Dong Gong Named 2025 Marcus Prize Laureate: Architecture of Place, Silence, and Endurance

Dong Gong, founding partner of Vector Architects, has been named the 2025 Marcus Prize laureate, one of the most respected international recognitions for architects whose work demonstrates intellectual depth, spatial clarity, and long-term cultural relevance. Awarded by the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning, the Marcus Prize honors architects whose built work advances architectural discourse beyond trends and spectacle.

Dong Gong’s selection reflects a growing appreciation for architecture that is restrained, site-driven, and materially disciplined—qualities that have become defining characteristics of his practice.

Vector Architects and a Context-First Design Approach

Founded in Beijing, Vector Architects has developed a body of work rooted in landscape, memory, and material presence. The practice rejects formal excess in favor of architecture that feels inevitable—structures that appear as though they belong naturally to their sites.

Dong Gong’s buildings are often described as quiet, but this quietness is deliberate. It allows space, light, sound, and time to become architectural elements.

Key Works That Define Dong Gong’s Architecture

Seashore Library, Qinhuangdao

• Seashore Library, Qinhuangdao

Perhaps Vector Architects’ most internationally recognized project, the Seashore Library sits directly on the Bohai Sea. Cast entirely in exposed concrete, the building is shaped by wind, salt, and tide. Openings are minimal and precisely positioned, framing the horizon while protecting the interior from harsh coastal conditions.

The library has become a reference project for:

• Extreme site sensitivity

• Minimalist coastal architecture

• Architecture as an extension of landscape

Chapel of Sound, Jinshanling Great Wall

• Chapel of Sound, Jinshanling Great Wall

Set within a mountainous landscape near the Great Wall, the Chapel of Sound functions as a performance and meditation space. The structure is carved into the terrain, using irregular concrete geometry to enhance acoustic resonance.

Rather than dominating the site, the building reads as a geological intervention—architecture shaped as much by sound and terrain as by form.

Yangshuo Sugar House Hotel

• Yangshuo Sugar House Hotel

This adaptive reuse project transforms a former sugar mill complex in Guangxi into a cultural and hospitality destination. Dong Gong preserved the industrial character of the site while inserting new architectural elements with restraint and precision.

The project demonstrates Vector Architects’ ability to:

• Balance historical preservation with contemporary use

• Reinterpret industrial heritage

• Create spatial continuity between old and new

Alila Yangshuo Hotel

• Alila Yangshuo Hotel

Closely related to the Sugar House project, the Alila Yangshuo integrates hospitality architecture with karst landscapes and river systems. Buildings are positioned to minimize visual impact, using local materials and low-profile forms to maintain harmony with the surrounding environment.

Architectural Philosophy: Beyond Visual Impact

Dong Gong’s work consistently prioritizes experience over image. His architecture is not designed for instant consumption but for long-term engagement. Movement, sound, texture, and light play central roles, often revealing themselves gradually rather than immediately.

Core principles evident across his projects include:

• Material honesty

• Respect for natural and cultural context

• Architectural restraint

• Longevity over trend

This approach has positioned Vector Architects as a counterbalance to globally homogenized architecture.

Why the Marcus Prize Matters in This Context

The Marcus Prize recognizes architects whose work contributes meaningfully to architectural thought. By awarding Dong Gong, the jury reinforces the relevance of architecture that is measured, reflective, and culturally grounded.

In a period when architectural visibility is often driven by digital imagery, Dong Gong’s recognition affirms that depth, patience, and site intelligence remain essential to architectural excellence.

Implications for Contemporary Practice

Dong Gong’s work offers critical lessons for today’s architects:

• Architecture can be powerful without being loud

• Regional practices can shape global discourse

• Built work grounded in place can achieve international relevance

As environmental and cultural pressures increase, his projects demonstrate how architecture can respond responsibly without sacrificing spatial quality.

Conclusion

Dong Gong’s naming as the 2025 Marcus Prize laureate marks a significant moment for contemporary architecture. Through landmark projects such as the Seashore Library, Chapel of Sound, and Yangshuo Sugar House, he has shown that architecture can be both modern and deeply rooted in place.

For the global architecture community, his work stands as a reminder that enduring architecture is not defined by spectacle, but by clarity, context, and care.