In »Tadao Ando. Sketches, Drawings and Architecture,« published by Taschen, the exceptional Japanese architect Tadao Ando succeeds in reordering the everyday, bringing the visible into dialogue with the invisible, and opening up a perspective otherwise reserved for the creator—one that makes the genesis comprehensible, instead of merely releasing the finished result for consumption.
Over 750 sketches, drawings, models, and technical plans document Ando’s creative process over five decades—from his beginnings in the 1970s to his most recent projects. It’s not just about depicting objects or places, but about asking questions. What traces does humanity leave in nature? How do materials change over time? And what remains visible when we set aside the obvious and focus our attention on the hidden?
»Tadao Ando. Sketches, Drawings and Architecture« takes us on a quiet journey through forms, materials, and spaces of perception. Particularly insightful are those chapters where graphic representation itself becomes the focus as a means of architectural reflection: How does our view change through the choice of line or material? What role does light play when architecture is sketched? And to what extent does materiality determine our perception of space? Anyone looking for a quick answer here will hardly find one—after all, with a sketch, one is at the beginning of a process that only solidifies in its advanced stages. It is therefore primarily about setting aside expectations and engaging with Ando’s proposals—an exercise in devotion built into the work.
In the end, there is no defined plot, no clear conclusion; the book ends in an open field of possibilities. It challenges us to reflect on architecture, thought, and life—not as finished concepts, but as fluid experiences in relation to space, time, material, and the same environments that we shape and are shaped by. In this sense, »Tadao Ando. Sketches, Drawings and Architecture« is not a picture book—it is an invitation to renewed perception: a silent appeal to observe and comprehend.
For collectors and enthusiasts, the book also offers a sensual component: The binding, typography, and haptic experience harmonize in their aesthetic self-conception. It is an object that not only carries its content but embodies it. Those who engage with this type of literature will be rewarded with a work that resonates more deeply in consciousness than many quick publications—and in the best sense of the word: sustainable. [DM]
Tadao Ando. Sketches, Drawings & Architecture
Hardcover, 28 x 33.7 cm, 4.49 kg, 594 pages
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