Architect:

Tadao Ando

Completion:

1992

Description:

This first American commission by the Japanese architect is tucked into a remote corner of the Art Institute's Asian collection. Entering through glass doors, the dark space is split into two areas: the first is populated by 16 partial-height columns, the second is an open space with glass cases along two walls (enclosing Japanese screens) and a large bench near the third wall.

The room is one of the most tranquil and meditative spaces in all of Chicago, helped by the extremely comfortable, Ando-designed wood bench. The columns that one must walk through set up shifting views of the space, an idea related to the screens themselves, which are unfortunately kept behind glass so a 360-degree experience of them is impossible.

Images:

Image found here

Address:

The Art Institute of Chicago

111 South Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60603

312.443.3600

Map/Directions/Info:

The gallery is located at the far south end of the Asian wing (gallery 109 on this map) of The Art Institute, which is located at 111 South Michigan Avenue, in Grant Park at the eastern end of Adams.

Train: Brown, Green, or Orange Lines to Adams; Red Line to Monroe or Jackson

Bus: Numerous buses travel along Michigan Avenue, including 1,3,4,6,7,14,126,127,145,147,151

Visit the museum web site for opening hours.

Other buildings by architect:

Collezione

Eychaner/Lee House

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Morimoto NYC

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts

Links:

Art Instiute of Chicago