Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens in Los Angeles, designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong

China News Service, Beijing, September 24 (Reporter Ying Ni) On the 22nd local time, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by George Lucas, the famous Hollywood filmmaker and the father of "Star Wars", and his wife Melody Hobson, officially opened to the public in Los Angeles, USA. This cultural landmark with a building area of ​​approximately 28,000 square meters and a collection of more than 40,000 items was designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong and his team. In an online interview with a reporter from China News Service, the Beijing-born architect said frankly that this building is the product of cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and the West.

A view of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

In 2014, MAD Architects, founded by Ma Yansong, won the international design competition for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, defeating Zaha Hadid, Koolhaas and other top architects in the world. He designed the museum as a huge white building "floating" above the woods and parks. Its flowing form is reminiscent of clouds, mountains and tree canopies, and also resembles a spaceship from the future. George Lucas once said of this design: "I continue to be surprised and inspired. He is at the forefront of a revolution that will affect architecture for generations to come."

Inside the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

Ma Yansong said that his creative concept has been inspired by Qian Xuesen's "Landscape City" thinking. "The core idea of the future city concept proposed by Qian in 1990 is to respect natural ecology and historical culture, use modern technology and environmental aesthetics, pursue the harmonious integration of city and nature, and advocate the integration of modern science and technology with traditional Chinese culture, urban gardens and urban forests."

The design team drew inspiration from traditional Chinese gardens and architecture and integrated the concept of "harmony between man and nature" of traditional Chinese culture into the museum design, hoping to organically integrate people, nature and architecture. "I like tradition but don't want to copy it." Ma Yansong believes that how to better combine tradition and innovation is the real issue of the times. In his opinion, Chinese traditional gardens have a very high ideological level. "Everyone can have their own unique experience in them and gain spiritual pleasure. If the grand buildings in the past required people to look up to them, then the future is about how man and nature can harmoniously blend together. And the answer, I think, can be found in traditional Chinese gardens."

Ma Yansong (right) and George Lucas (left) pose for a photo in front of the museum. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

The implementation of Eastern architectural concepts in a Western context is both an innovation and a breakthrough. Ma Yansong said that this landmark built in Los Angeles breaks away from the inherent paradigm of Western architecture. The building has both a grand spiritual aura and relaxed public attributes, returning to the essence of architecture serving people and healing people, making public space a spiritual carrier that carries public emotions and releases imagination. This is highly consistent with the literary and experiential nature of Chinese gardens, "one scene at a time, the scene comes from the heart". (over)