The 2025 Dezeen Design of the Year ceremony took place in London on November 25. MAD | Ma Yansong were named Architect of the Year.

In its citation, the Dezeen Awards jury stated: "This already prolific studio has had an incredible 12 months, unveiling a major museum project that pushed the boundaries of adaptive reuse, along with a series of installations that explore how buildings of the future can be more climate-friendly. All eyes will be on the studio in 2026 as it unveils one of its biggest and most ambitious projects to date, elevating it to well-deserved superstar status."

The year 2025 stands as a milestone for MAD, marked by significant breakthroughs across multiple key areas.

In April, MAD Founder Ma Yansong was selected for the TIME 100, TIME's annual list of the world's most influential people.

In May, the China Pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by MAD's Ma Yansong as Chief Curator, opened at the Arsenale in Venice on May 9, 2025.

Also in May, MAD's first built cultural project in Europe, the Fenix Museum of Migration, was officially inaugurated on May 15 in Rotterdam's historic harbor district.

On May 16th, the exhibition "Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion" opened at Het Nieuwe Instituut in the Netherlands. This is MAD Architects' first solo exhibition in the country.

In July, MAD's first airport project, Lishui Airport, was completed and officially opened for operation.

摄影@大菊在路上

In November, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially announced its opening date, set for September 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. This will be MAD's first completed cultural project in the United States.

Founded by Ma Yansong in 2004 in Beijing, MAD Architects is led by Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano. MAD has offices in Beijing (China), Los Angeles (USA), and Rome (Italy).