The new Casa Wabi Foundation by Tadao Ando in Mexico combines tradition and modern design

A collection of concrete buildings with wooden slat doors and thatched roofs next to a concrete walkway and wall

The foundation's central complex is surrounded by six freestanding residences.

(Image credit: Fernanda Romandia)

last updated 18 August 2022

Following last year's grand opening of the art, architecture and design school at the University of Monterrey (The Gate of Creation), Mexico has been gearing up for the launch of its second high profile public building designed by Tadao Ando; the home for the Casa Wabi Foundation.

Set up by artist Bosco Sodi and directed by Patricia Martin (former director and curator of La Colección Jumex), the art foundation is situated on the outskirts of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, about 500 miles southwest of Mexico City. Sodi 'always admired Ando's architecture' and approached the Japanese Pritzker Prize-winning architect for the design of his foundation's new headquarters. There is one more Japanese connection - Casa Wabi is named after the Japanese ideal of wabi-sabi, which revolves around the beauty of life's imperfections.

Ando obliged, creating a central complex around which sit six freestanding residences. The composition also includes two studios, an exhibition space and several multipurpose spaces. A 67-acre botanical garden set to become the foundation's outdoor contemporary art collection completes the scheme.

The architecture combines modern and traditional materials and techniques; the structure is concrete, following Ando's signature style, but also uses the region's traditional 'palapa' construction. This is an open-sided pavilion featuring a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves that is common in that area of Mexico.

Casa Wabi opens this weekend with a new site-specific installation by French artist Daniel Buren and aims to run four main programs: an interdisciplinary artist residency, social and education programs and a garden and film program that will bring together the artists and the local community. The foundation is open by appointment.

concrete building with grass roof and wooden slat windows and door — The architecture combines modern and traditional materials and techniques.

Long swimming pool with concrete surround and loungers in front of a thatched palapa pavilion — The structures are concrete, following Ando's signature style, but the architect also uses the region's traditional 'palapa' pavilions.

Patio area with concrete columns, wicker charis and wooden padded sofas with cushions — A palapa is an open-sided pavilion, featuring a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves that is common in that area of Mexico

concrete room with a wooden desk, table and door with coloured panels on the wall — The complex includes two studios, an exhibition space and several multipurpose spaces.

Concrete wall with large wooden dresser and standard lamp — Casa Wabi takes its name after the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which revolves around the beauty of life's imperfections.

looking out from a thatched building towards a long swimming pool and the ocean — The foundation's team aims for the program to bring together the artists and the local community.

ADDRESS

G Protasio Tagle 41, Piso 1
San Miguel Chapultepec
Miguel Hidalgo, 11850
Mexico

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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).