Instead of making grand structures and beautiful buildings, we should focus on the environment and the urban space and how you encourage… — Ma Yansong Beautiful Copy Share Image
The beauty of architecture is it involves work that stretches over a very long time but often starts in one instant, with… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
I think where traditional values are concerned, Chinese people see nature as very symbolic. It's a form of culture. — Ma Yansong Chinese people Copy Share Image
When you look at classical structures, they're often linked to literature, music, or a poem. They were constructed by master builders, which… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
In China, we had some buildings that looked like the White House or wine bottles. All they seemed to represent was bad… — Ma Yansong Copy Share Image
Oscar Niemeyer really inspired me. He's from South America, where nature has meaning. And his architecture was not expensive or high tech… — Ma Yansong America Copy Share Image
There must be a way to combine the high rise and high-density environment with nature. Maybe we can have our gardens in… — Ma Yansong Environment Copy Share Image
When we talk about a city, we need to talk about what the future is. Whats the ideal scenario in the future? — Ma Yansong City Copy Share Image
China has some cities, traditional cities, with a long history. They are so beautiful, and they were planned so smartly. I call… — Ma Yansong Beautiful Copy Share Image
A pool at the edge of the ocean is the simplest geometry, yet you feel connected to the sea. In a forest… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
I think architects have a major role in being responsible for illustrating what the future could be. Because of the very strong… — Ma Yansong Architects Copy Share Image
Since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, our office has been discussing how we can make architecture more human and at one with… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
In a traditional Japanese or Chinese garden, it's not only about the building or temple but about the whole setup - the… — Ma Yansong Beautiful Copy Share Image
To allow millions of people to live together on limited land, we have to go to the sky; we have to build… — Ma Yansong Family Copy Share Image
I don't like to talk about sustainability, because sometimes I see green buildings that don't appear any different from those in the… — Ma Yansong Buildings Copy Share Image
Although we're architects, we believe we do culture; architecture is culture, and the topics we tackle will always arise a broader debate. — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
The shan-shui city idea is trying to bring traditional values and ways of living to modern high-rise architecture. — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
Early in my career, I tried to bring an artistic feeling to architecture. That's really the intent and impression of what I… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
'Shan shui' you can literally translate as 'mountain and water.' In traditional Chinese culture, there are a lot of paintings about shan… — Ma Yansong Chinese culture Copy Share Image
Tiananmen Square is a sensitive topic because many things happened there. The idea of turning the plaza into a forest makes many… — Ma Yansong Forest Copy Share Image
Sometimes I sketch and then scan my sketch directly to make the curves more freehand. I don't want to make perfect industrial… — Ma Yansong Artist Copy Share Image
If we're talking about the urban landscape as an advanced, forward-thinking art form, there must be some intellectual thinking involved. — Ma Yansong Art Copy Share Image
If you look at ancient Chinese paintings, you see mountains, but they are not real mountains; it is something the artists imagined. — Ma Yansong Art Copy Share Image
My first impression of Beverly Hills was that it had a landscape of small houses built by famous architects, so I didn't… — Ma Yansong Beverly hills Copy Share Image
The difficulty with big cities does not lie in skyscrapers or high-rises per se; rather, it is the values concealed within those… — Ma Yansong Big cities Copy Share Image
I would say that many architects are very logical. They start their process from analysis and from rational processes to try and… — Ma Yansong Architects Copy Share Image
Chinese people need to be aware of their present and ask, 'What's our culture? What can we bring to the world?' I… — Ma Yansong Copy Share Image
I think, in our modern cities, there are a lot of boxes; there are a lot of straight lines. They often deal… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
The architecture scene in China is the most open and free climate compared to many other places. You can find many opportunities. — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
A shan-shui city is a modern city, a high-density urban situation, but we pay more attention to the environment. We bring waterfalls;… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
In the past, young, talented architects worked together to form a strong social agenda and communicate with a larger audience. That's what… — Ma Yansong Architecture Copy Share Image
We try to turn buildings into landscapes - defying the idea of modernism which sees nature and buildings as two distinct elements. — Ma Yansong Buildings Copy Share Image
It's very strange: if you're a philosopher or musician or an artist, people automatically believe you can see the future. Even if… — Ma Yansong Art Copy Share Image
