The two-storey pavilion (conference building) by Tadao Ando for the furniture manufacturer Vitra was built in Weil am Rhein in 1989-93. It consists of geometric beams of different sizes that accommodate the conference rooms. These transoms are grouped around a central rotunda, which acts as a joint of the geometric arrangement. The courtyard, which is dug into the grounds, serves as a protected outdoor area of the facility.
The elongated concrete wall emphasizes the "processional path" to the entrance of the building and is reminiscent of Japanese meditation paths. The entrance leads directly to the rotunda, which serves as a distributor and joint of the building via two staircases.
Like almost all of Tadao Ando's buildings, the conference building for Vitra was constructed from special exposed concrete. The formwork elements, each with 6 anchor holes per panel, were designed in the traditional dimensions of a Japanese tatami mat and manufactured on the basis of conventional basic formwork.
Source: baukobox.de
Photos: Rui Morais de Sousa
