Offering a comprehensive examination of a pivotal contemporary architecture practice from China, this book delves into its significant contributions and innovations. It highlights the firm’s influence on modern architectural trends and explores key projects that showcase its unique approach. Readers will gain insights into the cultural, social, and political contexts that shape the practice, making it essential for anyone interested in the evolution of architecture in a globalized world.
Set in a captivating future, this work presents a visionary perspective shaped by Ma Yansong, a prominent figure in contemporary architecture. It explores innovative designs and concepts that reflect a blend of sensuality and seduction, showcasing the potential of a new architectural era in China. The narrative highlights the creativity and ambition of a leading firm, emphasizing the transformative power of architecture in shaping urban environments.
'Shanshui City', the latest book from MAD Architects' founder and principal partner, Ma Yansong, Ma's poetic, yet precise language details the development and practice of design philosophy At the core of 'Shanshui City' is the idea that, "architects should delineate a new ideal for the city of the future, to gradually construct an urban environment that embodies both the convenience of the modern city and the ancient Eastern affinity for the natural world." 'Shanshui' is an idealised worldview developed by Chinese through extended contact with the natural world, a worldview that integrates the everyday life of humanity with the impulse to seek spiritual refuge in nature. This 'Shanshui City' is not simply an eco-city, or a garden-city, nor does it imply modelling the city's architecture on natural forms such as mountains. It represents humanity's affinity for the natural world, and our quest for inner fulfilment, as expressed in philosophies of the East. 103 illustrations