Tadao Ando is an award-winning architect from Japan, internationally renowned for his ingeniously designed, modern structures. His style tends to incorporate the beauty of light and nature, creating a breathtaking combination found in his thoughtful modern house designs. Examples like the monolithic Underwater House or the delightfully nostalgic Milk Clever House show his innovativeness in building design mixed with ruggedness and simplicity. Here is a selection of Tadao Ando’s best house designs. These Are Notable Examples of Tadao Ando's House Designs
One of Tadao Ando’s most celebrated house designs, That House in Kobe, keeps a low profile from the outside, yet speaks volumes with its expansive interiors lit by a carefully planned expanse of light. The structure, built in the 1990s, is based around a triangular courtyard that serves to channel natural light into the home and opens it up to the surrounding views of a large park. With this exacting eye for detail in Ando’s modern house design, That House in Kobe has earned its place in the list of Top 10 Art Deco Houses.That House in Kobe By Tadao Ando & Associates
Another of Tadao Ando’s house designs, the FreshHouse, is a fantastically experimental composition of living space, in which the idea of the courtyard home is taken to new extremes. Clean lines are punctuated by openings to the outdoors, particularly around the patio, which serves as a perfect combination of interior spaces and exterior elements. Every area of the home is an exercise in precision and a celebration of natural light, making FreshHouse one of Tadao Ando’s signature work.FreshHouse By Tadao Ando & Associates
The House in Monterrey is a stunning example of modern house design that utilizes a box-frame structure interlaced with small dimensions of metal detailing. The exterior of the house is very unobtrusive, avoiding the need for large armored frames like many contemporary Art Deco houses. The interior follows a more traditional approach and takes advantage of the naturally-occurring sunlight, giving the home a calming atmosphere.House in Monterrey by Tadao Ando & Associates
The Spanish-style Gravina House was designed by Tadao Ando & Associates for private clients in Palma de Mallorca. The exterior of the house boasts an open design with large doors that maximize the flow of natural light. Internally, the design focuses on the idea of a central patio, which allows for an array of Spanish-inspired décor throughout the home. The structure's rectangular shape embodies the minimalist modern house design that Tadao Ando is well-known for.Gravina House By Tadao Ando & Associates
One thing that stands out in Tadao Ando's house designs is the attention his structures pay to the use of light and the environment around them. The result of his thoughtful use of lighting can be seen in the Lightscapes of his homes, which create beautiful angles of light in his designs. In the Gravina House, for example, this is put into effect by using a variety of glass and metal screens, allowing the designer to control precisely the source and quality of light that enters the home.The Lightscapes of Tadao Ando’s Architecture
The Stone House, built by Tadao Ando & Associates for a family in Japan, stands out for its elegant Deruta-style stone walls. Drawing from the traditional Japanese culture, which favored the use of stone as a walling material, Ando’s stunning two-story design is both rustic and modern, making use of clean lines and open-style courtyards. This modern house design is carefully planned out in order to maximize the effect of natural light and take full advantage of the surrounding landscape.Stone House By Tadao Ando & Associates
The Milk Clever House by Tadao Ando & Associates is a marvel of modern architecture. The house is built from two symmetrically curved surfaces, in the style of an old-fashioned milk bottle house, giving the structure its unique name. The design of the home combines light and airy interiors, wooden frames and glass walls to create a light-filled space that is open and welcoming, making it one of the most unique house designs by Ando.The Milk Clever House by Tadao Ando & Associates
The Jodorowsky Residence is a unique house design of Tadao Ando’s, created for a private client in Chile. The exterior follows a classic Art Deco style, with exposed concrete facades and glass walls, while the interior introduces contemporary modern design elements like smooth surface floors and metal detailing. Along with these features, the home also incorporates a garden courtyard to bring in extra light and brighten up the home’s atmosphere.Jodorowsky Residence By Tadao Ando
Church of the Light, Tadao Ando’s modern house design, stands out for its conceptual simplicity and energy-efficient building materials. The structure makes full use of natural light, with a glass walled façade admitting sunlight into the sanctuary while the side windows are carefully angled to protect from sunlight in summers and to preserve heat in winters. This masterful implementation of Ando’s style enhances the home’s aesthetic and adds to its overall ambience.Church of the Light by Tadao Ando
One of the most ambitious house designs by Tadao Ando is the Rokko Housing I, an apartment block in Kobe built for the Rokko Housing Corporation. The building consists of two towers, structured in a 3-story style, with concrete walls and light niches that provide contrasting colors to its simple interior. The layout of the building contains an unusually long staircase, making use of the oddly shaped area. Its distinctive curves and protruding balconies make the structure a feature of note amongst other Art Deco houses.Rokko Housing I By Tadao Ando