Tadao Ando


Tadao Ando is a Japanese architect. Self-taught, he is known for his unique integration of architecture and landscape. Architectural historian Francesco Dal Co described his work as an example of "critical regionalism". Ando was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 1995.

Early life

Tadao Ando was born in 1941 in Minato-ku, Osaka, Japan, just a few minutes before his twin brother. At the age of two, he was separated from his sibling and raised by his great-grandmother. Before becoming an architect, Ando worked as a boxer and fighter. He had no formal training in architecture, but a visit to Tokyo during high school, where he saw the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Imperial Hotel, deeply inspired him. Less than two years after graduating from high school, he left boxing to pursue architecture, studying drawing at night and taking correspondence courses on interior design. He later travelled to study buildings by masters such as Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Louis Kahn. In 1968, he returned to Osaka and founded Tadao Ando Architects and Associates.

Career

Style

Ando was raised in Japan where the 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. Werner Blaser has said, "Good buildings by Tadao Ando create memorable identity and therefore publicity, which in turn attracts the public and promotes market penetration".
The simplicity of his architecture emphasizes the concept of sensation and physical experiences, mainly influenced by Japanese culture. The religious term Zen, focuses on the concept of simplicity and concentrates on inner feeling rather than outward appearance. Zen influences vividly show in Ando's work and became its distinguishing mark. In order to practice the idea of simplicity, Ando's architecture is mostly constructed with concrete, providing a sense of cleanliness and weightlessness at the same time. Due to the simplicity of the exterior, construction, and organization of the space are relatively potential in order to represent the aesthetic of sensation.
Besides Japanese religious architecture, Ando has also designed Christian churches, such as the Church of the Light and the Church in Tarumi. Although Japanese and Christian churches display distinct characteristics, Ando treats them in a similar way. He believes there should be no difference in designing religious architecture and houses. As he explains,
We do not need to differentiate one from the other. Dwelling in a house is not only a functional issue, but also a spiritual one. The house is the locus of heart, and the heart is the locus of god. Dwelling in a house is a search for the heart as the locus of god, just as one goes to church to search for god. An important role of the church is to enhance this sense of the spiritual. In a spiritual place, people find peace in their heart, as in their homeland.

Besides speaking of the spirit of architecture, Ando also emphasises the association between nature and architecture. He intends for people to easily experience the spirit and beauty of nature through architecture. He believes architecture is responsible for performing the attitude of the site and makes it visible. This not only represents his theory of the role of architecture in society but also shows why he spends so much time studying architecture from physical experience.
In 1995, Ando won the Pritzker Prize for architecture, considered the highest distinction in the field. He donated the $100,000 prize money to the orphans of the 1995 Kobe earthquake.

Buildings and works

Tadao Ando's body of work is known for the creative use of natural light and for structures that follow natural forms of the landscape, rather than disturbing the landscape by making it conform to the constructed space of a building. Ando's buildings are often characterized by complex three-dimensional circulation paths. These paths weave in between interior and exterior spaces formed both inside large-scale geometric shapes and in the spaces between them.
His Row House in Sumiyoshi, a small two-story, cast-in-place concrete house completed in 1976, is an early work which began to show elements of his characteristic style. It consists of three equal rectangular volumes: two enclosed volumes of interior spaces separated by an open courtyard. The courtyard's position between the two interior volumes becomes an integral part of the house's circulation system. The house is famous for the contrast between appearance and spatial organization that allows people to experience the richness of the space within the geometry.
Ando's housing complex at Rokko, just outside Kobe, is a complex warren of terraces and balconies, atriums and shafts. The designs for Rokko Housing One and for Rokko Housing Two illustrate a range of issues in traditional architectural vocabulary—the interplay of solid and void, the alternatives of open and closed, the contrasts of light and darkness. More significantly, Ando's noteworthy engineering achievement in these clustered buildings is site-specific—the structures survived undamaged after the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995. New York Times architectural critic Paul Goldberger argues that:
Ando is right in the Japanese tradition: spareness has always been a part of Japanese architecture, at least since the 16th century; it is not without reason that Frank Lloyd Wright more freely admitted to the influences of Japanese architecture than of anything American."

