20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA

Connie’s test description for firms in China and how they are nice.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in China based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

• The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2022)
• The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2022)
• The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2022)
• The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2022)
• The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2022)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of China architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 20 best architecture firms in China:

20. Cun Design

Chief Designer: Cui Shu
Design Company: Cun-Design (www.cunchina.cn)
Function: Creative Office for A Clothing Brand
Design Time: 2015
Completion Time: 2015
Area: 3800 ㎡
Location: Hua-Shan Cultural Park, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Main materials: tortoise-shell bamboo, concrete, wood
Photographer: Wang Ting, Su Tang
Beauty of orient lies in the lyric way of expressing emotions and its simple and natural nature. Such characteristics are not superficial symbols or cultural elements imposed on inner nature. Symbols and elements are not essential in design and they themselves only could not build up good designs! Beauty of Asia lies more in the flexible way of design.
Rosemoo is one of the rare but well-known women’s clothing brands in China, Every year; it attracts most attention in the Fashion Week.

Some of Cun Design’s most prominent projects include:

• Office design for Blue Moon Films: A Line between Time, Beijing, China
• Space Design of Elephant-Parade Office-the world’s leading marketing agency, Beijing, China
• Encounter a beam of light in design- Portugal SERIP Lighting Exhibition Hall, Beijing, China
• From Nature: Creative Interior Design of Rosemoo Office in Beijing, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped Cun Design achieve 20th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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19. Martha Schwartz Partners

Situated at the intersection of landscape, art, and urbanism, Martha Schwartz Partners is committed to the design of urban landscapes and the public realm as the foundation for sustainable cities that are healthy across all aspects and sectors of urban life.

Some of Martha Schwartz Partners’s most prominent projects include:

• Beiqijia Technology Business (BTB) District, Beijing, China
• Place de la République, Paris, France
• Fengming Mountain Park, China
• City and Nature Master Garden, Xi’an, China
• Sowwah Square, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The following statistics helped Martha Schwartz Partners achieve 19th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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18. SmithGroup

SmithGroup is one of the world’s preeminent integrated design firms. Working across a network of 15 offices in the U.S. and China, a team of 1,300 experts is committed to excellence in strategy, design and delivery. The scale of the firm’s thinking and organization produces partnerships with forward-looking clients that maximize opportunities, minimize risk and solve their most complex problems. SmithGroup creates exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology organizations, higher education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, and parks and open spaces.

Some of SmithGroup’s most prominent projects include:

• 1700 New York Avenue | Architectural Office, Washington, DC, United States
• Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum Collections Building, Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States
• George “Doc” Cavalliere Park, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
• Energy Systems Integration Facility, Golden, CO, United States
• Central Arizona College, Maricopa Campus, Maricopa, AZ, United States

The following statistics helped SmithGroup achieve 18th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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17. Arizon Design

Arizon design focuses mainly on the design field of department stores and shopping centers.
Focusing on the relationship among individual person, the relationship between people and society, and embedding the concept of harmonious mutual existence between human species and nature in commercial design.
Let our “eco-fashion” design philosophy be integrated into every project.

Some of Arizon Design’s most prominent projects include:

• VITA-The Fortune Bridge, Zhengzhou, China
• VITA-The Fortune Bridge, Zhengzhou, China
• Joy City Kid’s World, Shanghai, China
• INZONE , Dezhou, China
• Cityfarm, Shanghai, China

The following statistics helped Arizon Design achieve 17th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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16. DLR Group

DLR Group is an integrated design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, interior design, and building optimization services to meet the unique needs of our clients in locations around the globe. Our promise to elevate the human experience through design inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. Core areas of design expertise include Civic, Courts, Detention, Energy Services, Higher Education, Hospitality, K-12 Education, Retail, Sports, and Workplace. DLR Group fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Some of DLR Group’s most prominent projects include:

• Minneapolis T3, Minneapolis, MN, United States
• Adjustable Forms Inc. , Lombard, IL, United States
• Panther Lake Elementary, 34424, 1st Avenue South, Federal Way, WA, United States
• Marysville Getchell High School Campus, 8301, 84th Street Northeast, Marysville, WA, United States
• Onondoga Lakeview Ampitheater, Syracuse, NY, United States

The following statistics helped DLR Group achieve 16th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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15. MUDA-Architects

MUDA-Architects was found in Boston, USA. In April 2015, MUDA entered Chinese market and built Beijing office and Chengdu Office.
MUDA is composed by creative designers with the background of global diversification, who are forward-looking, experienced, professional and ingenious in the field of architecture and design， and focus on architectural practice.
MUDA has been commissioned by clients of various backgrounds for design in public architecture, residence, urban complex, urban design, landscape design and Interior design, including Future House in Mount Qingcheng, Huang Hotel in Xi’an, Huaizhou Urban Observation Deck, Garden Hotpot in Chengdu, M50 Art Hotel in Qionglai, Renovation of Swan League Commercial District in Chengdu and Renovation of Linqiong Alley in Qionglai.
MUDA has realized several award winning projects including Residential Stadium Design Competition in USA, Xinglong Lake Bookstore Architectural Design Competition and was selected as principal designer for Altay Airport.

