FU Changrui, graduated from School of Urban Design, Shanxi University, joined MAD in 2006. He has extensive experience in project management and has been in charge of some of MAD’s landmark buildings. He led and participated in the development of the Harbin Opera House, Chaoyang Park Plaza, ZGC Forum Conference Center, the Cloudscape of Haikou, Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, Jiaxing Civic Center, Quzhou Sports Park, YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten and the Conrad Hotel in Beijing. He has also participated in several of the firm’s major art projects including, “Beijing 2050”, “Super Star” and “Feelings are Facts”.

Beijing Office

FU Changrui, graduated from School of Urban Design, Shanxi University, joined MAD in 2006. He has extensive experience in project management and has been in charge of some of MAD’s landmark buildings. He led and participated in the development of the Harbin Opera House, Chaoyang Park Plaza, ZGC Forum Conference Center, the Cloudscape of Haikou, Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, Jiaxing Civic Center, Quzhou Sports Park, YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten and the Conrad Hotel in Beijing. He has also participated in several of the firm’s major art projects including, “Beijing 2050”, “Super Star” and “Feelings are Facts”. 

Yiwu, well recognized in international trade, is a representative of Jiangnan culture. Located on the south bank of the Dongyang River, Yiwu Grand Theater elegantly floats on the water’s surface in a romantic atmosphere. It is defined by a layering of semi-transparent glass canopies that resembles the texture of silk. The subtle curves echo the Jiangnan-style eaves of local traditional architectures. The semi-transparent glass curtain wall not only acts as a shading system, but also optimizes the use of natural light within the interior.

Yiwu Grand Theater emphasizes public engagement: it allows pedestrians to meander along the north side of the water. An amphitheater and large open plaza extend into the water, while landscaped terraces offer an immersive natural experience within the urban context. Between the grand theater and the conference center lies a “valley” of trees. The rich landscaping weaves itself between the varying heights of the two buildings, providing another public space for visitors to explore.

Yiwu, China

Culture

Yiwu Grand Theater

Freedom is a large-scale installation for Milan Design Week 2021, commissioned by Interni magazine. Installed in the courtyard of the Università degli Studi di Milano, it symbolizes renewal and the human desire to move beyond limitation in a post-pandemic world.

The work depicts a seabird looking skyward, ready for flight representing freedom, openness, and inclusivity. Positioned between shelter and exposure, the installation reflects the uncertainty experienced during the pandemic.

Constructed from metallic profiles by Eurostands and illuminated with LED strips from Ledvance, the structure glows at night, enhancing its presence and emotional tone.

For Ma Yansong, the seabird reflects the need to transcend both physical and invisible boundaries in pursuit of connection. The motif also appears in MAD’s FENIX Museum of Migration, linking themes of movement and identity.


Milan, Italy

Installation 

Alessandro Fisalli, Elena Bellocchio, Francesco Nardacci

Freedom

Appearing so evident amidst a thriving metropolitan district of Harbin, China, spanning 200 meters in length, the China Wood Sculpture Museum sits as a locational anomaly, seemingly out of place, surrounded by a densely populated Chinese-style neighborhood and residential complexes. The museum embodies some of the foremost conceptual and formal ideals that define the work of MAD, bringing out an expression and abstraction of nature to an otherwise quotidian surrounding. The boundaries between solid and liquid are blurred throughout this 13,000 sqm building, referencing the local natural scenery and landscape.

The building's exterior is covered by polished steel plates, mirroring the surroundings and the changing light. The solid walls ensure minimal heat loss while the breaking and twisting motion of the emerging skylights splits the surface and allows in light from the low-hanging sun of northern China; this provides sufficient natural diffused illumination to the three halls on the interior.

The museum mainly houses local wood sculptures as well as paintings depicting the ice and snow of the regional scenery. In the context of the large-scale modern urban setting, the museum itself serves as a new interpretation of nature. The surreal interaction between the museum and the city breaks through the tedium of the urban shell, revitalizing the surroundings with a new cultural feature.