Like Wright's Imperial Hotel in Tokyo Second Imperial Hotel 1923-1968, which did survive the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923, site specific decision-making, anticipates seismic activity in several of Ando's Hyōgo-Awaji buildings.
Unlike the architect Auguste Perret, who pioneered the use of reinforced concrete, Ando used shuttering formwork to give concrete building elements their shape. The finished Ando building bears the memory of wood texture. The smoothness of the concrete is achieved by the careful preparation of the casting moulds. Ando buildings are credited with the interior design use of exposed concrete. The use of prominent beams is perceived to be rooted in Japanese architectural history. The Rokko apartments and the Church of the Light earned Ando international recognition, and he was noted by those who detect a regional quality in concrete construction.
In 2003, Ando was commissioned by soap opera heir William Bell, Jr. and his wife Maria to design a house for an almost oceanfront site on the East Pacific Coast Highway in the Paradise Cove area of Malibu, California. The house is a modernist concrete structure in an L shape, with six bedrooms and walls of glass. It has been described as minimalist and "echoey". Construction was completed in 2014, being prolonged due to the oceanfront location, soft soil, and California's extensive building codes. 7,645 cubic yards of unusually high quality concrete were used in the construction of the house, with its rebar specially treated to resist corrosion. The installation of the concrete in the driveway, garage, and parking areas in 2015 won an award for precision from the American Concrete Institute. Ando also designed a series of furniture pieces for the interior. In May 2023, couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased the house through a trust for $200 million. It was the most expensive single-family home sold in the United States in 2023. and surpassed California's previous record price for a residence, set by businessman Marc Andreessen in 2021 for the adjacent house.

