Tadao Ando - Japan
Museum of Literature
84, Yamanoi-cho, Himeji
1991 - 1996

The Museum of Literature Himeji is dedicated to the work of the Japanese philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji (1889-1960).
  The exhibition of the museum shows mainly material about writers of this region of Japan.
The building, which sits on a verdant hill not far from the city center, has a commanding view of the medieval castle of Himeji.
The composition of the main building consists of two intersecting cubical volumes, one of them is wrapped around by a large circular wall.
A shallow and cascading pool of water and an eye-catching wall of dark concrete blocks complete the ensemble.
The ample open spaces within the complex allow visitors to walk around and enjoy the presence of the water or the sight of the castle.
The Building has three floors above ground and a basment, which houses a lecture hall and further exhibition space.
In the interior, Tadao Ando employed a system of thin translucent screens which are used for various projections of photographic images.
Walking along the curved ramp in the interior shows the quality of concrete and light effects which are so famous in the work of Tadao Ando.
Some years later, Tadao Ando was commissioned to design an annex to the main building.