Undoubtedly one of the most singular characters in the world of contemporary architecture, self taught Japanese architect Tadao Ando yesterday received the first honorary degree from the Faculty of Architecture of the Università La Sapienza of Rome. Born in Osaka in 1941, Tadao Ando began his career as an architect with a long series of single family houses including the Tomishima house in Osaka and the Azuma house. He is also noted for his religious buildings such as the Church of Light in Osaka, the Chapel on the Water in Tomamu and the Temple on the Water on the Awajishima islands.
In Italy he has designed the Fabrica building for Benetton in Treviso, which opened as a centre for research and communication in 2000 and the Teatro Giorgio Armani in Milan which opened in 2001. Amongst the many awards that Tadao Ando has received is the Pritzker Award for architecture in 1996.
Japan Pavilion, Seville, Expo 92. Photo van der Vlugt & Claus, Domus 739/92
