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Urban architecture inspired by mountains, clouds and volcanoes | Ma Yansong

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more. Taking inspiration from nature, architect Ma Yansong designs breathtaking buildings that break free from the boxy symmetry of so many modern cities. His exuberant and graceful work — from a pair of curvy skyscrapers that “dance” with each other…

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Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more.

Taking inspiration from nature, architect Ma Yansong designs breathtaking buildings that break free from the boxy symmetry of so many modern cities. His exuberant and graceful work — from a pair of curvy skyscrapers that “dance” with each other to an opera house that looks like a snow-capped mountain — shows us the beauty of architecture that defies norms.

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here:

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25 Comments

25 Comments

  1. pastor Larry

    December 1, 2019 at 4:32 pm

    Again Man getting inspiration from what God has created.

  2. MrDQMYNATOR

    December 1, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    Sorry but the brown/black “mountain” looks like crap – especially placed next to boxy buildings! – worst possible placement ! – he should have build somewhere else maybe but this is just ridiculous.

  3. MrDQMYNATOR

    December 1, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Here we have my old dilemma: Do i downvote because i disagree with the speech or dislike the design? – or upvote to thank the uploader for maikng it publicly available? clearly TED did nothing wong…

  4. Sakurajima Mai

    December 1, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    The guy can literally start a new renaissance

  5. Eva Eder Nzewi

    December 1, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    gut gut gut !!!

  6. Yve Zhao

    December 1, 2019 at 7:33 pm

    Amazing good work!

  7. Michael Hartman

    December 1, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    Nice sculptures, but unless it is able to create greater profit, it will not be mainstream. It takes money to make buildings, and those with money want their money back.

  8. Shanti Jain

    December 1, 2019 at 8:57 pm

    ????????????????????✨????????????

  9. Andréa

    December 1, 2019 at 10:26 pm

    wow this is so amazing

  10. 해리

    December 1, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    Impressive…tnx for deep inspire

  11. Twosixxmusic

    December 1, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    Music channel subscribe & check it iut

  12. Panya Rerksakunchai

    December 2, 2019 at 12:46 am

    Bad sing primary ip,my gateway mobile me need

  13. Edmond Kong

    December 2, 2019 at 1:06 am

    赞一个

  14. Ideoform Sun

    December 2, 2019 at 1:07 am

    I love his designs. Very beautiful and inspiring.

  15. leson zhang

    December 2, 2019 at 2:18 am

    哥哥牛逼!!
    awesome!dude!
    make call for you!

  16. Ian Fyffe

    December 2, 2019 at 3:58 am

    I think the way to test if the fish like the tank would be to connect the custom tank to the standard square one and see which tank they spend more time in.

  17. Yunan Jiang

    December 2, 2019 at 4:11 am

    Being someone who was born and raised in China, I am very proud of this “back to the nature” concept, which China has abandoned for 70 years! What concern me is the reality, like the severe pollution, the real estate bubbles, and most of all, the currant political situation. Remember the “tofu-dreg project” led 6898 school buildings collapsed in 2008 during the earthquake, left over 5K school children dead? I admire the design, but my question is the quality of these new construction…

  18. Samuel Christian

    December 2, 2019 at 4:45 am

    Box and rectangular-shaped buildings are commonly used n architecture because they are standard designs but it’s also a visual representation of man’s attempt to create order and control in nature, which is chaotic and random, so a more nature-inspired building does create a better sense of unity with nature

  19. M J

    December 2, 2019 at 6:20 am

    He reminds me so much of Howard Roark from the book ‘The Fountainhead’. More power to such visionaries!

  20. ZzZ888

    December 2, 2019 at 9:55 am

    The fishes in the second tank would be like, “where the heck are we? I can’t find my way.”

  21. bình bùi

    December 2, 2019 at 10:21 am

    He changed my mind :))

  22. Warlord _AJ

    December 2, 2019 at 10:47 am

    I wish this mindset existed 20 years ago when I was deciding my career. I wanted to do architecture, but was struggling with inspiration. What a great talk.

  23. Liam McAllan

    December 2, 2019 at 10:50 am

    I love the aesthetics and function designed to complement nature, but I especially love the literal incorporation of nature- habitats in a human habitat. Its best to not build in the first place but building is obviously needed and this ethos is a far better alternative to the status quo

  24. Su Nyein Nwe

    December 2, 2019 at 11:31 am

    Thank you for your initiative.
    One day we can combine ourself with the nature again.

  25. Tom Kot

    December 2, 2019 at 2:28 pm

    One day in the future we will look back on “modern architecture” (soulless boxes) as a mistake

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News & Politics

How to Use Tech to Outsmart Dictators | Leopoldo López | TED

In seven years as a political prisoner in Venezuela, activist Leopoldo López kept asking one question: Who holds the keys to freedom? Now the leader of an alliance of dissidents and exiles from more than 60 countries, he makes the case that open-source, decentralized technology can put power into the hands of ordinary people. (Recorded…

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In seven years as a political prisoner in Venezuela, activist Leopoldo López kept asking one question: Who holds the keys to freedom? Now the leader of an alliance of dissidents and exiles from more than 60 countries, he makes the case that open-source, decentralized technology can put power into the hands of ordinary people. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 14, 2026)

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People & Blogs

How 180 Strangers Built a Library Together | Rebecca Toh | TED

Does the fix for a fragmented world begin with a shared bookshelf? Photographer Rebecca Toh traces how she joined with 180 other people to build a community-funded library where strangers rent shelves, fill them with their personal collections and forge something rare: real connection. (Recorded at TEDxSingapore on December 4, 2024) Join us in person…

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Does the fix for a fragmented world begin with a shared bookshelf? Photographer Rebecca Toh traces how she joined with 180 other people to build a community-funded library where strangers rent shelves, fill them with their personal collections and forge something rare: real connection. (Recorded at TEDxSingapore on December 4, 2024)

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People & Blogs

The Shape-Shifting Sounds of the Accordion | Maria Telesheva | TED

Musician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat and plays two beautiful songs. (Recorded at Play@TED on May…

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Musician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat and plays two beautiful songs. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

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TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

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