Parametric Building Design

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Author: Tang, M. Parametric Building Design with Autodesk Maya. Publisher: Routledge. ISBN: 0415644461. 2014. ( 1,300 copies sold)

Due to its comprehensive tool-set and great potential for 3D modeling, more and more architectural design and interior design firms are adapting Autodesk Maya and integrating it into their practice. There has been no book aimed at architects and designers who wish to harness the opportunities presented by this software, until now…..

The book promotes parametric design. It integrates the theoretical research of computational design and Maya non-linear modeling techniques associated with simulation, animation, digital fabrication and form-finding within 2D & 3D design.

The book includes case studies from Zaha Hadid Architects, Greg Lynn Form, Gage Clemenceau Architects, Tang & Yang Architects, as well as step by step exercises, demonstration projects and crucially a fantastic online resource which includes video tutorials, scripts, and Maya source files.

“Maya’s architectural workflow has been developed by students and advanced designers all over the world through a creative reinterpretation of its standard commands. But now I have finally an answer for these enthusiasts who want to step into this unique design experience: just read this book!”

Fulvio Wirz, Lead Architect, Zaha Hadid Architects

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Earth Award 2009

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I was honored to be selected as a finalist for the 2009 Earth Awards in New York, where I had the opportunity to present my project, Folded Bamboo + Paper House, and participate in the awards gala at the Four Seasons.

The Earth Awards brought together a diverse group of designers and innovators exploring ideas for a more sustainable future. It was especially meaningful to be part of a cohort invited to share work with leaders across design, engineering, and environmental fields, and to be interviewed during the event.

The selection committee and jury included an exceptional group of thinkers and practitioners—from architecture and design to science and policy—which made the experience both humbling and inspiring. I was particularly impressed by the breadth of perspectives represented.

Congratulations to Neri Oxman, whose project was named the winner that year.

Looking back, the experience was less about recognition and more about the exchange of ideas—an early moment that reinforced my interest in design experimentation that continues to shape my work today.

NEW YORK – JANUARY 12: TV Personality Charlie Rose and Ming Tang speak at the Earth Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Restaurant on January 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Earth Awards)

A prestigious and eclectic panel served on the 2009 Selection Committee, including: Paola Antonelli, Adam Bly, David Buckland, Antonio de la Rua, David de Rothschild, Nicky Gavron, Scott Hahn, Peter Head, Graham Hill, Dr. Dan Kammen, Yang Lan, Thom Mayne, Michael McDonough, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Barry Nalebuff, Sergio Palleroni, John Picard, Werner Sobek, Terry Tamminen, Suzanne Trocmé, Dilys Williams, and Dr. Kenneth Yeang.

Folded Bamboo House also won the First Place of Self-Sufficient Housing Competition. 

Urban Paleontology

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Book:  Urban Paleontology: Evolution of Urban Forms

This book grew out of my graduate thesis at Tsinghua University, under the guidance of Professor Zhu Wenyi in 1997-2000. I am especially grateful for the influence of Mario Gandelsonas and his book Urban Text (1992), which helped shape the early thinking behind this work.

The book introduces Urban Paleontology, an interdisciplinary approach to studying urban form by examining the “remains” of cities—what we describe as “urban fossils.” It brings together ideas from architecture, urban design, and computer-aided spatial analysis to better understand how cities evolve.

Through case studies in Beijing and Savannah, the research explores how this perspective can help us read urban history and inform future development.

Co-authored with Dihua Yang. Published by Universal-Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida, 2008

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Cites with Soul

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The first place, Cities with Soul – The Urban Design Competition, British Council, U.K. 1998

This “Baita Temple neighborhood design” project was developed during my architecture graduate studies at Tsinghua University in 1998, in collaboration with a talented team of fellow students, including Li Fu, Fu Xin, Yali Song, Christoph, and others, under the guidance of Professors Zhang Jie and Wang Lifang.

We were deeply honored to receive this recognition through a program associated with the British Council, and to have the opportunity to engage with international exchanges in the UK.

Looking back, this project marked an early exploration across both architectural and urban design scales, with a focus on sustainability and cultural preservation—an experience that has continued to inform my work ever since.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair presented the First Prize to Ming Tang, Beijing, China, 1998.