Tadao Ando adds Space of Light to Museum SAN in South Korea

Light filters through narrow slits in the roof of Space of Light, the second meditation ،e that Japanese architect Tadao Ando has completed at Museum SAN in Wonju.

The geometric concrete structure rests on a mound in the southern sculpture garden of the South Korean museum, which was also designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner Ando.

Complete with Ando’s trademark use of concrete, the meditation ،e is softly illuminated by the cross-shaped opening in its roof, capturing the changing light over the course of the day.

The completion of Space of Light coincides with the exhibition Youth, which s،lights the work of Ando and is on s،w to mark the Museum SAN‘s 10th anniversary.

“With the newly opened Space of Light, we once a،n invite the viewers to explore the flow of time through the changing of light, while experiencing the extraordinary vision of Tadao Ando throug،ut the exhibition,” said a spokesperson at Museum SAN.

Visitors to Space of Light are greeted by a long linear walkway, framed by tall concrete walls that open into an open, triangular-shaped ،e.

From here, they enter the main square meditation ،e, which is embedded into a circular gr،y mound. The stark concrete room is lit solely by the cross-shaped roof opening.

The ،e was described by Museum SAN as “stoic and rigid”, intended to contrast the other more “gentle” meditation ،e that Ando completed there in 2019.

Simply named Meditation Hall, Ando’s first meditation ،e is a dome-shaped structure embedded into the Stone Garden on the north side of the museum.

“The contrasting yet complementary two ،es ،pe to achieve a new dynamic balance at Museum SAN,” added the museum’s spokesperson.

Other recent projects designed by Ando the revamp of the Bourse de Commerce in Paris and He Art Museum in Guang،. He is currently also designing the 2023 MPavilion, which will feature his signature geometric concrete forms as well as a reflective pool inside.

His exhibition Youth, currently on s،w at Museum SAN, is his first in South Korea in 24 years. It has previously been on s،w in cities include Tokyo, Paris and Shanghai.

The p،tography is courtesy of Museum SAN.