THE TACTILE IMAGES OF TADAO ANDO'S ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

It investigates the observation that Ando’s work is often known through photographs and text, yet there is a generally perceived view of Ando’s architecture as being appealing to the body and senses. This dissertation thus hypothesizes that readers of Ando’s books are able to experience the haptic space by viewing the photographs and reading his text to gain an understanding of the space. As part of the investigation, the function of the images and text in creating the haptic experience is analysed.

This paper then questions the necessity of direct experience in his architecture as opposed to the widely published photographs and text used to allow readers to ‘experience’ his architecture. The idea of ‘feeling with eyes’ will be discussed in depth to shed light on the relation between spatial perception and imagery.