«MAD» Architects
They look into the future and relate to social and urban issues in their projects. They combine art, design and architecture, creating their own agenda. Their approach is visionary, dramatic, humoristic and international. They are China’s wild young architects – and they call themselves MAD.
MAD Office, a young Chinese firm of architects and designers, took the international scene by storm, when they in 2006, as the first Chinese studio ever, won an architecture competition outside China. And now their name is well known all over the world, as the best building in the Americas in 2012 - according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) - were recognized their Canadian project of “Absolute World”, dubbed “Marilyn Monroe” for their graceful curves of magnificent forms.
These two high-rises located in Mississauga, brought to the company first international success. MAD Office was established in 2004 when Ma Yansong founded the studio. Before that all the co-owners of MAD - Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano and Dang Qun worked with different bands and designers. Today, MAD has offices in Beijing and launched a number of projects in Europe inter alia Paris and Rome. Just for a few years they appeared distinguished for they ingenuity, skills and innovative approach - the great success of what young architects can only dream of. MAD’s design embraces the advent of a new era. It reflects the office’s architectural exploration of contemporary art and the transformation of lifestyle and multimedia formats in contemporary Chinese cities.
MAD’s research concerning the integration of digital media into architectural design demonstrates a unique approach towards architecture. Dedicated to understanding and exploring flexibility and new possibilities inherent in simple and traditional functions, MAD enhances these by means of new organizations and logics - analyzing value, desire, culture, and political strength in contemporary China. By treating these vectors as fluid and dynamic presentations of contemporary life, structures are no longer isolated objects as defined in architectural modernity; they become natural and coherent components of human life and the urban environment.
MAD partners with engineers, programmers, artists, landscape designers, energy and structural consultants from China, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States; the firm is committed to continuing and expanding these alliances to address challenges in design and provide ingenious solutions to their clients. “China is developing vigorously - says Ma Yansong - and has the opportunity to do something completely new in the future. The older generations are taking the Chinese tradition as immutable. Our team is trying to change this view. “ The 2008 Olympic Games have symbolized the dreams and ambitions of Beijing for the past years. It is now time to envision Beijing’s future beyond 2008. Being conscious of our past, present and future, we set forth three projects that respond to the changes Beijing will face. This is neither a rebellion nor a radical act towards the current. They want suggest, not criticize.
Beijing 2050
Location: Beijing, China
Typology: Urban intervention
Status: Proposal
Directors: Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano, Dang Qun
Design Team: Fu Changrui, Zheng Tao, Yu Kui
Status: Concept Design The 800 m Tower
Location: China
Typology: Office and Hotel
Project Area: 310,840 sqm
Directors: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun
Associate Engineers: Beijing Institute of Architecture Design (BIAD)
Status: Concept Design
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Materials provided by MAD