Beijing-born architect Ma Yansong is recognized as an important voice in the new generation of architects. He is the first Chinese architect to win an overseas landmark-building project. As the founder of MAD Architects, Ma leads design across various scales, with the vision to create a new balance among society, the city, and the environment through architecture. Since designing the “Floating Island” in 2002, Ma has been exploring the ideal future of living through international practices. At MAD, Ma has created a series of imaginative works, including Absolute Towers, Harbin Opera House, Hutong Bubbles, Chaoyang Park Plaza, Quzhou Sports Park, and Yiwu Grand Theater. In 2014, Ma was selected as the principal designer for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which made him the first Chinese architect to design an overseas culture landmark. Parallel to his design practice, he also explores the cultural values of cities and architecture through domestic and international solo exhibitions, publications, and art works.

In 2006, Ma was awarded the “Young Architects Award” by the Architectural League of New York. In 2008 he was selected as one of the “20 Most Influential Young Architects” by ICON magazine. Fast Company named him one of the “10 Most Creative People in Architecture in 2009” and one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business in 2014.” In 2010 he received the “RIBA International Fellowship”. In 2014 he was awarded “Young Global Leaders (YGL)” by the World Economic Forum.

Ma holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture, and holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Yale University. He has been an adjunct professor at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tsinghua University, and the University of Southern California.

Born in Shanghai, China, Qun Dang is the core leader of MAD, managing a firm of over 100 architects from around the world. She is responsible for all of MAD’s architectural projects, theoretical and cultural development in the firm’s practices, and global strategic management and operations.

Dang is involved at every level of MAD’s creativity and operations. She oversees all project execution, including the planning and deployment of teams. Her extensive experience in design and construction allows her to actively contribute at all project stages, from inception to completion. Dang is at the forefront of client communication and collaboration from initial concept to final product, and ensures all parties are aligned in delivering a unified design vision. She also leads MAD to actively engage and investigate cutting edge building techniques and technology, facilitating MAD’s ever-growing vision and standards.

Dang holds a Master’s degree from Iowa State University. She has held a visiting professorship to the Pratt Institute, an assistant professorship at Iowa State University.

Yosuke Hayano was born in the Japanese region of Aichi and is a first-class registered architect in Japan. He oversees all design works at MAD, directing each design team to seamlessly materialize MAD’s philosophy, from concept sketch to technical drawing to final architectural form. Yosuke also oversees MAD’s design language across all scales, from the human scale to the architectural and urban scale, thus implementing MAD’s unique, site-specific architectural response for each project.

Yosuke received his Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from Waseda University in Tokyo in 2000. He gained his Associate degree in Architecture from the Waseda Art and Architecture School in 2001, and his Master’s degree in Architecture from the Architectural Association of London in 2003. Yosuke has been the winner of several high-profile awards in his career to date, including the Architecture League of New York Young Architects Award (2006), the Design for Asia Award (2011), and the Kumamoto Artpolis Award (2011). He served as a visiting lecturer at the Waseda Art and Architecture School from 2008 to 2012, and at Tokyo University from 2010 to 2012. In addition, he acted as an external examiner at the Architectural Association of London from 2015 to 2019.

After graduated from college in 2002, Liu first worked at Shanxi Provincial Architectural Design and Research Institute and joined MAD Architects in 2010. Working in the architecture field about two decades, Liu has accumulated rich experience in architectural design and implementation. His working experience involves all phrases of architectural practices from conceptual design to construction. He has also worked on projects of diverse functions, including museum, theater, transportation, sports facilities, hospital, school, and commercial. Since Liu joined MAD, he has been involved with Harbin Opera House, China Philharmonic Concert Hall, Yiwu Grand Theater, Quzhou Sports Campus, Lishui Airport, Jiaxing Railway Station, Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum Center, and Ordos Museum. Liu made great contribution to realizing the spirit of nature in MAD projects, constantly pursuing architecture of high quality and coherent implementation.

Italy born architect Andrea D’Antrassi is a registered architect in Italy and Switzerland. He received his Master’s Degree in Architecture from Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland. With solid experiences gained from overseas projects in US, Italy, Australia and China, Andrea adds a valuable global vision to MAD. Since he joined MAD in 2010, he has been involved with Boncompagni Residential Development in Rome Italy, Huangshan Mountain Village Development, Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, and recent Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. He also plays a key role in MAD’s conceptual design competitions.

Dixon is Associate Partner at MAD Architects’ Los Angeles Office. This is Dixon’s second stint with MAD, having acted as Head of Operations for their Beijing office from 2008 to 2011. Dixon helped to conceptualize and organize the firm’s installation in partnership with Olafur Eliasson, “Feelings are Facts” at UCCA. Since returning to MAD in 2014, Dixon has project managed the firm’s first US Project, a commission for mixed-use complex with luxury condominiums in Beverly Hills. He is the Los Angeles office’s leader, managing operations, projects, and overall strategy.

Kin Li is a Hong Kong born architect holding a Master’s degree in Architecture from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His highly sensitive touch in design and outstanding ability in understanding art, as well as skills applying various design software, provide him a solid base to fully understand and translate MAD’s design philosophy and language into complex 3-D models for teams to further develop. After joining MAD in 2011, Kin served as the key designer and has participated in multiple iconic projects that synchronized MAD’s design philosophy “Shanshui City,” including Pingtan Art Museum, Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, Chaoyang Park Plaza and Lucas narrative Art Museum.

FU Changrui 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 the development of the Harbin Opera House and Chaoyang Park Plaza, and worked on the Conrad Hotel in Beijing, Fake Hills in Beihai, Sanya Phoenix Island and Urban Forest in Chongqing. He has also participated in several of the firm’s major art projects including, “Beijing 2050”, “Super Star” and “Feelings are Facts”. 

Tiffany Dahlen joined MAD in 2010. Demonstrating a high level of professionalism and efficiency, she has proven to be an excellent project manager.  Leading competitions and built projects both in China and abroad, she has experience working on complex large-scale projects in dense urban conditions. Currently Tiffany leads the development of the Shenzhen Bay Culture Park, and has worked on a number of MAD’s iconic projects, such as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in LA, Southbank by Beulah competition in Melbourne, Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center in Nanjing, Chaoyang Park Plaza in Beijing, Huangshan Mountain Village in Huangshan, and Xinhee Design Center in Xiamen. She has also been involved in the realization of several MAD art projects, including: “Moon Landscape” for Swarovski and the “Vertu Mobile Pavilion”.

Flora Lee joined MAD in 2008. She is an exceptional project manager with a multifaceted management capability that ranges from conceptual design to project coordination and communication with clients and developers. She has helped develop and realize a number of MAD’s major international projects, including: 8600 Wilshire in Beverly Hills; Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles; Campinas Art Gallery of Brazil; East 34th in NYC; UNIC Residential in Paris; and the Conrad Hotel in Beijing. 

XU Chen joined MAD Architects in 2015. XU Chen focuses on the relationship between cities, sites and architecture. In design practice, he is good at thinking and realizing ideal architectural solutions from multiple levels, including environment, aesthetics, function and technology, and has rich experience in large-scale projects from design to detail deepening and building construction, as well as the ability to design under strict control. He is also an excellent team manager.XU Chen has led and participated in projects including Quzhou Sports Park, Tencent Shenzhen Headquarters Park, a high-rise residence in Bangkok, Thailand, Beijing Baiziwan Social Housing, Xiamen Xinhee Design Center, and Shenzhen Bay Culture Park, among many other projects for MAD’s architectural practice.