Chinese cities are still copying architecture other countries says Ma Yansong

MAD co-founder Ma Yansong says that Chinese cities should draw more from the country's traditional architecture, rather than aping the style of western buildings, in the second part of our exclusive video interview.

Ma says that looking at the philosophy of traditional buildings could help the country develop a contemporary style that is uniquely Chinese.

Ma, who heads up Beijing-based architecture firm MAD, says that the rate of development in China has been so fast that it hasn't allowed time for a new form of Chinese architecture to emerge.

"Development in China is massive – the speed and quantity doesn't allow you to think too much and so the easy way is to take experience from other places," he says in the movie, which Dezeen filmed for the Royal Institute of British Architects at the RIBA International Conference in London.

"That is why a lot of [Chinese] cities are still copying cases from other countries. Many [western] urban images become the ideal for many Chinese cities."

[andyay]

his work is just copy of zaha except its suppose to represent something in china's past. like many aspect on chinese culture, work remains on a surfical level. his work has no consideration on urban fabric if you want to see good chinese modernism, go see work by Wang Shu...

[Ecoean]

He meant "referencing" instead of "copying". Excuse his Chinese. They are the same word in Chinese.

[macjohnson]

I couldn't agree more... All these cubic high-rise buildings should b a thing of the past.. it's getting outdated..

[rollandibrahim]

The development is too fast for people to relax and think about it.