Design Language and Architectural Characteristics of the Chichu Art Museum Designed by Tadao Ando

Purpose: Tadao Ando’s architecture maximizes spatial experiences by his design solutions created in the relationship among surrounding nature, human, and architecture. The Chichu Art Museum is considered as one of his best masterpieces that concentrate Tadao Ando’s design philosophy. This research focuses on the analysis of architectural characteristics and aesthetics of the Chichu Art Museum by examining how his common design languages are used and how differentiated characteristic enhances the value of the Chichu Art Museum. It will be a precedent research on the design guideline for museums and buildings made in the underground. Method: This research is to review precedent theses on Tadao Ando’s design philosophy & theory and his museum projects, and to figure out the architectural design languages and characteristic of the Chichu Art Museum by visiting Tadao Ando’s museums, studying various local materials, and interviewing with the museum staffs. Result: The Chichu Art Museum shows Tadao Ando’s universal design languages such as a harmony with the surrounding nature, blending of western modern architecture and eastern traditional architecture, composition of spaces emphasizing geometrical axis and shape, marvelous spaces developed by the exposed concrete and light, and providing various spatial experiences created by phenomenological architectural concept. The distinctive feature is that it maximizes the harmony with surrounding nature by placing all spaces in the underground and blending into the earth. It creates dramatic scenes with contrast of light by incorporating natural light in the underground spaces including courtyards and exhibition halls. Moreover, it has a strong organic relationship between architecture and art works by specifically designing the optimized spaces for artists who use light as a crucial element in their works such as Walter de Maria, James Turrell, and Claude Monet.