On the corner of Kenmare and Elizabeth Street in Manhattan’s Nolita, a striking new edifice of concrete and glass will soon rise from the pavement, reaching some seven stories up into the ever-changing New York skyline.
“I’ve been a fan of Ando since my teens, and perhaps most surprising was his playfulness, his mischievousness,” says Marcus Werner Hed, co-founder of London-based studio Pundersons Gardens, who traveled to Ando’s Osaka studio, and spent four days in the city, during which time he captured Ando’s most celebrated works and talked to the architect about his New York creation.
“I thought he’d be a very stern man, based on his buildings, which are very stern, even if they have an incredible, beautiful serenity to them,” adds the filmmaker. “Ando, however, loves clowning around; he is so much more of a playful, gentle and happy guy than you’d expect.”
“Perhaps most surprising was Ando's playfulness, his mischievousness”
