Ando in Shanghai

Poly Grand Theater, Shanghai, 2014

Tunnels carve through a concrete and glass box, adding an unexpected visual element to the Poly Grand Theater. An artificial lake on two sides of the building help cement its place as a Shanghai landmark, reflecting the oddly-shaped openings of the five ‘tubes’ that pierce the 602,000-square-foot building at odd angles to create a dynamic interior. Though the building bears an ordinary and even boring shape on the outside, its true shape is cylindrical, as if an explosion of internal creativity is concealed until you gain access to the interior.

Aurora Museum, Shanghai, China, 2013

Yet another private art collection is showcased within the six-story Aurora Museum in Shanghai, with Tadao Ando adding a modern section to a renovated historical building holding ancient Chinese treasures and artifacts. Featuring a glass curtain wall with clean and simple geometric lines, the addition utilizes reflecting pools as a transition between old and new. Ando’s section hosts exhibitions of more contemporary works of art.