Chinese architect designs new cultural landmark in LA

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong and his firm MAD Architects, is set to officially open on Sept 22 in Los Angeles, California, becoming one of the city's most anticipated new cultural landmarks.

Founded by the creator of Star Wars, filmmaker George Lucas, and his wife, Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments and a financial educator, the museum is located in Exposition Park and spans about 28,000 square meters. It houses more than 40,000 works exploring art, film and visual storytelling.

Celebrated architect Ma won the museum's international design competition in 2014. Rather than creating a conventional museum, he envisioned a vast white structure that appears to float above the surrounding trees and parkland. Its flowing form draws inspiration from clouds, mountains and tree canopies. At the same time, its integration with a park, rooftop gardens and public spaces seeks to blur the boundaries between architecture and nature.