Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects, designed this one-of-a-kind library in Hainan Island, China.
Photo: Courtesy MAD Architects. Illustration: Stephanie Davidson
Please Transport Me to China’s ‘Wormhole Library’
The Cloudscape of Haikou, a space-age park pavilion designed by architect Ma Yansong, uses curvilinear shapes to complement a scenic seaside location.
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The port city of Haikou, the capital of China’s southernmost island province, Hainan, is undergoing a renaissance. In early 2021, cultural authorities established plans for 16 seaside pavilions along the city’s coastline. Each sector was given over to an artist, architect or designer tasked with crafting a new landmark. This monumental squad includes such luminaries as Sou Fujimoto, Bjarke Ingels, Anish Kapoor and Kengo Kuma.