50 years ago, a self-taught japanese architect by the name of tadao ando established his own atelier. since then, ando ? who is now recognized as one of the world?s most famous contemporary architects ? has built projects across the globe, been featured in numerous exhibitions, and delivered countless lectures.

image © national archives of modern architecture, agency for cultural affairs, japan (also main image)
 
 
now, a new exhibition ? titled ?early drawings of tadao ando? ? showcases his early architectural materials, namely hand-drawn plans and sketches that date back to the 1970s. the featured projects include a number of his masterpieces in japan, such as the row house in sumiyoshi (1976), the koshino house (1981), rokko housing ? (1983), time?s ? (1984), the kidosaki house (1986), the church on the water (1988), and the church of the light (1989).
row house in sumiyoshi | detailed section drawing | pencil and ink on tracing paper
image © national archives of modern architecture, agency for cultural affairs, japan
 
 
according to the curator, the theme of the exhibition, ?autonomy and dialogue?, expresses the ideas and principles that motivated ando in the early stages of his profession. throughout his career, the architect sought to create spaces where people could develop ?personal autonomy? by finding and deepening one?s self through engaging in dialogue with things such as the city, nature, light, history, and culture.

row house in sumiyoshi | section...