Who Is Tadao Ando? The Pritzker Architect Attracting Celebrities (Such as Beyonce and Kanye) and Controversy

Some A-listers are content to dwell in low-key luxurious homes. But for others, living in a literal piece of art is the ultimate prize.

Such is the case with the work of Tadao Ando, the renowned Japanese architect whose brutalist modern designs have captivated celebrities.

Indeed, among Ando’s fans are JAY Z and Beyoncé. The power couple recently paid $200 million for a 30,000-square-foot Ando home in Malibu, CA. Though they set a record for the highest price paid for a home in California, the couple scored a discount from the original list price of $295 million.

Then there’s Kanye West (who goes by Ye), who paid more than $57 million for an Ando home, also in Malibu.

Ye’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, reportedly flew to Japan to meet with the architect to the stars to discuss plans for building a “spaceship-like” mansion in Palm Springs, CA.

So what is it about this architect who has celebrities entranced and reaching deep into their wallets? Read on for more information about Ando—and the controversy surrounding his work.

Who is Tadao Ando?

Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1941, Ando made his name designing minimalist concrete structures. He didn’t officially train as an architect and is mainly self-taught. Yet his signature style of clean lines and open spaces has earned him global recognition, including the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1995.

“Ando is a representative of the ‘star system,’ a small international group of architects that dominated elite architecture production in the 1990s and 2000s,” explains Jesús Vassallo, an associate professor of architecture at Rice University in Houston.

Ando’s rise to fame and concrete style

Ando’s fame stems from his ability to blend traditional Japanese aesthetics with modernist principles. His breakthrough came in 1976 with the “Row House in Sumiyoshi,” a striking concrete structure that established his reputation.

Indeed, Ando “is best known for his mastery of in situ concrete and the geometric abstraction of his buildings,” explains Vassallo. The architect’s prominent use of concrete creates a sense of weight and solidity while incorporating natural elements such as light, water, and greenery.

Ivan Meade, principal designer at Meade Group, adds that by using concrete in innovative ways, “Ando goes beyond structural functionality to manipulate light and shadow and create sculptural qualities, clean lines, and geometric precision.”

Bottom line: “Ando has revolutionized architecture as we know it,” declares Meade.

Why draws celebrities to Ando?

Photo by Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects 

Chalk an A-lister’s desire to work with Ando up to the three P’s he can provide: prestige, personalization, and privacy.

“Ando’s buildings are pieces of art—unique and inspiring structures—so it’s no wonder celebrities want a home that he designed,” says Cara Ameer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles.

And some famous folks live to make headlines with their choices.

“Many celebrities like a bold, contemporary style that makes a statement and is one of a kind—and Ando’s star factor adds to the value of any home that a celeb buys or has custom-built,” adds Ameer.

While it’s impossible to parse why the famous do what they do, Vassallo believes the Ando love comes from a sense of near unattainability.

“Ando’s popularity has to do with the degree of abstraction and simplicity, a type of radical aesthetic austerity that’s become the ultimate luxury item,” notes Vassallo.

Is Ando controversial?

Ando is celebrated worldwide, but his designs also stoke controversy.

“The industry has perceived repetitiveness and the prioritization of aesthetics over functionality in his designs,” says Meade.

Other criticism of Ando involves the coldness and sterility of his work, says Tony Mariotti, a real estate agent in Los Angeles and founder of RubyHome.

“It doesn’t help that he’s had no formal training. It makes him an easy target for his detractors,” adds Mariotti.

Vassallo points out that other heroes of modern architecture had the same background, including Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

“While Ando plays up the fact that he was more of a builder early on and has a background in boxing, he’s still by any measure a very gifted and professionally capable architect,” he says.

Of course, Ando can’t control who buys homes he’s designed—and the case of Ye certainly adds to the controversy.

“Ye had initially planned to renovate the property substantially, but between getting divorced from Kim and other work projects, this Ando beach house is just sitting vacant and deteriorating due to the elements,” says Ameer. “People see an abandoned home falling into disrepair, and it can have an unintended effect on Ando’s work and reputation.”

Mariotti favors what Ando has done with public works, but when it comes to Ando’s residential properties, he’s not a fan.

“I don’t want to live in something that looks like a fallout shelter,” says Mariotti.

How to achieve the design style of an Ando home

Alas, owning an actual Ando home is out of range for most mortals.

“Only the very top of the 1% can afford a house by him,” says Vassallo.

But if you like his modern boxy style, seek out slab construction, raw stone, and similar materials in your home design that can bring you closer to this look.

And luckily, anyone can visit Ando’s designs in the public realm. While many of Ando’s most iconic buildings are in Japan, other examples can be found in the United States, including the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, TX.