Chinese civilization, one of the oldest in the world, spans thousands of years, and its rich heritage remains evident today. With its vast and diverse landscapes—ranging from mountains and deserts to forests, lowlands, and seas—Chinese architecture has long reflected a deep connection to nature. Traditional elements like curved rooflines, hierarchical spatial layouts, and principles of harmony, balance, and order continue to shape modern architecture.
In recent decades, China’s rapid economic growth has driven dramatic urban transformation, resulting in some of the world's most forward-thinking and striking architectural projects. While international firms like Zaha Hadid Architects and OMA have made their mark, local Chinese firms are also gaining recognition, championing socially and environmentally conscious design. The 25 architecture firms listed below are at the forefront of the country's architectural revolution:
Founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong, MAD Architects has quickly become one of the world's most notable and inventive design firms. MAD works in forward-looking environments developing futuristic architecture based on a contemporary interpretation of the eastern spirit of nature. MAD's projects - from residential complexes to offices and cultural centers - desire to protect a sense of community and orientation toward nature, offering people the freedom to develop their own experiences. The firm is based in Beijing with satellite offices in Los Angeles, New York City and Rome.
2. Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
In 2004, Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu started the Neri&Hu Design and Research Office in Shanghai, China. The multidisciplinary design firm is involved in various works including architecture, interior design, master planning, graphic design, and product design. With ongoing projects spanning numerous countries, the firm has a multicultural team fluent in over 30 languages. This diversity underscores the firm's central vision: to embrace a global perspective by integrating various design disciplines, thus shaping a new architectural paradigm.
CLOU is an award-winning international design studio with expertise in architecture, interiors and landscapes. The firm designs its projects, whether small or large in scale, around community nodes and social spaces. Founded by German architect Jan Clostermann, CLOU is a cosmopolitan team of architects and designers in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, focused on the central mission of designing world-class social spaces. Combining smart creativity with commercial savvy, CLOU takes its clients' challenges and transforms them into exceptionally innovative designs.
Established in 2010 and based in Beijing, ARCHSTUDIO advocates for design which balances humans, nature, history and commerce. The studio focuses on architectural design in natural contexts, urban architecture renovations and transformations, and the upgrade of consumption spaces. ARCHSTUDIO's projects include Qishe Courtyard, a renovation of a residence within an ancient quarter of Beijing, into which it embedded a traditional Chinese verandah to link seven separate pitched-roof structures.
Wutopia Lab, founded by Yu Ting in Shanghai, is an architectural firm that embraces a new paradigm of complex systems. Drawing inspiration from Shanghai's culture and lifestyle, Wutopia Lab uses architecture to foster sociological progress through building practices. The firm focuses on human-centric design, aiming to connect various facets of urban life—traditional, every day, and cultural—to explore the urban lifestyle and develop a contemporary Chinese aesthetic rooted in Shanghai. Each project at Wutopia Lab showcases innovative strategies, thinking modes, and forms.
Line+ is an innovative design studio established in 2018 in Hangzhou by Mr. Meng Fanhao and Mr. Zhu Peidong. The name "line" represents the boundary defined by architectural design, while the "+" symbolizes the studio's goal to transcend traditional industry limits and achieve a boundless integration of planning, architecture, interiors, product design, operations, landscape, and more.
OPEN Architecture is an international team of architects and designers with collaborators across different disciplines practicing urbanism, architecture, interior design and “the production of strategies in the context of new challenges of our time.” OPEN was founded by Li Hu and Huang Wenjing in New York City and it established a Beijing office in 2006. OPEN has been recognized with the World Architecture Award for Chinese Architecture, London Design Museum's Design of the Year Nomination, Re-thinking the Future Award and a Merit Award from AIANY.
8. People's Architecture Office
People's Architecture Office (PAO) founded in 2010 in Beijing, is driven by the belief that design should serve the public. Comprising a multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers, product designers, and urbanists, the studio emphasizes social impact through its work. As Asia's first architecture firm certified as a B-Corporation, PAO embodies social entrepreneurship. Operating from a historic courtyard house in Beijing, PAO functions as a creative laboratory and has earned numerous awards, including Architizer A+ Awards and Red Dot Awards.
9. 3andwich Design / He Wei Studio
Founded in 2012, 3andwich Design / He Wei Studio engages cross-disciplinary research and design across urban planning, architecture, interiors, product design, curation, and art. The firm emphasizes human-centered design, creating a dialogue between history and the contemporary, and interaction between the natural environment and regional culture. For many years, the studio has also been dedicated to rural architectural design in undeveloped areas of China and has employed micro interventions to revive rural villages and communities. The design firm is linked with academic institutions that include the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University and China Architectural Society.
Vector Architects pursues fundamental simplicity and logical clarity. It initiates the design process by identifying the key questions of the program and client needs, and by understanding the social, cultural, historic, climatic and urban context of each project. Its completed works include The Chapel of Music which harmonizes sound, light, and architecture within the Aranya Qinhuangdao community. The two-story structure with a retractable roof and brass sound tubes, materializes concrete, glass, and polished finishes to create a serene musical experience.
Crossboundaries is a design firm focused on architecture, environmental design and urban regeneration Known for crossing traditional design boundaries, its work, rooted in innovation and engagement, addresses the evolving needs of people and communities. The work of the studio has varied from projects for automotive production to childcare facilities and cultural complexes. Founded in 2005 and organized as an international partnership, Crossboundaries has offices in Beijing, Frankfurt and Berlin with staff originating from and trained in Asia, Europe and North America.
