How Chinese architect Ma Yansong melds nature with a ‘futuristic feel’
From a distance, it looks as though a giant spaceship has just landed in the palm tree-dotted streets near downtown Los Angeles. It could also be a wide-canopied tree or a low passing cloud — but for its Chinese architect Ma Yansong, as long as the building “sparks curiosity”, he’s achieved his purpose. Over the […]
Chinese architect Ma Yansong creates visually striking buildings by seamlessly blending nature with a futuristic aesthetic. Over the past two decades, he has designed dozens of projects in China and abroad, integrating lush greenery, flowing water, and sleek modern designs. His newest project, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, opened on September 22 and features a "futuristic feel" that sparks curiosity and encourages new ideas.
Ma, 50, grew up surrounded by nature in Beijing's "hutong" alleyways and later pursued his architectural education at Yale University, later working at Zaha Hadid's studio. His design inspiration comes from traditional Chinese paintings, particularly "shanshui" or "mountains and water" which depict natural scenery. The Lucas Museum is designed to be in harmony with its environment, featuring lawns, trees, running water, and a rooftop covered in vegetation and solar panels.
Ma believes that architecture should prioritize people over wealth, with buildings serving as a platform for people's unique perspectives and fostering a connection to nature.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press - China's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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