Some of MUDA-Architects’s most prominent projects include:

• Xinglong Bookstore, Chengdu, China
• M50 Art Hotel, Qionglai, Chengdu, China
• Garden Hotpot Restaurant, Chengdu, China
• Flower Exhibition Center

The following statistics helped MUDA-Architects achieve 15th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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14. 100architects

100architects offers design consultancy services for urban attractors, creating architectural objects that attract users and customers, promoting brands and products.
100architects was born aiming to explore the thin boundaries between public leisure and urban marketing.
We specialize in street architecture & urban interventions impacting the known cityscape by creating a link between the brand and the potential customer through urban interventions, which invite the users to interact, encouraging the occurrence of social dynamics.

Some of 100architects’s most prominent projects include:

• Urderwater Office, Shanghai, China
• Red Planet, Zhabei, Shanghai, China
• Puzzle Maze, Shanghai, China
• Blue Ribbon, Shanghai, China
• Olympia, Shanghai, China

The following statistics helped 100architects achieve 14th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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13. COORDINATION ASIA

COORDINATION ASIA is an award winning agency for design and architecture, specializing in creating high impact environments in Museum, Exhibition, Retail and Hospitality Design. We are driven by the quest for fresh ideas and extra-ordinary design solutions. Like a concept laboratory, we bridge creative energy and professional realization.From cultural to commercial projects, at COORDINATION ASIA we believe that content precedes aesthetics and that great design is more than simply styling. Our clients like us for our content-driven approach, as well as for our dedicated and reliable way of working. From understanding the needs of the client to drafting ideas and final realization, we make sure every step of the process is met with the highest of standards.

Some of COORDINATION ASIA’s most prominent projects include:

• Rainbow Chapel, Shanghai, China
• Nike Studio Beijing, Beijing, China
• Shanghai Museum of Glass, Chang Jiang Xi Lu, Baoshan Qu, Shanghai, China
• Shanghai Film Museum
• Gaga – Coastal City, Shenzhen, China

The following statistics helped COORDINATION ASIA achieve 13th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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12. Plasma Studio

The term Plasma comes from Classic Greek and means modeling, form, fabric, imagination, fiction. In Physics the Plasma State- or fourth state of matter- describes a unique condition of matter arising at a complex overlay of external forces. Plasma, a charged field of particles, conducts energy.
 
Folding space into space, Plasma draw landscapes into buildings, streets into facades, inside to outside.
Transformative tectonics set spaces, planes and bodies into unforeseen relationships that challenge conventional topographies and spatial codes. While the angular and complex qualities of their forms might superficially affiliate
them with ‘computer-generated’ architecture, decision-making is never relinquished to the computer.

Some of Plasma Studio’s most prominent projects include:

• Dolomitenblick, Sesto, Italy
• Creativity Pavilion_Xi’an Expo’, Ba He Dong Lu, Baqiao Qu, Xian Shi, China
• Strata Hotel
• Cube Haus, Sexten, Italy
• Hotel Puerta America 4th floor, 41, Avenida de América, Madrid, Spain

The following statistics helped Plasma Studio achieve 12th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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11. META-Project

Some of META-Project’s most prominent projects include:

• Stage of Forest, Jilin, China
• Water Tower Pavilion, Shenyang, China
• New Youth Commune, China
• Courtyard by the West Sea, China

The following statistics helped META-Project achieve 11th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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10. schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt – Vienna – Tianjin

Our architectural approach is characterised by the enjoyment we have in finding solutions to the complex demands of today’s buildings. We adapt our buildings to fit into their surroundings, yet we also create landmarks. Pragmatic poetry, nurtured not only by design clarity and a conscientious attitude towards the task in hand, but also by a delight in fine details.
This design process is constantly informed by the dialogue that takes place on a daily basis between the various professional disciplines in all our specialized divisions – architecture, construction and project management, design, a.o. – and international offices.
schneider+schumacher is headquartered in Frankfurt (GE), and has two branches in Vienna (AU) and Tianjin (CN).