Projects

Building/projectLocationCountryDate
Tomishima HouseOsakaJapan1973
Uchida HouseJapan1974
Uno HouseKyotoJapan1974
Hiraoka HouseHyōgo PrefectureJapan1974
Shibata HouseAshiya, Hyogo PrefectureJapan1974
Tatsumi HouseOsakaJapan1975
Soseikan-Yamaguchi HouseHyōgo PrefectureJapan1975
Takahashi HouseAshiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1975
Matsumura HouseKobeJapan1975
Row House in Sumiyoshi Sumiyoshi, OsakaJapan1976
Hirabayashi HouseOsaka PrefectureJapan1976
Bansho HouseAichi PrefectureJapan1976
Tezukayama Tower PlazaSumiyoshi, OsakaJapan1976
Tezukayama House-Manabe HouseOsakaJapan1977
Wall House Ashiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1977
Glass Block House OsakaJapan1978
Okusu HouseSetagaya, TokyoJapan1978
Glass Block Wall Sumiyoshi, OsakaJapan1979
Katayama BuildingNishinomiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1979
Onishi HouseSumiyoshi, OsakaJapan1979
Matsutani HouseKyotoJapan1979
Ueda HouseOkayama PrefectureJapan1979
StepTakamatsu, KagawaJapan1980
Matsumoto HouseWakayama, Wakayama PrefectureJapan1980
Fuku HouseWakayama, Wakayama PrefectureJapan1980
Bansho House AdditionAichi PrefectureJapan1981
Koshino HouseAshiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1981
Kojima Housing Okayama PrefectureJapan1981
Atelier in OyodoOsakaJapan1981
Tea House for Soseikan-Yamaguchi HouseHyōgo PrefectureJapan1982
Ishii HouseShizuoka PrefectureJapan1982
Akabane HouseSetagaya, TokyoJapan1982
Kujo Townhouse OsakaJapan1982
Rokko Housing One Rokko, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1983
Bigi AtelierShibuya, TokyoJapan1983
Umemiya HouseKobeJapan1983
Kaneko HouseShibuya, TokyoJapan1983
FestivalNaha, Okinawa prefectureJapan1984
Time'sKyotoJapan1984
Koshino House AdditionAshiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1984
Melrose, MeguroTokyoJapan1984
Uejo HouseOsaka PrefectureJapan1984
Ota HouseOkayama PrefectureJapan1984
Moteki HouseKobeJapan1984
Shinsaibashi Tokyu BuildingOsaka PrefectureJapan1984
Iwasa HouseAshiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1984
Hata House Nishinomiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1984
Atelier Yoshie InabaShibuya, TokyoJapan1985
Jun Port Island BuildingKobeJapan1985
Mon-petit-chouKyotoJapan1985
Guest House for Hattori HouseOsakaJapan1985
Taiyō Cement Headquarters BuildingOsakaJapan1986
TS BuildingOsakaJapan1986
Chapel on Mount RokkoKobeJapan1986
Old/New RokkovKobeJapan1986
Kidosaki HouseSetagaya, TokyoJapan1986
Fukuhara ClinicSetagaya, TokyoJapan1986
Sasaki HouseMinato, TokyoJapan1986
Main Pavilion for OsakaJapan1987
Karaza TheaterTokyoJapan1987
Ueda House AdditionOkayama PrefectureJapan1987
Church on the WaterTomamu, HokkaidoJapan1988
Galleria AkkaOsakaJapan1988
Children's MuseumHimeji, HyōgoJapan1989
Church of the Light Ibaraki Osaka PrefectureJapan1989
CollezioneMinato, TokyoJapan1989
Morozoff P&P StudioKobeJapan1989
Raika HeadquartersOsakaJapan1989
Natsukawa Memorial HallHikone, ShigaJapan1989
Yao Clinic, NeyagawaOsaka PrefectureJapan1989
Matsutani House AdditionKyotoJapan1990
Ito House, SetagayaTokyoJapan1990
Iwasa House AdditionAshiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1990
Garden of Fine ArtsOsakaJapan1990
S BuildingOsakaJapan1990
Water Temple Awaji Island, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1991
Atelier in Oyodo IIOsakaJapan1991
Time's IIKyotoJapan1991
Museum of LiteratureHimeji, HyōgoJapan1991
Sayoh HousingHyōgo PrefectureJapan1991
Minolta Seminar HouseKobeJapan1991
Benesse HouseNaoshima, KagawaJapan1992
Japanese Pavilion for Expo 92SevilleSpain1992
Otemae Art CenterNishinomiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1992
Forest of Tombs MuseumKumamoto PrefectureJapan1992
Rokko Housing TwoRokko, KobeJapan1993
Vitra Seminar HouseWeil am RheinGermany1993
Gallery NodaKobeJapan1993
YKK Seminar HouseChiba PrefectureJapan1993
Suntory MuseumOsakaJapan1994
Maxray Headquarters BuildingOsakaJapan1994
Chikatsu Asuka MuseumOsaka PrefectureJapan1994
Kiyo Bank, Sakai BuildingSakai, OsakaJapan1994
Garden of Fine ArtKyotoJapan1994
Museum of wood cultureKami, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1994
Inamori AuditoriumKagoshimaJapan1994
Nariwa MuseumOkayama PrefectureJapan1994
Naoshima Contemporary Art MuseumNaoshima, KagawaJapan1995
