A Flying Saucer Lands in History

Ma Yansong/MAD Architects Transform a 600-Year-Old Village

Ma Yansong/MAD Architects are bringing bold imagination to Yanqiaoen, a 600-year-old village in Foshan City, China, with their latest installation for the 2024 Earth Art Festival. Once a primary school playground, the site has been reimagined as a vibrant community space where collective childhood memories are celebrated and the future is envisioned.

Inspired by the Qing Dynasty, the design centres on a flying saucer-shaped structure, a circular, shaded hub for creativity and connection. Its playful, bright colours clash beautifully with the village’s historical surroundings, creating a dynamic dialogue between past and future. Static meets motion, tradition meets reinvention, all in one space designed to inspire reflection and imagination.

More than an installation, it’s a bold statement—a place for the community to gather, dream, and play. Ma Yansong and MAD Architects continue to redefine what it means to build for both memory and possibility.

See link

Inspiration from Mark.