Tadao Ando is one of the most famous Japanese architects. In his works, concrete becomes as smooth as silk, and the buildings end up an organic and harmonious extension of the landscape. With no formal education, he received the Pritzker Prize and now teaches at the best universities in Japan, the USA, and Europe.
Origins
On September 13, 1941, two twin boys were born in Osaka – Takao Kitayama and Tadao Ando. It was a tough time for Japan, and two years later, their parents decided to entrust the upbringing of one of their sons to their grandmother. The choice fell on little Ando.
His grandmother lived in a poor working-class neighborhood in Osaka. Her house was typical for Japan of the 40s – wooden, poorly illuminated on the inside, and the walls that easily let the winds through. Nevertheless, Ando has very fond memories of his childhood home and says it was his fortress of sorts.
He grew up a naughty and independent child. Grandmother never spoiled him and, in every possible way, promoted his autonomy. In his youth, Ando often fought and was not shy in expressing his emotions. When Tadao was 12 years old, the house needed repairs, and a carpenter team was hired. Young Ando was delighted with how the house was transformed and decided that he, too, would become a carpenter or an architect.
Education
There was no money for education in the family, so Ando had to take on odd jobs early. In pursuit of his dream, he tried to work in various architectural firms but did not stay anywhere long; he was fired for being too stubborn. However, since childhood, he had a strong character and honed this trait by doing boxing in his free time. Eventually, Ando began to study architecture on his own.
In a shop across from Tadao’s house, Ando found Le Corbusier’s book. It was expensive, and the boy saved money for several weeks. Having finally bought the book, he turned the pages so many times they had holes. Ando admitted that in his early work he constantly asked himself – how would Le Corbusier do it? Later, he even named his beloved dog after the great architect.
At the age of 18, Tadao Ando began visiting temples, churches, and teahouses in Kyoto and Nara, studying the principles of traditional Japanese architecture by meticulous observation. In the 60s, he began to travel to Europe and America to contemplate Western architecture. He continuously wrote down the reflections on what he saw.
The architecture of France strongly influenced Ando’s work. He was particularly impressed by the Corbusier Residence in Marseille and the Notre-Dame-du-Haut temple. The minimalism and dynamics of concrete buildings and the thoughtful play of light fascinated him and became the basis for his own style.
Career
Returning to Japan, Tadao Ando passed the exam, obtained his architect license, and opened a studio in 1969. At the time, he was 28 years old, and no one wanted to hire a self-taught architect without experience. But Ando was used to overcoming difficulties and continued to pursue his goals.
At first, he designed small wooden houses, furniture, and interiors. His first serious customer was a young family with a child who wanted to rebuild their old house. But when Ando finished the job, the couple had twins, so the small house was no longer suitable for a family. At that time, Tadao Ando’s firm did not have its own office, so he decided to buy out this client’s house and use it for work. Later, Ando renovated it many times until he demolished the building and built the office he uses today.
At first, Ando worked on private orders. His style did not please everyone, but one could easily notice the architect’s peculiar vision even in the earliest projects. Clients appreciated his interpretation of space, and many have lived in the homes he designed for decades. Ando says that a girl who grew up in one of his first houses in Kobe asked him to copy the building in Tokyo 30 years later.
Fame
Tadao Ando’s favorite material is concrete – boasting impeccable quality and smooth as silk, it become his hallmark. Owing to this attention to detail, Ando received recognition far beyond the borders of his native country and many international awards.
After receiving the Pritzker Prize in 1995, Ando established a foundation to give a decent education to thousands of children. Among his other awards are the gold medal of the French Academy, several prizes from Finland, the USA, Great Britain, Denmark, and of course, Japan.
Without a college degree, Tadao Ando teaches at the Ivy League institutions in the United States, such as Yale, Harvard, and Columbia. In addition, the architect occasionally lectures at Princeton, Berkeley, and some colleges in England, France, and other countries.
To this day, Tadao carefully supervises each project of his company: he works with closely with each of his employees and requires them to make hand drawings. All the managerial issues of the business are handled by his wife, Yumiko Ando.