Some of schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt – Vienna – Tianjin’s most prominent projects include:

• Autobahn Church, Wilnsdorf, Germany
• Oil Harbour Bridge, Raunheim, Germany
• DOXX – Quayside Development at Mainz Customs Port, Mainz, Germany
• Städel Museum Extension, 63, Schaumainkai, Frankfurt am Main Süd, Frankfurt, Germany
• Siegerland Motorway Church, Wilnsdorf, Wilnsdorf, Germany

The following statistics helped schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt - Vienna - Tianjin achieve 10th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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9. GOA

Founded in 1998, GOA has held its position as one of the most prominent architectural firms in China. With offices established in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Nanjing, GOA has employed more than 700 professionals. Covering service ranging from urban design, architecture, structure, MEP, landscape planning, interior design to design consulting, GOA’s business scope is a complete organism with architecture design as the core competencies.
GOA adheres to the Principal-based working system, each project is in the charge of one or more principals. By participating in the projects thoroughly, they ensure a best quality for all projects. On the basis of in-depth understanding of clients’ needs, GOA contributes to integrate the top resources and provide perfect design solutions and high-quality service for clients.
Creativity, quality and humanity shall always be our goal.

Some of GOA’s most prominent projects include:

• Alila Wuzhen, Jiaxing, China
• Beibu Gulf International Oceanic Transit Center, Beihai, China
• Muh Shoou Xixi, Hangzhou, China
• Pinghu Spring Breeze, Jiaxing, China
• Tangshan Blue Bay Town Life Experience Hall, Tangshan, China

The following statistics helped GOA achieve 9th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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8. West-line Studio

West-Line Studio is based in Guizhou Province and exclusively works in South-West China, where most of the country ethnic minorities live, and has always been researching and working on local vernacular architecture and subcultures’ diversity. The practice, founded more than 10 years ago by Haobo Wei and Jingsong Xie, pays special attention to the study of minority cultures and traditions in order to bring some of their particular elements into the design, which, despite being contemporary and innovative, always pays homage to traditions and local features.

Some of West-line Studio’s most prominent projects include:

• Shui Cultural Center, Sandu, Qiannan, China
• Chetian Cultural Center, Guiyang, China
• Chishui Danxia World Natural Heritage Visitor Center, Chishui, Zunyi, China
• Concrete Memorial, Chishui, Zunyi, China
• Danxia Exhibition Center, Guizhou, China

The following statistics helped West-line Studio achieve 8th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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7. DL Atelier

Beijing-based DL Atelier was found in 2012 by Liu Yang and Xu Dan.
Our designs are all about feelings and memories. People relaxing under the shadow of trees with bucket loads of sunshine is the ideal scene for us, which leads us follow the flow of inspiration on our work.

Some of DL Atelier’s most prominent projects include:

• Yi She Mountain Inn, Beijing, China
• Eyes Closed, China
• Moon Stage, China
• UP Co-working Factory, China
• Hall of the Starry Night & Sunflowers, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped DL Atelier achieve 7th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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6. CLOU architects

CLOU is a Beijing-based team of architects led by Jan F. Clostermann and Christian Taeubert.
We embrace the multi-faceted expressions of contemporary life and therefore our designs revolve around polyvalent spaces.
Our enlightened clients are partners in our endeavors to create contemporary typologies for a rapidly evolving world. They have called CLOU’s architecture both experimental and pragmatic, expressive and efficient.
By repurposing and recombining we have the freedom to connect people in new ways and save resources at the same time.
Our cheerful buildings return public space to the city. The designs often include terraces that lead to public roof gardens accommodating rabbit sculptures, playgrounds, or running tracks.

Some of CLOU architects’s most prominent projects include:

• Wuyi Yuansu Hot Spring Resort, Wuyi, Jinhua, China
• Rabbit on the Moon, Xiaoshan, Hangzhou, China
• Play Stack Shenyang, Shenyang, China
• Vanke Daxing, Beijing, China
• Vantone Centre

The following statistics helped CLOU architects achieve 6th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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5. Atelier Alter

Founded in 2009, Atelier Alter is a pioneering inter-disciplinary practice based in Beijing. Noted for deriving design from critical analysis of the site, Atelier Alter has been recognized by numerous awards, including IDOL Gold Prize 2014, 2013 Awards by Lighting Design Weekly, 2010 Excellence in Architecture Design of FuJian, etc.
Atelier Alter focuses intensely upon culture facilities ever since the beginning of the practice. Atelier Alter won the competitions to build Qujing Culture Center in 2009, by transferring the metaphysical context of the site into an artistic yet tangible urban space of historic remembrance. The Senior Culture Center won by Atelier Alter in 2010 and completed in 2014, exploded the typological transformation of bamboo bungalow into public facility.

