Senior members of Arada’s Design Department meet with renowned architect Tadao Ando in Japan
News: 23 August 2024
Arada’s Chief Architectural Officer, Elie Mrad, and a senior delegation met with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando in Osaka on 26 June. The insightful 90-minute meeting covered topics significant to Ando that included his ongoing collaborations with Arada, his current projects, and his perspective on the evolution of Japanese cities. Senior Business Development Director Rosa Piro also joined Mrad, Design Manager Nissa El Zeinaty, and Associate Design Director Abdel Rahman Moussa.
The meeting continued Mrad’s long-standing admiration of Tadao Ando’s work, which began during his university years and was later cemented by a visit to the architect’s inspirational Church of Light near Osaka. This affinity ultimately led to Arada commissioning Ando to design two transformative and landmark projects in the UAE – Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah and il teatro performing arts centre. During the session, Tadao Ando expressed keen interest and went through detailed printouts covering the progress of both projects.
He discussed potential timelines and client interest in Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah – Arada’s luxury residential project in Dubai that marks the architect’s debut in the region. The project seamlessly blends Ando’s signature concrete aesthetic with Armani’s elegant interiors, reaffirming Arada’s commitment to bring together leading figures in their respective fields to create exceptional experiences. The meeting also delved into Ando’s relationship with Gorgio Armani, dating back to their collaboration on the Teatro Armani in Milan in 2001.
The collaboration between Arada and Ando has also extended to the design of il teatro, a new performing arts space at Sharjah megaproject Aljada. The project showcases Ando’s innovative approach to architecture and his ability to create spaces that inspire and engage. il teatro as a landmark also extends to the external, linking the outdoor area to the overall context of Aljada, thereby aligning with Arada’s ethos.
During the meeting, Ando explained the significance of Japanese culture in the evolution of Japanese cities and his projects, and urged the Arada team to visit the Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest that he designed in Osaka. The Arada team also embarked on visits to Ando’s iconic projects at his recommendation, including the Benesse House museum-hotel, the underground Chichu Art Museum, the Lee Ufan Museum, the Ando Museum on Naoshima Island, and the open-air Garden of Fine Arts in Kyoto. These visits allowed additional insight into Ando’s design philosophy, his mastery of light, mass, and shadow, and his signature interplay of nature, concrete, water, and movement.
