1983-1999Tadao Ando

He believed that the way people live can be little directed by architecture.

“ You cant really say what is beautiful about a place, but the image of the place remains vividly within you..”

Church on the WaterAshiya (1979-81)

CollezzioneTokyo (1989)

Light Space Humanity

Koshino HouseAshiya (1979-81)

Meditation SpaceUNESCO (1995)

Nature Sanctuary

Ando has a strong background in Japanese culture. He was raised in Japan and lives there. Japanese religion and style of life strongly influenced his architecture and design. Ando's architectural style is said to create a "haiku" effect, emphasizing nothingness and empty space to represent the beauty of simplicity. He favors designing complex spatial circulation while maintaining the appearance of simplicity. A self-taught architect, he keeps his Japanese culture and language in mind while he travels around Europe for research. As an architect, he believes that architecture can change society, that "to change the dwelling is to change the city and to reform society". "Reform society" could be a promotion of a place or a change of the identity of that place. According to Werner Blaser, "Good buildings by Tadao Ando create memorable identity and therefore publicity, which in turn attracts the public and promotes market penetration".

For Ando, Light is an architecture of duality – the dual nature of [co]existence – solid/void, light/dark, stark/serene.  The coexisting differences leave the church void of any, and all, ornament creating a pure, unadorned space.  The intersection of light and solid raises the occupants awareness of the spiritual and secular within themselves.

Walls, Light, Wind, Flow

Koshino HouseAshiya (1979-81)

Kidosaki HouseAshiya (1979-81)

Old/New Rokko Restaurant Kobe (1985-86)

Chikatsu-Asuka Historical Museum Osaka (1990-94)

International Library of Children’s LiteratureTokyo (2002)

Pulitzer Foundation for the ArtsSt. Louis (1997-2001)

Pulitzer Foundation for the ArtsSt. Louis (1997-2001)

Rokko HousingKobe (1981-1983, 1985–1989)

Vitra Seminar House, Weil-am-Rhein (1989-93)

“What I have sought to achieve is a spatiality that stimulates the human spirit, awakens the sensitivity and communicates with the deeper soul.” – Tadao Ando

Church on the WaterHokkaido (1985-88)

Church on the WaterHokkaido (1985-88)

Nariwa MuseumNariwa (1992-1994)

The Modern Art MuseumFt. Worth (2002)

Children’s MuseumHimeji (1987-89)

Light is the origin of all being. Light gives with each moment new form to being and new

interrelationship to things and architecture condenses light to its most concise being. The creation of space in architecture is simply the condensation and purification of the power of

light.

“I do not believe architecture should speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature in the guise of sunlight and wind speak”Creates spaces that respond to human needs and spirit juxtaposing powerful concrete walls with light and nature, deep sense of peace, simple materials and geometry.