In this edition of Design Dialogues, we are pleased to feature MUDA-Architects, a practice renowned for its innovative approach to contemporary architecture deeply rooted in cultural and environmental context. Founded with a vision to bridge tradition and modernity, MUDA-Architects has made a significant impact through its thoughtful designs that seamlessly integrate local heritage with future-oriented architectural expression.

With a diverse portfolio spanning from urban planning to intimate interior spaces, MUDA-Architects continues to push the boundaries of design, creating spaces that foster human-nature connection while maintaining functional and structural balance. Their notable projects, including the Tianfu Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Lujiatan Wetland Park Commercial Service Center, and the Chengdu Xinglong Lake CITIC Bookstore, reflect a consistent commitment to spatial storytelling, sustainability, and cultural relevance.

In this insightful conversation, we delve into MUDA-Architects’ design philosophy, exploring how they navigate the complexities of balancing locality with contemporary architectural language. We also discuss the impact of technological advancements on their practice, the evolving role of architecture in cultural storytelling, and the valuable lessons they’ve gained throughout their design journey.

Through this dialogue, we hope to inspire emerging designers and industry professionals, shedding light on the power of architecture to shape meaningful and immersive human experiences.

MUDA-Architects emphasizes both locality and a future-oriented mindset in design. How do you balance traditional cultural influences with contemporary architectural expressions in your projects?

Mr. Lu: MUDA-Architects has always been exploring the balance between locality and foresight. For us, traditional culture is not merely a decorative element or architectural symbol but a deeper spatial logic and experiential philosophy.

Rather than simply replicating traditional elements, we focus on interpreting the essence of culture and the unique characteristics of a site. For instance, in the Tianfu Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we did not directly adopt a conventional Chinese architectural language. Instead, we drew inspiration from the philosophy of “harmony between humans and nature” in traditional Chinese medicine, integrating nature with space so that architecture itself becomes an extension of culture.

In our design, tradition and contemporary expression are not opposing forces but an ongoing dialogue. We strive to ensure that each project respects the spirit of its place while exploring new possibilities, allowing architecture to find its own place in both time and space.

The design for Lujiatan Wetland Park Commercial Service Center draws inspiration from the Jinma River’s natural flow, translating it into fluid architectural forms. What were the biggest challenges in maintaining this organic aesthetic while ensuring structural stability and functionality?

Mr. Lu: The design of the Lujiatan Wetland Park Commercial Service Center seeks to harmonize the fluidity of natural forms with structural stability and functional demands. Inspired by the flowing patterns of the Jinma River, we used parametric modeling to refine the building’s curvilinear form and adopted a steel structure with large cantilevers to ensure both elegance and stability. Spatially, volumetric cuts create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments, enhancing openness while supporting commercial functions. The accessible rooftop further strengthens human-nature interaction, allowing the architecture to blend organically into the wetland landscape.Throughout this process, the greatest challenge was achieving the optimal balance between construction precision, structural efficiency, and spatial experience within the complexity of the curved surfaces.

The concept of ‘floating architecture’ gives the project a light, almost weightless character. What were some of the engineering or material innovations that enabled this visual effect, and how do they contribute to the overall environmental harmony of the design?

Mr. Lu: The floating concept behind the Lujiatan Wetland Park Commercial Service Center reflects our exploration of the delicate balance between architecture and nature. To achieve a sense of lightness and weightlessness, we introduced structural and material innovations tailored to enhance this effect.

Structurally, we utilized a steel framework while strategically concealing most of the supporting columns within the interior. This maximized the cantilevered sections, creating the illusion of the building hovering above the wetland. The result is an architecture that feels fluid and dynamic, seamlessly blending into its natural surroundings.

Materially, a white metallic paint was chosen to create a seamless, monolithic façade that enhances purity and cohesion. The surface interacts with natural light, reflecting softly to mirror the wetland’s water and sky. This ever-changing quality allows the building to appear weightless and ethereal under different weather conditions and times of day.

By integrating these technical strategies, the project goes beyond aesthetics—it fosters a deeper connection between architecture and nature. The building becomes both an organic extension of the landscape and a striking landmark in its own right.

MUDA’s projects span diverse scales, from urban planning to intimate interior spaces. How do you maintain a consistent design philosophy across such varied typologies?

Mr. Lu: The key to maintaining a consistent design philosophy across projects of varying scales lies in our unwavering commitment to understanding each project’s unique context. We start by uncovering its distinct local character (locality) and then translate it through a contemporary design approach (contemporaneity).

Whether working on urban planning, architectural design, or interior spaces, we do not see design as a fixed formal language. Instead, we focus on the essence of each project—considering how it interacts with its environment, cultural background, and functional needs. This process, which bridges site-specific exploration with modern expression, ensures that our work remains conceptually coherent across different project types, rather than merely adapting to scale.

The museum’s design reflects the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine by emphasizing balance, nature, and fluidity in Tianfu Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine. How did you ensure that these philosophical and cultural elements remained authentic while still meeting the needs of a modern public space?

Mr. Lu: In designing the Tianfu Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we did not simply replicate traditional architectural forms. Instead, we distilled core principles from traditional Chinese medicine—balance, nature, and fluidity—and reinterpreted them through a contemporary lens, ensuring an authentic cultural expression within a modern public space.

