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

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.