What began in 1985 as a plan for a children's camp on the Japanese island of Naoshima has grown to become an amazing arts complex, privately funded by the Benesse Corporation. Arts writer Jodidio tells the story of this blossoming and the creation of the museums and other buildings by architect Tadao Ando. The designs and beautiful photographs illustrate the philosophy of the architecture blending into the landscape. The book charts the building process beginning in 1988 and continuing until 2006. In keeping with the goal of leaving the site as natural as possible, many of the buildings are sunk into the ground with only skylights peeking out. There are also photographs of other Ando buildings, some made in collaboration with other artists. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Tadao Ando is the most revered Japanese architect at work today. Beloved and admired for his powerful, meditative spaces and his sensual and yet refined use of the materials of the modern trade-wood, steel, concrete, glass-Ando's work resonates with profound intelligence, unpretentious elegance, and an almost palpable sense of harmony. Tadao Ando at Naoshima: Art, Architecture, Nature showcases the latest work in an on going process of building by Tadao Ando at the acclaimed Naoshima Island Art Complex. Featured here is Ando's recently completed Chichu Art Museum, an underground facility built on the small island in the Inland Sea of Japan. With respect for the landscape and the traditional use of the land as terraced salt fields, Ando adapted the architecture to the topography, by burying much of the complex volume below the ground. Ando's Naoshima is a stunning demonstration of architectural virtuosity.
