dear designboom reader,

our recent conversations with revered architects reveal how elements of nature are tied to their projects. with MAD’s ma yansong, he talked us through the team’s first transit-oriented project in china, which can be described as a 'train station in the forest'. the theme of the environment also emerges in our interview with junya ishigami, who expounded his zaishui art museum project that stretches over a lake.

the influence of nature also takes over mariko mori’s yuputira house who told us how her coral-shaped studio built along the shores of miyako island came to life. even curator carlo ratti spared us time to unpack venice architecture biennale 2025’s theme ‘intelligens. natural. artificial. collective.’ ahead of the event, diving into the role of architecture in protecting the planet’s future.

thanks for reading!

matthew burgos | editor