Harbin, China

Yu Kui, Daniel Gillen, Bas van Wylick, Diego Perez, Jordan Kanter, Liu Huiying, Huang Wei, Julian Sattler, Liu Weiwei, Tang Liu, Mao Peihong, Maria Alejandra Obregon, Nickolas Urano, Gus Chan, Shin Park, Alejandro Gonzalez

The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Harbin Institute of Technology 

Inhabit Group

Gehry Technologies

Zhejiang Jing Gong Steel Structure Co. Ltd.

Wood Sculpture Museum

Meteor is our reinterpretation of Dior’s Medallion Chair, created for Dior Maison and unveiled during Milan Design Week 2021 at Palazzo Citterio.

Recast in monochrome 3D-printed polyurethane, the chair appears frozen in motion merging past and future. Its flowing, sculptural form reflects Ma’s architectural approach, blending structure and nature to evoke emotion and movement.

Meteor explores time, space, and transformation, turning a classical icon into a futuristic object. It reflects MAD's ’ ongoing pursuit of harmony between design, philosophy, and form.

Rome, Italy

Product

Zeng Hao

Dior Meteor

A Village Under the Dome is our proposal for the Zhuhai Cultural Arts Center, situated on the former site of Yinkeng Village, a historic settlement dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty. Rather than replacing the demolished village with a typical large-scale civic complex, we reimagined the site as a protected cultural landscape preserving the original village layout and memories while introducing new functions.

Instead of erasing the site’s history, we organized the center’s programs into small-scale, village-like buildings that follow the original street network and topography. These structures are unified under a translucent dome that floats above the village ruins, acting as both shelter and symbol. The dome is supported by a cable-membrane structure, remaining open at its base to encourage access from all directions and blend with the sky like a soft mist.

Key elements of Yinkeng Village, including its ancient banyan tree, pond, and plazas, are preserved and re-integrated into the civic space. The design prioritizes community, memory, and emotional connection, advocating for urban renewal that respects history.

By merging old and new, A Village Under the Dome reflects a civic architecture rooted in cultural continuity and human experience, offering an alternative vision for development in rapidly urbanizing cities.



Zhuhai, China

Adaptive Reuse

Zhuhai Cultural Arts Center

The Jiaxing Civic Center is designed as a seamless integration of architecture and nature, creating a public space that encourages connection and engagement. Located near South Lake and Central Park, the project brings together three main venues: the Science and Technology Museum, the Women and Children Activity Center, and the Youth Activity Center. These buildings are linked under a continuous roof that forms a unified structure, reflecting the fluidity of Jiaxing’s historic canal towns.

At the center of the project, a large circular lawn provides space for gatherings, events, and daily activities. The ground floor opens in all directions, connecting to surrounding parklands and creating a natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Landscaped terraces and elevated pathways extend the experience beyond the buildings, offering areas for movement and rest.

The design incorporates locally produced white ceramic panels, referencing traditional barrel tile roofs while improving energy efficiency. Floor-to-ceiling glass enhances transparency, allowing light to shape the interaction between built and natural elements. A cascading terrace facing the central lawn creates layered spaces that balance openness with shelter.


Jiaxing, China

Civic

Yin Jianfeng, Alessandro Fisalli, Fu Xiaoyi, Chen-Hsiang Chao, He Yiming, Thoufeeq Ahmed, Chen Hao, He Xiaowen, Zhang Yaohui, Guo Xuan, Edgar Navarrete, Claudia Hertrich, Deng Wei, Zhang Xiaomei, Chen Nianhai, Li Cunhao, Sun Feifei, Punnin Sukkasem, Manchi Yeung, Li Yingzhou

Jiaxing Highway Investment Co., Ltd.

East China Architectural Design & Research Institute, Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd.

RFR Shanghai

Earthasia Design Group, Yong-High Landscape Design Consulting Co.Ltd

Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Decoration & Landscape Design Research Institute CO., Ltd

Nippon Design Center, Inc.

Beijing Sign Lighting Industry Group

Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd.

Jiaxing Civic Center

The Never Hut is a small-scale installation for the 2024 "Art at Qiaoshan – Nanhai Land Art Festival" in Foshan, Guangdong. Located in Yanqiao Village, a 600-year-old settlement known for its preserved Qing Dynasty architecture and lush river landscapes, the structure sits on the former playground of an abandoned village school.

