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Michele De Lucchi

Guest Editor 2018

Tadao Ando, Church in Hiroo

Published in Domus 1023, April 2018. The 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, Tokyo, is based on the geometric figure of the isosceles triangle.

Tadao Ando, 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, Tokyo. Photo Shigeo Ogawa

Stone: Origins and Future in Architecture

On June 12 and 13, 2025, IUAV University of Venice will host "Stone is…," an international forum entirely dedicated to natural stone. Organized by PNA, this event aims to thoroughly explore the material's enduring value and sustainability, featuring insights from internationally renowned speakers.

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You can read the full article in Domus April 2018 issue.

Ando exacerbates the perspective with converging walls to focus the attention on the Christian symbol. Floors and ceilings treated with a glossy finish reflect the light in a beam that continues in space.

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In this gallery: Planimetric drawings of the three seminal churches in Tadao Ando’s quest to create a sense of pure space in the design of religious buildings. From left. The spiritual experience of the Church on the Water in Tomamu, on the plateau of Hokkaido, 1988, is heightened by the pond before it; its depth was studied so that the wind or just a slight breeze will ripple the water, creating slight movement and a pleasant sound. The Church of the Light in Ibaraki, a suburban city of Osaka, 1989, bases its composition on the rapport with this natural element to create a mystical space. The 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, in the city of Tokyo, 2014, is based on the geometric figure of the isosceles triangle, the symbol of the Trinity and the form that generates focus for contemplation
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In this gallery: Planimetric drawings of the three seminal churches in Tadao Ando’s quest to create a sense of pure space in the design of religious buildings. From left. The spiritual experience of the Church on the Water in Tomamu, on the plateau of Hokkaido, 1988, is heightened by the pond before it; its depth was studied so that the wind or just a slight breeze will ripple the water, creating slight movement and a pleasant sound. The Church of the Light in Ibaraki, a suburban city of Osaka, 1989, bases its composition on the rapport with this natural element to create a mystical space. The 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, in the city of Tokyo, 2014, is based on the geometric figure of the isosceles triangle, the symbol of the Trinity and the form that generates focus for contemplation
In this gallery: Planimetric drawings of the three seminal churches in Tadao Ando’s quest to create a sense of pure space in the design of religious buildings. From left. The spiritual experience of the Church on the Water in Tomamu, on the plateau of Hokkaido, 1988, is heightened by the pond before it; its depth was studied so that the wind or just a slight breeze will ripple the water, creating slight movement and a pleasant sound. The Church of the Light in Ibaraki, a suburban city of Osaka, 1989, bases its composition on the rapport with this natural element to create a mystical space. The 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, in the city of Tokyo, 2014, is based on the geometric figure of the isosceles triangle, the symbol of the Trinity and the form that generates focus for contemplation
In this gallery: Planimetric drawings of the three seminal churches in Tadao Ando’s quest to create a sense of pure space in the design of religious buildings. From left. The spiritual experience of the Church on the Water in Tomamu, on the plateau of Hokkaido, 1988, is heightened by the pond before it; its depth was studied so that the wind or just a slight breeze will ripple the water, creating slight movement and a pleasant sound. The Church of the Light in Ibaraki, a suburban city of Osaka, 1989, bases its composition on the rapport with this natural element to create a mystical space. The 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, in the city of Tokyo, 2014, is based on the geometric figure of the isosceles triangle, the symbol of the Trinity and the form that generates focus for contemplation

Tadao Ando, Chiesa sull’acqua, Tomamu, 1988

Tadao Ando, La Chiesa della luce, Ibaraki, 1989

Tadao Ando, La Chiesa di Cristo del XXI secolo, Hiroo, 2014
5 lessons from Tadao Ando: We retrace the Japanese architect’s career through excerpts from the Domus historical archives. They teach us lessons about his coherence, rigour and determination.

Image on top: Tadao Ando, 21st Century Christ Church in Hiroo, Tokyo. Photo Shigeo Ogawa

Seamless design, ECLISSE steps outdoors

ECLISSE introduces Syntesis Areo Outdoor, extending the sleekness of its flush-to-wall system to exterior applications. Robust and adaptable, it reimagines technical access points as integrated design features, ensuring a continuous aesthetic flow between interior and exterior spaces.

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