simone bossi captures the concrete austerity of tadao ando's paris meditation space

tadao ando’s work is often characterized by his use of smooth concrete, simple geometric volumes, and natural components such as light and water. through architecture, ando aims to curate an intensity of the physical experience. in 1995, the architect brought his vision to france with the introduction of his renowned unesco meditation space in paris, a concrete cylindrical structure commissioned in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 1946 and supported by numerous japanese donors. the volume is situated atop a plinth made from granite which had been once exposed to radiation during the 1945 bombing of hiroshima, and was later decontaminated and integrated into the meditative project.

this now historic work has been revitalized through the lens of simone bossi, a photographer with an architectural background based in paris and milan.

all images © simone bossi photographer

in his latest series, simone bossi captures the quiet austerity and clean, raw material of ando’s cylindrical form. the desaturated, monochrome palette enhances the spirit of the stone volume, often reducing the structure to an abstracted field to express the rhythmic surface indentations in the stone. through careful composition, bossi demonstrates the layering of the minimal forms, while respecting the architect’s care for light with soft, ambient shadows. in a 2001 interview with tadao ando, the architect described his work: ‘walls are the most basic elements of architecture, and in all my works, light is an important factor. the primary reason is to create a place for the individual, a zone for oneself within society. it’s very difficult to explain or describe my style, I hope the answer will come out of the interview.’

project info:

photographer: simone bossi

project title: meditation space

architect: tadao ando

location: paris, france

project year: 1995