Tadao Ando

Born in Osaka, Japan, Tadao Ando’s style is minimalistic and innovative, with a focus on functionality.

Acclaimed Japanese architect Tadao Ando (b. 1941) bases his work on a strong personal design philosophy that joins Japanese design traditions with modern Western expression.

Ando’s interest in architecture began at the age of 15 when he purchased a book of sketches by design pioneer, Le Corbusier. Today, Ando is still inspired by Le Corbusier and often evaluates his own projects relative to the modern master’s approach. Ando’s work is also strongly inspired by Danish design culture and the minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic philosophy. His work embodies the Japanese tradition of living simply and in harmony with nature – a cornerstone of the Scandinavian lifestyle.