Tadao Ando, The Colours of Light

Tadao Ando, The Colours of Light is the momentous result of 10 years' collaboration between the established English photographer Richard Pare and Japan's leading architect, Tadao Ando (b.1941).

This book includes 27 of Ando's buildings, completed over the spectrum of the last 15 years. It includes the notable Kidosaki House of 1986 in Tokyo; the Church on the Water of 1988 in Hokkaido; and the Meditation Space for UNESCO of 1995 in Paris. Pare's images break with previous conventions of architectural representation: rather than producing literal portraits, he distils the 'essence' of Ando's buildings, with acute sensitivity to the subtle effects of natural light on architecture.

The eclectic photographic portfolio is complemented by Tom Heneghanan's accessible introductory essay and Ando's own preface. Personal drawings by Ando accompany the detailed description of each project.

The Colours of Light approaches Ando's work from an entirely different angle to most monographs about the architect. This unique volume explores the atmosphere and life of his spaces through their shade and light: a technique which Ando himself has applauded.