Founded in 2005 by Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf, AIM Architecture is a Shanghai-based design studio with projects across China and Southeast Asia. Its work reflects a practical vision, focusing on the details and the bigger picture. With over a decade of experience in Shanghai, AIM understands the complexities of building in Asia and values projects that integrate design, architecture, and urban planning. Its collaborative approach across disciplines ensures comprehensive, well-rounded outcomes, with a strong emphasis on quality throughout the design process.
Founded in 2011 by architect Li Xiang, X+LIVING is an international design firm working across various projects, including retail, office, hospitality, and parent-child spaces. Known for its Escher-like visual elements and immersive environments, the firm showcases bold geometry and vibrant color in its work. Its innovative approach has positioned the firm as a trendsetter in commercial space design.
14. TAO | Trace Architecture Office
TAO | Trace Architecture Office was founded by architect Hua Li in 2009. TAO envisions architecture as an evolving organism, one which is inseparable from its environment. With most of its projects positioned in cultural and natural settings in China, TAO explores the essence of place to design buildings deeply rooted in their context with respect to local conditions. TAO's works include the Aranya Theatre, integrating three theatres with unique materiality: metal, coral stone, and light stone.
Lacime Architectural Design, founded in Shanghai by Song Zhaoqing, believes in the architectural philosophy of "Simplify complicated material". The firm's name, derived from the French word for "peak," reflects its GOAL to create exceptional architecture. With over 14 years of development, Lacime has grown to a team of over 300 architects and has worked on large-scale projects across commercial, cultural, tourism, and residential sectors.
LUO Studio is dedicated to creating sustainable, durable, and environmentally conscious spaces through innovative thinking and craftsmanship. Founded by Luo Yujie, LUO Studio emphasizes the harmony between architecture and nature. With a nuanced architectural and structural design, LUO Studio works in urban and rural development with a focus on sustainable practices. The firm is known for its rural development projects, such as the Yuzhuang Series Design and People’s Stage in Shagezhai Village, which have gained international recognition.
Founded in 2014 by Yoko Fujii and Shuhei Aoyama in Beijing, B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio is a Japanese design firm working on architecture, urban development, interiors, furniture, and exhibition spaces. The studio emphasizes creating high-quality spaces where fundamental elements like structure, materiality, and light are reinterpreted to address contemporary challenges. With projects across various cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, B.L.U.E. stands for "Beijing Laboratory for Urban Environment," reflecting its commitment to exploring modern urban environments through research and design.
Founded in 2016, Atelier tao+c engages in an array of design projects, ranging from small urban apartment interiors and rural house renovations to commercial spaces and youth communities. The studio balances practical work with research and teaching, with a particular focus on the revival of old buildings and domestic landscapes. Utilizing humble materials with precise detailing, the firm emphasizes simple forms, clear proportions, and thoughtful spatial choreography to reveal the spatial nuances of everyday life.
Founded in 2015 with offices in both Boston and Beijing, MUDA-Architects expanded to Chengdu in 2017. MUDA's portfolio spans public, cultural, and commercial architecture, as well as urban design, landscape, and interiors. The firm emphasizes on clients' needs and applies its knowledge to create efficient, forward-thinking results. Its diverse projects reflect a dedication to best practices, ensuring consistently successful outcomes for clients.
Christina Luk established LUKSTUDIO in Shanghai in 2012. The company seeks to provide meaningful solutions while questioning conventional design methods. The firm works across landscape, architecture, interior, and product design, including hospitality, commercial, institutional, and residential projects. LUKSTUDIO’s methodology emphasizes maximizing site potential to create human-centric experiences, balancing art with functionality through thoughtful use of materiality and lighting.
SPARK is a global design studio that brings together architects, urbanists, interior designers, and branding experts to create innovative spatial environments. Drawing inspiration from diverse cultures, people, and places, the firm transforms and revitalizes environments at various scales—from product design to large urban developments. Notable projects include Clarke Quay in Singapore, the Shanghai International Cruise Terminal, and the Starhill Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, with several award-winning works recognized by the World Architecture Festival and German Design Council.
GOA (Group of Architects), established in 1998 and headquartered in Hangzhou, has engaged in design for over two decades in China. The firm works across urban planning, architectural and engineering design, landscape, interiors, and management consulting. GOA emphasizes the continual integration of architectural ontology and its context. It aims to evoke a poetic experience that will arouse people's emotions by taking into account the way architecture and the environment interact.
reMIX is a design studio with offices in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Singapore, founded on extensive academic research and collaborations with leading international firms. The studio operates at the crossroads of architecture, landscape, and urban design, engaging in projects that range from small-scale installations to large territorial developments. Combining research with practical experimentation, reMIX focuses on creating spaces that function as interconnected, multi-scalar ecologies.
Founded in 1997, gad comprises over 1,000 professionals, offering architectural design and engineering consultancy. gad's projects span residential, office buildings, hotels, research institutions, universities, commercial complexes, and urban mixed-use developments, with offices in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Qingdao, Xiamen, and Chongqing.
PLAT ASIA, an international architectural and design firm, was established in Beijing in 2010 by Baoyang Bian and Donghyun Jung. The firm is dedicated to enhancing living conditions while preserving the future environment, with a focus on exploring new methods of land use and promoting traditional oriental philosophies of nature and architecture. With projects across architecture, urban and landscape design, interiors, and furniture, PLAT ASIA has gained global recognition from leading design platforms.
The '25 best firms' series is curated by the Archello editorial team. The selection is based on a number of factors including the number of shortlisted and winning entries in the Archello Awards, the number of projects a firm has uploaded to its Archello profile, the number of projects that have been featured by Archello, as well as the size and quality of the projects included in each firm's Archello portfolio.