Some of Atelier Alter’s most prominent projects include:

• WuliEpoch Culture Center
• Senior Center of Guangxi, Nanning, China
• Library for Qujing Culture Center, Qujing, China
• Xinglong Visitor Center, Wanning Shi, Hainan Sheng, China
• Restaurant for Yingliang Stone Archive, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped Atelier Alter achieve 5th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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4. AIM ARCHITECTURE

AIM focuses on original and high quality design solutions in design, architecture and urban planning.
AIM is a human size company that tries to find solutions that derive uniqueness from being exceptionally dedicated to the design problem.
AIM is based in shanghai from where we operate since 2005.
Like the founders – Vincent de Graaf & Wendy Saunders, the design attitude is deeply rooted in the North European design tradition, matched by a dedicated skillful Chinese and Western team of currently about 20 design professionals.
AIM is not only dedicated to design.

Some of AIM ARCHITECTURE’s most prominent projects include:

• Fushengyu Hotspring resort, Sichuan, China
• SOHO Fuxing Plaza- Shopping Mall, Shanghai, China
• Jiaxing Island, Jiaxing, China
• Aluminum Lobby in SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai, China
• Glass Office in SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai, China

The following statistics helped AIM ARCHITECTURE achieve 4th place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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3. Crossboundaries

Crossboundaries contributes to a vital built environment through architecture, environmental design and urban regeneration. We create enduring architecture that often deals with remarkable technical processes, yet always has a pleasant material touch and human atmosphere.
The work of Crossboundaries originates from a strong belief that design as a process results in successful, operational buildings. This approach is based on two fundamental principles: research and collaboration. For our projects we create suitable multi-disciplinary teams where all participants can assess the opportunities within the given conditions. We identify the essential questions, jointly create pragmatic solutions by data collection and analyze significant precedents. We regularly discuss possible programmatic shifts with our clients to raise their benefits of the project.

Some of Crossboundaries’s most prominent projects include:

• Chaoyang Future School, Beijing, China
• Crossboundaries Office, Beijing, China
• Aimer Lingerie Factory, Beijing, China
• THE KNOWN, an installation, Shenzhen, China
• Q Bar Rooftop, Beijing, China

The following statistics helped Crossboundaries achieve 3rd place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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2. Lukstudio

LUKSTUDIO is a boutique design practice based in Shanghai, China. Founded by Christina Luk in 2011, the studio is comprised of an international team with diverse backgrounds and cultural perspectives. With a common desire to challenge the status quo of the environment, the team finds joy in creating meaningful design solutions for others.
Lukstudio’s strength lies in an ‘everything is possible’ attitude that is influenced by the surrounding context of Shanghai; a fast-paced city where East meets West and tradition is integrated with innovation.
Each project tells its own story, and Lukstudio is proud to identify a narrative, preserving it from concept through to completion to deliver memorable spatial experiences that delight and surprise.
We collaborate closely with clients and contractors to deliver artistic solutions within a commercial scope.

Some of Lukstudio’s most prominent projects include:

• A Room for the Narcissist, Wuhan, China
• Dining between Lines, Shanghai, China
• Aimé Pâtisserie, Shanghai, China
• The Platform, Shanghai, China
• Office around a Tree, Shanghai, China

The following statistics helped Lukstudio achieve 2nd place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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1. People’s Architecture Office

Beijing-based People’s Architecture Office (PAO) was founded by He Zhe, James Shen and Zang Feng in 2010, and consist of an international team of architects, engineers and urbanists. With the belief that design is for the masses, PAO aims to be conceptually accessible and culturally pragmatic. PAO approaches design from the framework of the realities of scale, global economics and flows, mass production, mass markets and social networks. PAO’s projects include the headquarters for 21cake in Beijing, the River Heights Pavilion, and the Tricycle House.

Some of People’s Architecture Office’s most prominent projects include:

• The Courtyard House Plugin, Beijing, China
• Tubular Baitasi, Beijing, China
• Pop-up Habitat, Beijing, China
• Tricycle House, Beijing, China
• People’s Canopy, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

The following statistics helped People’s Architecture Office achieve 1st place in the 20 Best Architecture Firms in CHINA:

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Other Architecture Firms to Consider

Several other renowned architecture firms can be found just outside the Top 20, each of which is worth considering for their experience in delivering high quality, large-scale projects across typologies. They include: dongqi Architects, Challenge Design, Golucci Interior Architects, Jing-Rui Lin (Usual Studio), Cao Pu, Powerhouse Company, Arup International Consultants, Trace Architecture Office, B+H Architects, EXH Design

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “”+”” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

• Project completed within the last 3 years
• A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
• Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
• High quality, in focus photographs
• At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
• Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
• Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

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We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.