Moodboard: 安藤 忠雄, Andō Tadao "Row House of Sumiyoshi" with an excerpt of my study of Andō's architectural concepts.

 

"...Ando, who was born in 1941 Osaka, Japan and as child he too would have known destruction.  When the city was bombed heavily by the Americans from February 1945 until Japan surrendered in that same year, with over 10,000 civilians who were reported to have been killed in the city of his birth.  This, undoubtedly would have lead him to know the reinforced power of concrete, its bunker and protective formation. Moving away from the Japanese traditionalist Nagaya building, while at the same time respecting its simplicity and connection to light and the natural elements. So, this self taught architect, from a war torn country on the verge of massive infrastructure rebuilding after WW2, he then sources the world for influences. Knowing how light can be transformed and managed within concrete shapes. Begins his career in 1969 as an 'architect' at the age of 28.  Like his buildings, there is a reflection of Ando's raw determination and endurance – that also in turn sets in place a focused tranquility. Melding the two together, Ando defines the purpose of his creations. Very much like Santoka (d1940), the Zen Hermit and Haiku (poet) said: 

“...Go beyond the restrictions of your era, forget about purpose or meaning, separate yourself from historical limitations – there you will find the essence of true art, religion and science.” 

And this is possibly the bases for Ando's Row House which was constructed in 1976, a concept design, based off the Nagaya style, but rather than wood and paper, brutally formed concrete slabs encased and protective, but open to natures encroachment – without windows, it becomes an inner world that is both separated and connected to the natural world. Accepting and rejecting its presence simultaneously.  It has no heating or electricity, to live there one would be shielded from the outside whilst knowing that the raw elements of nature's indifference, as some roofing of this sculptural inspired home are open to the environment, in what Ando viewed, would assist in strengthening the human resolve. Knowing the harshness of life whilst being withdrawn from it, while at the same time also seeing the softness of its existence.  Its value which is eternal."

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From:  "MONUMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE AND CREATORS OF THE TRANSCENDENCE: TADAO ANDO (PART 1)"

(A.Glass February 11th, 2019)