Atelier in Oyodo AnnexOsakaJapan1995
Nagaragawa Convention CenterGifuJapan1995
Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum AnnexNaoshima, Kagawa PrefectureJapan1995
Meditation Space, UNESCOParisFrance1995
Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of ArtKyoto PrefectureJapan1995
Shanghai Pusan Ferry TerminalOsakaJapan1996
Museum of Literature II, HimejiHyōgo PrefectureJapan1996
Gallery Chiisaime Nishinomiya, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan1996
Museum of Gojo Culture & AnnexGojo, Nara PrefectureJapan1997
Toto Seminar HouseHyōgo PrefectureJapan1997
Yokogurayama Natural Forest MuseumKōchi PrefectureJapan1997
Harima Kogen Higashi Primary School & Junior High SchoolHyōgo PrefectureJapan1997
Koumi Kogen MuseumNagano PrefectureJapan1997
Eychaner/Lee HouseChicago, IllinoisUnited States1997
Daikoku Denki Headquarters BuildingAichi PrefectureJapan1998
Daylight MuseumShiga PrefectureJapan1998
Junichi Watanabe Memorial HallSapporoJapan1998
Asahi Shimbun Okayama BureauOkayamaJapan1998
Siddhartha Children and Women HospitalButwalNepal1998
Church of the Light Sunday SchoolIbaraki, Osaka PrefectureJapan1999
Rokko Housing III'KobeJapan1999
Shell Museum, NishinomiyaHyōgo PrefectureJapan1999
Fabrica VillorbaItaly2000
Awaji-Yumebutai Hyōgo PrefectureJapan2000
Rockfield Shizuoka FactoryShizuokaJapan2000
Pulitzer Arts FoundationSt. Louis, MissouriUnited States2001
Komyo-ji Saijō, EhimeJapan2001
Ryotaro Shiba Memorial MuseumHigashiosaka, Osaka prefectureJapan2001
Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike MuseumŌsakasayama,OsakaJapan2001
Teatro Armani-Armani World HeadquartersMilanItaly2001
Hyōgo Prefectural Museum of ArtKobe, Hyōgo PrefectureJapan2002
Modern Art Museum of Fort WorthFort Worth, TexasUnited States2002
Piccadilly GardensManchesterUnited Kingdom2002; part-demolished 2020.
4x4 houseKobeJapan2003
Invisible HousePonzano VenetoItaly2004
Chichu Art MuseumNaoshima, KagawaJapan2004
Langen FoundationNeussGermany2004
Gunma Insect World Insect Observation HallKiryū, GunmaJapan2005
Picture Book MuseumIwaki, Fukushima PrefectureJapan2005
Saka no Ue no Kumo MuseumMatsuyama, EhimeJapan2006
Morimoto Chelsea Market, ManhattanUnited States2005
Sakura GardenOsakaJapan2006
Omotesando Hills, Jingumae 4-ChomeTokyoJapan2006
House in ShigaŌtsu, ShigaJapan2006
21 21 Design SightMinato, TokyoJapan2007
Stone Hill Center expansion for the Clark Art InstituteWilliamstown, MassachusettsUnited States2008
Glass HouseSeopjikojiSouth Korea2008
Genius LociSeopjikojiSouth Korea2008
Punta della Dogana VeniceItaly2009
House, stable, and mausoleum for fashion designer and film director Tom Ford's Cerro Pelon Ranchnear Santa Fe, New MexicoUnited States2009
Rebuilding the Kobe Kaisei HospitalNada Ward, KobeJapan2009
Gate of Creation, Universidad de MonterreyMonterreyMexico2009
NIWAKA BuildingKyotoJapan2009
Capella Niseko Resort and ResidencesNiseko, Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaido PrefectureJapan2010
Interior design of Miklós Ybl VillaBudapestHungary2010
Kaminoge Station, Tokyu CorporationTokyoJapan2011
Centro Roberto Garza Sada of Art Architecture and DesignMonterreyMexico2012
Akita Museum of ArtAkita, AkitaJapan2012
Bonte MuseumSeogwipo, JejuSouth Korea2012
Ando MuseumNaoshima, KagawaJapan2013
Asia Museum of Modern ArtWufeng, TaichungTaiwan2013
Hansol Museum WonjuSouth Korea2013
Aurora MuseumShanghaiChina2013
Richard Sachs ResidenceMalibuUnited States2013, partly demolished in 2022/23
Visitor, Exhibition and Conference Center, Clark Art InstituteWilliamstown, MassachusettsUnited States2014
Casa WabiPuerto Escondido, OaxMexico2014
William J. and Maria Bell Residence MalibuUnited States2014
JCC SeoulSouth Korea2015
Hill of the BuddhaSapporoJapan2015
Setouchi AonagiMatsuyama, EhimeJapan2015
Pearl Art MuseumShanghaiChina2017
Yumin Art Nouveau CollectionSeogwipo, JejuSouth Korea2017
152 Elizabeth Street CondominiumsNew York, New YorkUnited States2018
Wrightwood 659ChicagoUnited States2018
Nakanoshima Children's Book ForestOsakaJapan2020
LG Arts Center SEOULSeoulSouth Korea2022
Valley GalleryNaoshimaJapan2022
Realm of the LightNew Taipei CityTaiwan2023
MPavilionMelbourne, AustraliaAustralia2023
Dubai Museum of Art DubaiUnited Arab Emirates