MAD was founded in Beijing in 2004 by architect Ma Yansong. The firm designs organic and dreamlike architectures that evoke - one might say invoke - man's spiritual and emotional connection with nature, the sky, and the earth. A fictional, even futuristic, architecture where nature and architecture merge.

In 2018, the Centre Pompidou (Mnam-Cci) acquired a set of models representing the firm's most significant projects from 2005 for its permanent collections. To coincide with the presentation of these works in the Centre Pompidou's collections in 2019, MAD Architects published the book MAD X - 10 projects by MAD Architects.

This book, designed by Ma Yansong, offers a "journey" through the agency's most significant projects, through photomontages, drawings, models, and photographs. It notably presents: the agency's first international project built in Canada, the "Absolute Towers" (2006-2012) - also known in Toronto as the "Marilyn Monroe Towers" -; the "Harbin Opera House" (2010-2015) and the "Chaoyang Park Plaza" (2012-2017) in China; the "Clover House" (2012-2016) in Japan; the "Lucas Museum of Narrative Art" in the United States (2016-2021); and "UNIC", the first project, carried out in Europe, which will be delivered in Paris this year. A contribution by Frédéric Migayrou allows us to discover and put into perspective the aesthetic and philosophical issues of this naturalized architecture. A portrait of Ma Yasong by Frédéric Edelmann introduces the projects presented.

While the Roman numeral X symbolizes the firm's ten signature projects, for Ma Yansong it also has a completely different meaning. The unknown and a passion for exploring new territories. How can we imagine the city of the future? In its work, MAD Architects strives to create a balance between human beings, the city, and the environment, with particular attention to the spiritual and emotional needs of residents and their connection with nature.

MAD was founded in Beijing in 2004 by architect Ma Yansong. The firm designs organic and dreamlike architectures that evoke - one might say invoke - man's spiritual and emotional connection with nature, the sky, and the earth. A fictional, even futuristic, architecture where nature and architecture merge.

In 2018, the Centre Pompidou (Mnam-Cci) acquired a set of models representing the firm's most significant projects from 2005 for its permanent collections. To coincide with the presentation of these works in the Centre Pompidou's collections in 2019, MAD Architects published the book MAD X - 10 projects by MAD Architects.

This book, designed by Ma Yansong, offers a "journey" through the agency's most significant projects, through photomontages, drawings, models, and photographs. It notably presents: the agency's first international project built in Canada, the "Absolute Towers" (2006-2012) - also known in Toronto as the "Marilyn Monroe Towers" -; the "Harbin Opera House" (2010-2015) and the "Chaoyang Park Plaza" (2012-2017) in China; the "Clover House" (2012-2016) in Japan; the "Lucas Museum of Narrative Art" in the United States (2016-2021); and "UNIC", the first project, carried out in Europe, which will be delivered in Paris this year. A contribution by Frédéric Migayrou allows us to discover and put into perspective the aesthetic and philosophical issues of this naturalized architecture. A portrait of Ma Yasong by Frédéric Edelmann introduces the projects presented.

While the Roman numeral X symbolizes the firm's ten signature projects, for Ma Yansong it also has a completely different meaning. The unknown and a passion for exploring new territories. How can we imagine the city of the future? In its work, MAD Architects strives to create a balance between human beings, the city, and the environment, with particular attention to the spiritual and emotional needs of residents and their connection with nature.