Architect Qingyun Ma is a curator, winemaker, and dean of the University of Southern California School of Architecture. He is also the founder of architecture firm MADA s.p.a.m., which has constructed buildings and public works all over China. Before participating in a Zócalo/Getty panel on who designs L.A.’s future, Ma answered some questions in the Zócalo green room about breakfast, air travel, and texting behind the wheel.
What did you have for breakfast today?
A breakfast burrito
What is your favorite airline?
It used to be Air China. Now it’s China South. The reason is that they have a midnight flight.
What is the most stressful part about being of an architecture dean?
Teaching.
What are you like behind the wheel?
I hate texting. But there’s WeChat, which was developed by a Chinese Internet firm.
What is China’s most beautiful city?
Xi’an. It’s beautiful because it actually doesn’t accept any contemporary design easily. It is resistant.
Where do you take out-of-town guests when they come to Los Angeles?
I take a lot of people through downtown, especially on 3rd and 4th between Flower and Spring.
What sort of event should Zócalo put on in China?
I think what would really attract the public would be a discussion of how the next urbanism could be addressed through the western experience.