WALKING TOUR [2019.02] View of Tadao Ando's Azuma House and it's Vicinity

That “concrete box” behind me is what brought Japanese architect Tadao Ando to public attention.
When it was completed in 1976 , the Azuma House, aka. the Sumiyoshi Rowhouse surprised many people, but more in the Western hemisphere.

Not only did it not have any windows to the outside, but there was also an open courtyard in the middle of its rectangular plan that exposed the inhabitants to the weather every time they wanted to access the living room, the bedroom, the kitchen and even the bathroom.
Each room faced the center courtyard and it was there they experienced #nature and the passage of time

It was also this particular layout that also allowed each room to have complete privacy from one another.

With only 150mm of concrete with no insulation or H.V.A.C. , most people would find this type of living inhabitable, but the architect explained that the Japanese are used to living with the “rhythms of nature.”

I’ve seen the house so many times in numerous architectural publications that seeing this house in person was like seeing your childhood idol.

It was the last destination before heading back to the airport and it was very much like the cherry on top on this Osaka visit!

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