015. www.designboom.com/.
20. Web site: MAD's mountain-shaped tower complex nears completion in Beijing . 11 May 2017 .
21. Web site: MAD Presents Nanjing Masterplan at Mountain-like Venice Installation. Griffiths, Alyn. 5 June 2014. www.dezeen.com/.
22. Web site: MAD presents nanjing zendai himalayas center at venice biennale. 4 June 2014.
23. Web site: MAD architects remodels japanese residence to form clover house kindergarten. 23 August 2016.
24. Web site: MAD unveil sculptural 'Invisible Border' installation at 2016 Milan Design Week. Megson, Kim. 13 April 2016. attractionsmanagement.com.
25. Web site: 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture. 14 October 2015. www.archdaily.com/.
26. Web site: 'Shanshui City' Book Launch and Exhibition / Ma Yansong of MAD Architects. 12 June 2013. www.archdaily.com/.
27. Web site: Beijing Design Week 2014 kicks off on September 26. Wang, Sue. 25 September 2014. en.cafa.com.cn/.
28. Web site: Shanshui City exhibition by Ma Yansong. 11 June 2013. dezeen.com.
29. Web site: MAD presents Nanjing masterplan at mountain-like Venice installation. 5 June 2014. www.dezeen.com.
30. Web site: Ma Yansong's "Landscape and City/Shanshui City" Exhibition Freshly Debuts in Beijing Hutong. Wang, Sue . 13 June 2013. www.en.cafa.com.
31. Web site: Between Modernity (Global) and Tradition (Local)", by Ma Yansong. Navarro, Perdo . 26 December 2012. www.metalocus.es/.
32. Web site: verso est: contemporary chinese architecture at the MAXXI museum . Zhenning, Sang . 21 September 2011. www.designboom.es/.