Ma Yansong

About

Ma Yansong is the founder of MAD and a leading voice in redefining the possibilities of contemporary architecture. He is recognized as the first Chinese architect to win an overseas landmark commission and to design a cultural landmark abroad. His vision moves beyond the conventions of modernism and commercial development to offer a more emotional, spiritual, and human-centered approach, imagining architecture as a space where people, cities, and the natural world co-exist.

Under his creative leadership, MAD has become internationally recognized for a new kind of architectural language—one that is fluid, bold, and deeply connected to nature and human experience. His influence extends across disciplines, including exhibitions, publications, product design, and the arts, reflecting a multidisciplinary vision that continues to shape global discourse.

In 2025, Ma was named to the TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people. That same year, he served as curator of the China Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, further cementing his role as a cultural voice on the international stage.

Ma holds a master’s degree from Yale University and has taught at USC, Tsinghua University, and Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. His curatorial and exhibition work, including Landscapes in Motion and the China Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, continues to expand the boundaries of architectural thinking today.