The installation is a lightweight, movable cabin positioned within a wooded area beside a stream. Circular in plan, the structure features a broad overhanging eave that creates a low, shaded perimeter space for rest and gathering. The form resembles a small flying saucer, topped by three flexible, netted “antennae” constructed from repurposed local fishing materials. These sway gently with the wind, introducing a dynamic and playful element to the environment.

Designed for passive comfort, the open-ring structure allows cross-ventilation and natural shading while encouraging informal interaction with the landscape. The use of vivid colors under the eaves contrasts with the muted grey exterior, offering a warm and inviting spatial experience. Blending architectural precision with local material logic, the project reactivates a forgotten site as a public pavilion that reflects memory, place, and community use.



Foshan, China

The Never Hut

The Star is a proposed project, located on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood. Designed as a new model for the office of the future, the 22-story tower integrates nature, light, and open space throughout, promoting well-being and creativity in the workplace.

Inspired by the nearby Hollywood Hills, the building’s organic form softens the skyline while connecting urban life with natural elements. Terraced green spaces at street level and throughout the tower invite the public in and create shared moments between work and city life.

The building offers flexible floorplans with generous access to outdoor terraces and greenery, supporting a healthier work-life balance. Rather than treating nature as an amenity, it becomes central to the office experience. The tower’s mass tapers upward, creating varied spaces and views, and its design encourages collaboration and reflection.



Los Angeles, USA

Office

The Star

Perched in the snow-covered mountains of Northeastern China, the Yabuli Entrepreneurs’ Congress Center is our vision of a dynamic space for innovation and exchange. Designed for the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum (CEF), one of China’s most influential business organizations, this center is a permanent home for their annual summits.

Inspired by the natural landscape, we envisioned a structure that feels like a tent at the foot of a mountain, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Its soft, silver-white rooftop mirrors the snow-capped peaks. At the same time, a central skylight floods the interiors with natural light during the day and glows warmly at night, evoking a campfire where entrepreneurs gather to share ideas. Inside, wood-paneled walls and panoramic views create a warm, immersive experience.

Beyond hosting large-scale conferences, the center is designed as a versatile hub featuring an exhibition hall, meeting rooms, and a television hall to foster business dialogue, corporate training, and public engagement. More than just a building, the Yabuli Entrepreneurs’ Congress Center embodies the boldness and vision of China’s top entrepreneurs, marking a new chapter for global business exchange.

Yabuli, China

Site Area

Building Area 

Building Height

Li Guangchong, Sun Shouquan, Deng Wei, Song Chi, Zhang Xiaomei, Huai Wei, Zhao Meng, Wang Shuobin, Zhang Yanru, Yuki Ishigami, Xiao Ying, Tian Jin

China Entrepreneur Forum

China Architecture Design & Research Group

RFR Shanghai, Kighton Façade Consultant

BJF International Design

Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Decoration & Landscape Design Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Brandston Partnership Inc.

Dongdao Creative Branding Group

Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning & Design Institute

AECOM Beijing

Yabuli Entrepreneurs Congress Center

Hutong Bubble 32 is our first built prototype from its Beijing 2050 vision, originally presented at the 2006 Venice Architecture Biennale. The concept reimagines Beijing’s rapid urban development through micro-scale interventions that preserve and adapt the historic hutong neighborhoods, rather than replacing them with large-scale developments.

Amid ongoing demolition and neglect of old Beijing’s alleyway districts, Hutong Bubble 32 offers a functional yet symbolic insertion into the decaying urban fabric. Installed in a small courtyard, the bubble houses a toilet and staircase leading to a rooftop terrace. It is designed not as a standalone object, but as an extension of community life, encouraging new uses and social interactions.

Its smooth, mirrored surface reflects the traditional wood, brick, and greenery of the courtyard, creating a contrast between old and new while visually blending into its surroundings. Rather than displacing existing residents or history, the bubble coexists with them, catalyzing neighborhood revitalization.

These bubbles are intended to gradually form a network of architectural “membranes” that reactivate the city’s cultural core. Hutong Bubble 32 is a small but powerful gesture, emphasizing that meaningful urban progress can happen through intimate, community-focused design.


Beijing, China

Hutong Bubble 32

Fu Changrui