Balance is translated into spatial order, where the architectural form harmonizes between movement and stillness. Nature is integrated through a seamless connection with the environment, allowing light, wind, and vegetation to become intrinsic elements of the space. Fluidity, echoing traditional Chinese medicine’s philosophy of life, is embodied in the openness and continuity of the spatial experience, enabling visitors to engage with the culture in an immersive way.
This approach allows the architecture to fulfill the functional needs of a contemporary public space while carrying the deeper essence of cultural heritage, making traditional Chinese medicine philosophy a tangible part of everyday experience.

This project is not only an architectural landmark but also a cultural and educational hub. How do you see the role of architecture evolving in the way museums communicate history, knowledge, and experience to future generations?

Mr. Lu: The role of museum architecture has shifted from a passive vessel for preservation to an active medium for cultural experience. While traditional museums emphasized collections and exhibitions, contemporary museum design integrates architecture into the narrative itself—shaping spatial perception and guiding visitor engagement.

For the Tianfu Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, our goal was not just to create a repository of knowledge, but to craft a space where culture can be truly felt. Fluid spatial transitions turn the visitor’s journey into an immersive exploration, while natural light and environmental integration heighten the sensory connection to history and tradition.

This approach transforms the museum from a place that simply displays history into one that fosters a deeper dialogue between the past and present. As architecture continues to evolve, it not only conveys knowledge but also redefines the relationship between people and culture—turning the museum into a living cultural landscape rather than a static exhibition space.

Architecture is evolving rapidly with advancements in AI and digital fabrication. How do you see these technologies influencing MUDA’s future projects and the field of architecture as a whole?

Mr. Lu: AI and digital fabrication are transforming the architecture industry, and at MUDA, we believe that staying at the forefront of design requires embracing change, continuous learning, and integrating new technologies into practice.

For us, these advancements are not just about efficiency—they open up entirely new possibilities. AI-driven design allows us to rapidly explore complex forms, while digital fabrication makes the construction of non-standard components more precise and feasible. Looking ahead, we will continue to track these technological evolutions, proactively incorporating them into our workflow to push the boundaries of creativity, construction efficiency, and spatial experience.

Beyond being a bookstore, this space fosters introspection and self-discovery. How did the design—particularly elements like the meditation corridor and curated lighting—enhance the emotional and psychological experience of visitors in Chengdu Xinglong Lake CITIC Bookstore?

Mr. Lu: The design of CITIC Bookstore at Xinglong Lake in Chengdu emphasizes a seamless integration of architecture and interior, shaping a space that encourages introspection and self-discovery. The curved sloping roof extends naturally from the exterior to the interior, creating a continuous sense of fluidity. Warm wood textures envelop the space, enhancing both comfort and focus, making reading a deeply immersive experience.

A defining feature of the bookstore is the submerged reading area. Positioned at the water’s edge, the sunken design blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors, allowing the interplay of light and water to become an integral part of the reading experience. Visitors are invited into a tranquil setting where literature and nature harmonize.

The meditation corridor further reinforces the space’s soft, flowing aesthetics, gradually guiding visitors into a calmer state of mind. Thoughtfully designed lighting, with its subtle gradations of brightness, orchestrates an emotional transition, enhancing the immersive and contemplative atmosphere of the bookstore.

With offices in both China and the U.S., how does MUDA navigate the cultural and regulatory differences in architectural practice across these regions?

Mr. Lu: Founded in both Beijing and Boston, MUDA’s primary practice is currently based in China. In recent years, we have also begun exploring international projects, encountering diverse cultural contexts, regulatory frameworks, and construction methodologies. Despite these variations, we remain committed to our core design philosophy—balancing locality and contemporaneity—to create architecture that seamlessly adapts to different environments and needs.

Our approach involves in-depth research into the cultural heritage, climate, site characteristics, and client expectations of each project location, translating these insights into contemporary architectural expressions. Whether in China or abroad, this methodology allows us to find universal design principles while ensuring each project retains its distinct regional identity.

Navigating regulatory differences, we work closely with local partners to integrate regional technical standards and construction systems, ensuring feasibility and execution. This open and adaptive practice enables us to continually explore new territories, fostering innovation and expanding the impact of our design on a global scale.

Looking back on your journey—from founding MUDA to leading award-winning projects across the world—what have been the most valuable lessons you’ve learned along the way? And what advice would you give to young architects who aspire to create meaningful and future-oriented designs?

Mr. Lu: The most valuable lessons can be summed up as persistence, practice, and growth.

Persistence: Architecture is a long-term commitment. While technology and markets evolve, staying passionate about design and maintaining a commitment to quality are the driving forces that keep you moving forward.

Practice: Architecture is not just about creativity; it’s a response to the real world. Each project involves the entire process, from concept to execution. We continuously adapt and refine our designs in different regions and cultural contexts to ensure feasibility and high-quality outcomes.

Growth: Architects must continually learn. From new materials and technologies to sustainable strategies, it’s essential to explore forward-thinking design methods, such as AI-driven design and digital fabrication, ensuring that architecture meets today’s needs while being prepared for the future.

For young architects, my advice is to find what you truly love and commit to it. Architecture is a journey of accumulation, and quick success is unrealistic. The key is to sharpen your skills through practice, cultivate interdisciplinary thinking, and stay open-minded, embracing change and exploring new possibilities.