four years ago, at the 2014 venice architecture biennale, MAD architects presented plans for the ‘nanjing zendai himalayas center’ — a city-scale urban project with an overall building area of approximately 560,000 square meters. comprised of commercial, hotel, office, and residential programs, the mixed-use development is now nearing completion in nanjing, the capital of china’s eastern jiangsu province.

MAD architects nanjing zendai himalayas center
the center of the design has been conceived as a village-like community
image by creatAR images

 

 

at the center of MAD’s design, which has been conceived as a village-like community, is a mix of low-rise buildings connected by footbridges. activated by public gardens and social spaces, curving, ascending corridors and elevated pathways weave through the commercial buildings creating a retreat in the middle of the chinese city.

MAD architects nanjing zendai himalayas center
trees and plantings see the artificial and manmade coalesce
image by creatAR images

 

 

meanwhile, mountain-like towers that appear to have been carved out by wind and water are positioned along the edge of the site. defined by white, curved glass louvers that ‘flow’ like waterfalls, they reflect nanjing’s surrounding mountain ranges and meandering rivers. water features, such as ponds, waterfalls, brooks, and pools connect the buildings, while trees and plantings blend the artificial with the manmade.

MAD architects nanjing zendai himalayas center
towers appear to have been carved out by natural elements

 

 

according to the design team, led by ma yansong, the development seeks to restore the spiritual harmony between humanity and nature through the integration of contemplative spaces. currently in the third and final phase of construction, the project is expected to be completed in 2020. see designboom’s previous coverage of the ‘nanjing zendai himalayas center’ here.

MAD architects nanjing zendai himalayas center
the mixed-use development seeks to restore the spiritual harmony between humanity and nature
image by creatAR images

MAD architects nanjing zendai himalayas center
a mix of low-rise buildings are connected by footbridges
image by creatAR images

MAD architects nanjing zendai himalayas center
the development is located in in nanjing, the capital of china’s eastern jiangsu province
image by creatAR images

 

 

project info:

 

location: nanjing, china
type: commercial, office, residential, hotel
architect: MAD architects
photography: creatAR images, MAD architects