
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.









Every as soon as inside a although we opt for blogs that we read. Listed beneath are the newest web pages that we pick
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article authorarticle writerauthorwriter for your siteweblogblog. You have some really greatgood postsarticles and I believethinkfeel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely lovereally likelove to write some materialarticlescontent for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please sendblastshoot me an e-mailemail if interested. RegardsKudosCheersThank youMany thanksThanks!
thank you14
Every when inside a when we select blogs that we study. Listed below would be the most current web pages that we opt for
thank you7
check beneath, are some completely unrelated web-sites to ours, however, they’re most trustworthy sources that we use
thank you3
here are some hyperlinks to sites that we link to mainly because we feel they may be worth visiting
Every after in a though we select blogs that we study. Listed below would be the most current web-sites that we opt for
just beneath, are various totally not related sites to ours, nonetheless, they may be certainly really worth going over
Thanks for sharing your thoughts onabout meta_keyword. Regards
just beneath, are many completely not connected websites to ours, nonetheless, they may be surely really worth going over
I want to convey my respect for your generosity giving support to individuals that require guidance on this particular concern. Your very own dedication to getting the solution all over ended up being extremely effective and have usually enabled many people just like me to realize their endeavors. Your own helpful publication indicates much a person like me and even further to my peers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.
hello!,I love your writing so so much! share we keep in touch extra approximately your post on AOL? I need an expert on this area to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to peer you.
excellent points altogether, you just gained a emblem new reader. What might you suggest in regards to your put up that you made a few days ago? Any certain?
hey there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the website a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Ensure that you update this again soon..
Wonderful work! This is the kind of info that are meant to be shared across the internet. Shame on the seek engines for no longer positioning this post upper! Come on over and consult with my web site . Thank you =)
I¡¦ll immediately grasp your rss as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
check below, are some absolutely unrelated sites to ours, however, they’re most trustworthy sources that we use
Hello. splendid job. I did not imagine this. This is a impressive story. Thanks!
I really appreciate this post. I¡¦ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
Wow, wonderful blog structure! How long have you been blogging for? you made running a blog glance easy. The entire look of your site is great, let alone the content!
certainly like your website however you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth however I¡¦ll definitely come again again.
There is apparently a lot to identify about this. I feel you made certain nice points in features also.
Very goodAmazingAwesomeSuperbWonderfulFantasticExcellentGreat blog! Do you have any recommendationshintstips and hintshelpful hintssuggestionstips for aspiring writers? I’m planninghoping to start my own websitesiteblog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you proposeadvisesuggestrecommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choicesoptions out there that I’m totallycompletely confusedoverwhelmed .. Any recommendationssuggestionsideastips? Thanks a lotBless youKudosAppreciate itCheersThank youMany thanksThanks!
that will be the finish of this write-up. Here you will find some sites that we think you will enjoy, just click the links over
My husband and i were cheerful when Raymond managed to carry out his research through the ideas he gained when using the web site. It’s not at all simplistic to just find yourself releasing tactics other folks may have been trying to sell. Therefore we fully understand we now have the website owner to thank for that. The entire explanations you have made, the straightforward blog navigation, the relationships you can make it easier to engender – it is all fantastic, and it’s aiding our son in addition to the family reason why this situation is amusing, which is seriously essential. Many thanks for the whole thing!
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated information, nonetheless really worth taking a appear, whoa did one discover about Mid East has got more problerms at the same time
Thank you a lot for providing individuals with such a special chance to check tips from this website. It’s usually very pleasing and jam-packed with fun for me personally and my office colleagues to visit your blog at minimum thrice in one week to find out the fresh guides you will have. And indeed, we’re usually fulfilled with your excellent secrets served by you. Certain two facts on this page are definitely the very best I’ve had.
What i don’t realize is in reality how you’re no longer actually much more smartly-preferred than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly in relation to this matter, produced me personally imagine it from so many various angles. Its like men and women aren’t involved except it is one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs great. All the time take care of it up!
My brother recommended I might like this website. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
I have been reading out a few of your posts and it’s pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your website.
just beneath, are various absolutely not associated web-sites to ours, however, they may be surely worth going over
one of our guests just lately encouraged the following website
here are some links to internet sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting
Sites of interest we’ve a link to
I am sure this articlepostpiece of writingparagraph has touched all the internet userspeopleviewersvisitors, its really really nicepleasantgoodfastidious articlepostpiece of writingparagraph on building up new blogweblogwebpagewebsiteweb site.
thank you14
thank you21
Here is a superb Weblog You might Obtain Fascinating that we Encourage You
I would like to point out my passion for your kindness giving support to those people that absolutely need assistance with this study. Your very own commitment to getting the solution all around had become wonderfully informative and have truly enabled men and women like me to reach their ambitions. This invaluable help entails so much to me and much more to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.
thank you15
we came across a cool web-site that you just may get pleasure from. Take a look when you want
I got this websiteweb sitesiteweb page from my friendpalbuddy who toldinformedshared with me regardingconcerningabouton the topic of this websiteweb sitesiteweb page and nowat the moment this time I am visitingbrowsing this websiteweb sitesiteweb page and reading very informative articlespostsarticles or reviewscontent hereat this placeat this time.
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine several unrelated information, nevertheless truly really worth taking a search, whoa did 1 discover about Mid East has got more problerms also
This articlepostpiece of writingparagraph is reallyactuallyin facttrulygenuinely a nicepleasantgoodfastidious one it helpsassists new internetwebnetthe web userspeopleviewersvisitors, who are wishing forin favor of blogging.
thank you8
thank you8
Here is a superb Weblog You may Locate Interesting that we Encourage You
just beneath, are many absolutely not related sites to ours, nonetheless, they may be certainly worth going over