MAD (Beijing) Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd.

MAD was founded in 2004 by Chinese architect Ma Yansong. It is an international architectural firm that bases its design on Eastern natural experience, committed to creating sustainable yet futuristic, organic and high-tech architecture. In recent years, centered on the core design philosophy of "Shanshui City", MAD aims to create a balance between society, city, environment, and people through innovative architecture. MAD, which has over 80 architects from around the world, was once rated as one of the "10 Most Creative Companies in China".

Ma Yansong is regarded as a highly creative pioneer in architectural design, leading global architectural dialogues. He has been called one of the "10 Most Creative People in Architecture" and was awarded the "Young Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum (Winter Davos) in 2014. In 2010, he was granted an International Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

In 2006, MAD won the Absolute design competition, becoming the first Chinese architectural firm to win an international competition. Two buildings, 56 floors/175 meters and 50 floors/150 meters, respectively, were called the "Marilyn Monroe Towers" by local residents due to their streamlined design. The "Marilyn Monroe Towers" were completed in 2012 and have repeatedly received architectural honors, including the "2012 Best Tall Building Americas" by CTBUH and the "2013 Global Best Skyscraper Award" by EMPORIS.

MAD's projects are diverse, covering urban planning, urban complex buildings, museums, residential and cultural and artistic works. Ongoing urban projects include an office and commercial complex located in Beijing's new CBD, adjacent to Chaoyang Park; the 600,000-square-meter city-scale project "Nanjing Zhengda Himalaya Center"; and the 450,000-square-meter master plan and building construction project "Huangshan Taiping Lake Apartments". MAD's iconic cultural and artistic projects include the Harbin Cultural Island (under construction), Pingtan Art Museum (in deep design stage), Ordos Museum (completed in 2011), and the China Wood Sculpture Museum (completed in 2011).

MAD's designs are spread around the world, located in Rome, Paris, Tokyo and Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. The Rome project is a mixed-use courtyard building of over 28,000 square meters in the city center of Rome, integrating apartments, office spaces, and a chapel. In Paris, MAD defeated 96 participants in a competition to win the design and construction project of a residential building by the Seine. MAD also designed an organic educational institution in Japan. Most recently, MAD was commissioned to design and build a 4,000-square-meter multi-purpose residential building in the central area of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. MAD has successfully established an architectural design system that allows buildings to coexist harmoniously with the natural environment.

Beyond architecture, MAD is also a pioneer in contemporary art and design. MAD has participated in exhibitions in multiple Venice Biennales, as well as in Berlin, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, New York, London, Copenhagen, among other places. The well-known Hong Kong art institution M+ Museum has collected a series of MAD's architectural models as permanent exhibits.

MAD's published series of works testify to its pioneering design position: "Crazy Dinner", "Shanshui City", "Ma Yansong", and "Shanshui City". The partners of MAD, by virtue of their pioneering status, are often invited to give public lectures worldwide, including most recently at the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London, and the World Economic Forum (Winter Davos).

MAD Architects is currently led by Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yohei Yano.