Tadao Ando, a self-taught architect with no formal training, has become synonymous with minimalist yet profound architectural expressions. In the late 1970s, Japan underwent rapid urbanization, leading to dense, cluttered environments where space was a precious commodity. Amid this context, Ando’s Row House in Sumiyoshi (also known as the Azuma House, 1976) is a bold architectural experiment. This unassuming concrete structure reshaped residential typologies and established Ando’s signature style: the fusion of raw materiality and the philosophical pursuit of spatial purity.
Row House Technical Information
- Architects1-5: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
- Location: Sumiyoshi District, Osaka, Japan
- Topics: Concrete in Architecture
- Area: 64.70 m2
- Project Year: 1975 – 1976
- Photographs: © Hiromitsu Morimoto, © Mitsumasa Fujitsuka, © Dacian Groza, Flickr User
I don’t believe architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature in the guise of sunlight and wind speak.
– Tadao Ando 6
Row House Photographs
Tadao Ando and the Essence of Brutalist Residential Design
The Row House in Sumiyoshi is one of Ando’s earliest works, and it marked a departure from traditional Japanese architecture. It reflects his sensitivity to the environment, respect for the spatial experience, and a commitment to creating structures that encourage deeper reflection. The house presents itself as a fortress-like volume in a dense, urban landscape, a project that compels architects to rethink the role of residential architecture in chaotic environments.
The Azuma House is situated in the congested residential district of Sumiyoshi, Osaka, where space is at a premium. The site is narrow and deep, measuring approximately 57 square meters, a challenge that Ando approached with his characteristic boldness. Instead of attempting to blend into the surroundings, Ando chose to create a monolithic structure that stands apart from the typical wooden houses around it. This decision can be seen as a deliberate confrontation with its context—a stark concrete box in a sea of traditional dwellings.
Ando’s design confronts the urban condition by turning inward, isolating itself from the disorder of the surrounding environment. The house has no windows facing the street, its façade revealing nothing but smooth, exposed concrete. This inward focus not only provides privacy in a dense neighborhood but also creates a contemplative space that invites introspection, where the architecture becomes a refuge from the chaos of the city. The design responds to the site with defiance, choosing to create a personal and intimate interior world.
The Interplay of Concrete and Void: A Spatial Exploration
At the heart of the Azuma House lies the delicate balance between mass and void, concrete and light. Ando’s mastery of raw concrete is on full display here. The rough, unadorned material creates a sense of weight and permanence, yet the introduction of the courtyard—a void cut through the center of the house—allows light, air, and the elements to soften the austere atmosphere. The void serves not only as a visual relief but as a bridge between nature and built form, embodying Ando’s pursuit of harmony between the two.
The central courtyard is arguably the house’s most defining feature. By placing this open-air space in the middle of the structure, Ando redefines the experience of living in a narrow urban lot. Light pours into the living spaces from above, casting shadows that shift throughout the day, and the void becomes a medium through which the passage of time is felt. Rain, wind, and sunlight all become part of the architectural experience. This interplay of elements transforms the space from merely a shelter into an environment where nature is both invited and controlled, creating a dynamic tension that defines the house’s spatial experience.
Minimalism and Experience: A Study in Spatial Austerity
The interior of the Azuma House follows a rigid linear layout, divided into three equal sections: the living space, the central courtyard, and the sleeping quarters. This organizational logic reflects Ando’s minimalist philosophy, where every element serves a purpose, and excess is stripped away. The house is devoid of decorative elements; instead, it invites its inhabitants to engage directly with the rawness of the materials and the simplicity of the design.
Ando’s architecture is known for forcing occupants to interact with their surroundings. The Azuma House is no exception. The minimalistic interior demands a heightened awareness of one’s spatial experience. Movement through the house is intentional, as crossing the courtyard becomes a ritualistic act—exposing oneself briefly to the elements before reentering the protective shell of the house. This intentional friction between inside and outside, between the harshness of the concrete and the warmth of daily life, creates a living environment that is as much about introspection as it is about shelter.
By reducing the house to its essential elements—concrete walls, an open sky, and the sound of footsteps on hard floors—Ando promotes a lifestyle of simplicity and mindfulness. The house forces its inhabitants to adapt, to live with less, and to embrace the beauty of restraint.
Legacy and Influence on Contemporary Architecture
The Row House in Sumiyoshi not only cemented Ando’s reputation as a master of minimalism and spatial manipulation but also influenced a generation of architects around the world. This project demonstrated that architecture could transcend its function as a mere dwelling and become a form of personal expression, a space where inhabitants are invited to reflect on the relationship between themselves and their environment.
Ando’s use of concrete, typically associated with brutalist architecture, becomes poetic in the Azuma House. It is not about oppression but about protection, sheltering its inhabitants while simultaneously engaging them with nature through the courtyard. The interplay between mass and void, light and shadow, interior and exterior—these are principles that continue to inspire contemporary architects who seek to create architecture that balances material honesty with a deeply philosophical approach.
Today, the Row House in Sumiyoshi remains relevant in discussions about urban living, sustainability, and human-centered design. It challenges architects to think critically about how we can create spaces that are not only efficient in dense environments but also spiritually enriching. The Azuma House stands as a testament to the enduring power of architecture that is as much about creating space as it is about shaping human experience.
Row House Plans
Row House Image Gallery
About Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando is a renowned Japanese architect known for his minimalist designs that blend raw concrete with elements of nature. A self-taught architect, Ando’s work is deeply influenced by traditional Japanese aesthetics, and he often emphasizes the interplay of light, shadow, and space. His designs, such as the Row House in Sumiyoshi and the Church of Light, are celebrated for their philosophical depth, spatial purity, and the way they engage with the natural environment. Ando has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1995.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Site Area: 57.3 square meters
- Building Area: 33.69 square meters
- Total Floor Area: 64.7 square meters
- Structure: Reinforced concrete
- Floors: 2
- Frampton, Kenneth. Tadao Ando: Buildings, Projects, Writings. The Monacelli Press, 1990.
- Jodidio, Philip and Tadao Ando. Ando: Complete Works 1975-Today. Taschen, 2008.
