MAD architects premiers Shanshui city book with exhibition at UCCA, Beijing, China.
Coinciding with the founding of his firm MAD architects, Ma Yansong releases a publication delivered in his voice, that details the development and practice of design evidenced in his ‘Shanshui city’ project, for which the book is also named.
Ma first presented the shanshui city project at beijing design week 2012 as part of a designboom-curated lecture series, posing the question: what will the city of the future look like?
‘Shanshui city’ at Ullens center for contemporary art in beijing.
See the pictures of the exhibition
In ‘Shanshui city’, ma investigates and proposes a way of living that sees our built environments addressing humanity’s affinity to seek spiritual refuge in nature, with the the plan not meant to be simplified down to an eco-, or a garden city. the book outlines future metropolises envisioned as having human spirit and emotion at their core, and introduces the origins, developments and desires he hopes to achieve with ‘Shanshui city’; accompanied by other signature builds and schemes he has conceived over his 10 year creative journey.
On the occasion of beijing design week 2014, ma yansong / MAD architects exhibited visual excerpts from the publication at UCCA ullens center for contemporary art, where the official book launch of ‘Shanshui city’ also took place. the presentation was accompanied by a forum, where chinese critics, scholars and ma introduced the key themes and ideas explored in ‘Shanshui’, discussing its existence in the history of architecture, and its impacts and future developments in china.
Graphic designer kenya hara is responsible for the layout and visual content of the comprehensive volume, retaking pictures of key works and models to illustrate the publication. of the book he stated,
‘Shanshui city will be the momentous milestone that carries ‘Shanshui’, the eastern wisdom and architecture ideology. its impact is beyond imagination.’
The english version of ‘Shanshui city’ is being published by lars müller publishers; and the chinese version will be published by imaginist. both will have been released in october 2014.
Original article written by Designboom, Beijing Design Week 2014
All Image credits: MAD architects, Designboom
‘Shanshui city’ forum promotional poster
‘Shanshui city’ by ma yasong
