Founded in 2014 and led by renowned Chinese architect Liu Heng, Green Architecture Design & Research Institute of CADG redefines sustainability as a systemic design framework.
Adhering to the practical philosophy of integrating design, research and consulting, the studio has pioneered an architect-led green integration methodology spanning the full project lifecycle—from site ecology and regional form generation to low-carbon material strategy and post-occupancy performance evaluation. Sustainability is embedded not as a checklist, but as a coherent aesthetic and operational logic that is replicable across contexts. Its core mission is to establish an architect-led green integration system, embed the core green thinking throughout the entire process from ecological urban planning to individual building design, commit to driving holistic green innovation, and create a "new green beauty" that coexists in harmony with nature.
Across diverse Chinese regions, the firm delivers climate-adaptive architecture including ecological landscapes, net-zero energy buildings, adaptive reuse transformations and healthy living environments. Its portfolio spans cultural institutions, educational facilities and advanced research laboratories—public projects that serve communities at scale. Every project is performance-driven and verified through measurable outcomes. Carbon reduction, energy efficiency and spatial quality are evaluated simultaneously from the earliest design stages and validated through simulation, monitoring and lifecycle assessment.
Research-driven theoretical inquiry informs design experimentation; built work becomes a testing ground for refinement. Through publications, industry forums, exhibitions and public education initiatives, the team translates research into shared knowledge and advocates for low-carbon transformation. Its contributions have earned national and international recognition. The practice believes architects must lead ecological transformation. Committed to conveying the values of low carbon design, the practice aims to create measurable, adaptive and human-centered environments—and to embed sustainability as a professional responsibility within architectural practice.