The China Entrepreneurship Forum (CEF) has been meeting since 2001 at the Yabuli ski resort near Harbin. It includes the largest businessmen in China, including the founders and leaders of Alibaba, Xiaomi, Baidu and other key companies. In 2017, members of the forum commissioned Ma Yansong's bureau MAD to design a conference center that embodies their ambitions and values. Already in the spring of 2018, construction began on the building - a constantly evolving “landscape of ideas” that stimulates development and innovative thinking. The opening of the conference center with an area of more than 16 thousand m2 is scheduled for 2020.
The tent-like structure, 24 meters high, echoes the outlines of the surrounding mountains. Inside, the large and small halls (1000 and 356 seats, respectively), a series of smaller conference rooms, a museum and additional exhibition spaces are located on four floors. The focus of attention is forming the "oculus" in the roof; ordinary windows provide a panoramic view of the scenic area around. The center is connected with the surroundings by two squares - in front and behind.
