
The first post in what I hope to be a series from my recent trip to Japan.
I hope for this series to be available as a guide to a few places to visit and a few things to do! (though it is very far from a complete list!)
First I would like to share with you my visit to the Kyoto Garden of Fine Arts, by the master of concrete, Tadao Ando.
Personally, Ando’s work has been an amazing influence, such refined works from a man who had previously worked as a truck driver, a boxer and had no formal training.
You will more often than not hear Ando recognised for his use of concrete, a work of fine craftsmanship.
The Garden of Fine Art situated North of Japan’s traditional capital Kyoto and not far from the Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Gardens, is an ‘open air gallery.’ Though perhaps the words ‘garden’ and even ‘gallery’ are open to interpretation?
The garden’s classical works have been recreated on large weatherproof ceramic plates in a modern concrete ‘garden.’
Though the real interest for me was held in the minimalist concrete walkways and walls rather than the works themselves.
The garden, completed in 1990 uses modern materials of concrete and glass yet holds traditional works of art, and also responds to the serenity of a traditional Japanese garden. Two concrete ramps intertwine their way down into the lower parts of the garden, taking the visitor on a journey through large concrete volumes that serve as separating the space, creating voids whilst also serving as a surface for the works themselves.
Another main feature of the garden is the horizontal and vertical walls and pools of water that flow from the top most level down through the garden whilst the constant sound of falling water serves as soft background ambience.


The Main Entrance (and you can just see Monet’s water lillies under the surface.)


Window looking outside the garden


There are many water features that run horizontally, vertically, horizontally again like a maze through the garden, and also add a gentle background noise when walking through.

An intersection of elements that span through the entire building. (and a hint of the works contained.)

And a Detail of the same intersection.

In, looking out, this shot also shows the looping path that winds its way down to the bottom of the open garden.

Another shot of the ramp continuing down, you can see the element that goes through the wall (top right, and center)

A shot of the different levels and voids.

Openings revealing the works on the wall behind them.


Abrupt intersection and viewing point.

And Looking back, a good demonstration of the shear volumes dividing the space.

Another shot of the horizontal water and the path. Also hints of the botanical gardens behind.


Some photos of the recreated works themselves.
Garden of Fine Arts (Kyoto Fruits Toban Meiga no Niwa)
Shimogamo Hangicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823. Tel. 075-724-2188
Hrs. 9:00-17:00 (enter by 16:30). Closed Dec. 28- Jan 4.
100 yen (50 yen in case of combination ticket with Kyoto Botanical Garden)
The fastest way to get here from Kyoto Station or Hankyu Karasuma is to take the subway to Kitayama Station.









This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
Howdy very cool web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m satisfied to seek out numerous useful info here in the submit, we need work out extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing.
Wow! Thank you! I continually wanted to write on my site something like that. Can I include a part of your post to my blog?
Every after inside a although we decide on blogs that we study. Listed beneath are the most recent web sites that we pick
certainly like your web-site however you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the reality however I will definitely come back again.
Hey there! I know this is sort of off-topic, but I had figured I would ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest post a blog post or vice-versa? My site goes over lots of the same subjects as yours, and that I think we could greatly benefit from one another. If you just happen to be interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!
thank you163
It¡¦s actually a cool and helpful piece of information. I am happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
You made a few fine points there. I did a search on the topic and found mainly persons will agree with your blog.
please check out the web-sites we stick to, like this one, because it represents our picks from the web
I actually wanted to post a simple note to express gratitude to you for these fabulous instructions you are showing at this site. My time-consuming internet search has at the end of the day been recognized with awesome know-how to write about with my pals. I would admit that many of us website visitors actually are definitely fortunate to exist in a really good place with very many marvellous individuals with beneficial suggestions. I feel extremely lucky to have come across your webpages and look forward to really more awesome minutes reading here. Thank you once more for everything.
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours as of late, yet I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is lovely worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content material as you did, the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¡¦ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great site.
I carry on listening to the rumor speak about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?
Excellent weblog here! Also your website rather a lot up fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I get your associate link to your host? I desire my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
you’re actually a just right webmaster. The site loading speed is incredible. It sort of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a fantastic activity in this topic!
Thank you for another informative blog. The place else could I am getting that kind of information written in such an ideal way? I have a venture that I’m just now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info.
thank you3
fantastic put up, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector don’t realize this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
Great ¡V I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task..
What i do not realize is actually how you are now not really a lot more neatly-favored than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You know therefore significantly on the subject of this subject, made me in my view imagine it from numerous various angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be involved except it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. At all times maintain it up!
thank you16
fantastic points altogether, you simply won a brand new reader. What may you recommend in regards to your submit that you made a few days ago? Any certain?
thank you t
What i do not realize is in fact how you’re no longer actually a lot more neatly-preferred than you might be now. You’re so intelligent. You realize thus considerably in the case of this topic, made me in my view imagine it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women are not interested unless it’s something to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. At all times handle it up!
I have recently started a web site, the information you provide on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Hey, you used to write magnificent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
thanki
the time to read or take a look at the material or web pages we’ve linked to beneath the
I like this weblog so much, saved to fav. “Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man.” by Norman Cousins.
please stop by the sites we follow, which includes this 1, as it represents our picks through the web
Merely a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great design .
here are some links to internet sites that we link to simply because we assume they are worth visiting
I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.
usually posts some extremely interesting stuff like this. If you are new to this site
Here is an excellent Weblog You may Find Intriguing that we Encourage You
Good write-up, I¡¦m regular visitor of one¡¦s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Great amazing things here. I¡¦m very happy to peer your post. Thanks a lot and i am having a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
I will immediately grasp your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly permit me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
I would like to show my appreciation to you for rescuing me from this type of scenario. Just after searching throughout the internet and getting techniques which were not beneficial, I thought my entire life was done. Living minus the answers to the issues you have fixed by way of your article is a crucial case, and ones that could have badly affected my career if I hadn’t encountered your website. Your personal understanding and kindness in dealing with all things was helpful. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a solution like this. I’m able to now look forward to my future. Thanks for your time so much for this reliable and sensible help. I won’t think twice to refer the blog to anyone who should have guidelines on this issue.
Normally I don’t learn post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, very great article.
thank you11
thank you12r
Thank you for the auspiciousgood writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to farmore added agreeable from you! By the wayHowever, how cancould we communicate?
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
Here are several of the web-sites we advise for our visitors
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
As soon as I discovered this web site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
check beneath, are some entirely unrelated internet sites to ours, having said that, they are most trustworthy sources that we use