--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I design buildings, I think of the…" description: "\"When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. On top of that, I think about how people w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/tadao-ando-12283_approach_when-i-design-buildings-i-think-of-the-o_3118816.png" --- # When I design buildings, I think of the overall… ![“When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. On top of that, I think about how people will approach the building and experience that space.” quote by Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/tadao-ando-12283_approach_when-i-design-buildings-i-think-of-the-o_3118816.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/tadao-ando-12283_approach_when-i-design-buildings-i-think-of-the-o_3118816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/tadao-ando-12283_approach_when-i-design-buildings-i-think-of-the-o_3118816.png) > “When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. On top of that, I think about how people will approach the building and experience that space.” [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Design should consider both structural harmony and human experience. **In simple terms:** Buildings need both form and feeling. Key Takeaway Design with both structure and user experience in mind. Themes architecture human-centered design harmony Mood thoughtful inspired Type practical philosophical When to use this quote - public spaces - residential projects - museum design - urban planning Key Concepts spatial composition embodiment Questions to Reflect On - How does a building affect its occupants? - What design elements enhance experience? A Different Perspective Focusing only on aesthetics neglects user needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Building Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-experience-847686/) [Buildings Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buildings-think-5467821/) [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Design Buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design-buildings-780341/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Overall Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overall-composition-5467822/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Think Overall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-overall-976881/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) ## Related quotes > [A city building, you experience when you walk; a suburban building, you experience when you drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/a-city-building-you-experience-when-you-walk-a-suburban-building-you/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [“the experience blueprint takes the form of a physical document that guides the building of an experience. Unlike a prepared script or an operations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/the-experience-blueprint-takes-the-form-of-a-physical-document-that/) [Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/) > [ I'm trying to think overall. Some of our stories \[Black Mirror\], I think you're right in that they don't tend to have a message. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-m-trying-to-think-overall-some-of-our-stories-black-mirror-i-think/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [Africa is progressing but maybe not in the way you think it is. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-is-progressing-but-maybe-not-in-the-way-you-think-it-is-even/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [“Always think of your overall objective and the consequences of every action, no matter how small it may be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohdi-sanders/always-think-of-your-overall-objective-and-the-consequences-of-every/) [Bohdi Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohdi-sanders/) > [No architect should design buildings that import a huge amount of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiana-figueres/no-architect-should-design-buildings-that-import-a-huge-amount-of/) [Christiana Figueres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiana-figueres/) > [In order to design buildings with a sensuous connection to life, one must think in a way that goes far beyond form and construction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-zumthor/in-order-to-design-buildings-with-a-sensuous-connection-to-life-one/) [Peter Zumthor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-zumthor/) > [Some people design buildings and aircraft carriers and cars - and I designed picks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/some-people-design-buildings-and-aircraft-carriers-and-cars-and-i/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [They should make new ways to better design buildings and books. The computer was the end of Swiss typography!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ruder/they-should-make-new-ways-to-better-design-buildings-and-books-the/) [Emil Ruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ruder/) > [Architects design buildings; that's what we do, so we have to go with the flow; and, even though I'm still an old Leftie, global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/architects-design-buildings-that-s-what-we-do-so-we-have-to-go-with/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) > [There are people who design buildings that are not technically and financially good, and there are those who do. Two categories - simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/there-are-people-who-design-buildings-that-are-not-technically-and/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [There is no reason to design buildings that are more basic and rectilinear, because with concrete you can cover almost any space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/there-is-no-reason-to-design-buildings-that-are-more-basic-and/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [At the risk of some oversimplification, if the skill composition of our work force meshed fully with the needs of our increasingly complex capital-stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/at-the-risk-of-some-oversimplification-if-the-skill-composition-of/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) ## More by Tadao Ando > [My objective is to design a space that nobody else can come up with while using the material that anyone can use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/my-objective-is-to-design-a-space-that-nobody-else-can-come-up-with/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [In Architecture there is a part that is the result of Logical Reasoning and a part that is created through the Senses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/in-architecture-there-is-a-part-that-is-the-result-of-logical/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [Spiritual space is lost in gaining convenience. I saw the need to create a mixture of Japanese spiritual culture and modern western architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/spiritual-space-is-lost-in-gaining-convenience-i-saw-the-need-to/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [Without this spirit, Modernist architecture cannot fully exist. Since there is often a mismatch between the logic and the spirit of Modernism, I use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/without-this-spirit-modernist-architecture-cannot-fully-exist-since/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [Japanese architecture is traditionally based on wooden structures that need renovating on a regular basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/japanese-architecture-is-traditionally-based-on-wooden-structures/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [The computer offers another kind of creativity. You cannot ignore the creativity that computer technology can bring. But you need to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/the-computer-offers-another-kind-of-creativity-you-cannot-ignore-the/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [No matter how advanced society becomes, institutionally or technologically, a house in which nature can be sensed represents for me the ideal environment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/no-matter-how-advanced-society-becomes-institutionally-or/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [In Italy, there are so many significant architectural structures in history such as the Pantheon in Rome, or the Duomo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/in-italy-there-are-so-many-significant-architectural-structures-in/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [I think architecture becomes interesting when it has a double character, that is, when it is as simple as possible but, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/i-think-architecture-becomes-interesting-when-it-has-a-double/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [The speed of change makes you wonder what will become of architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/the-speed-of-change-makes-you-wonder-what-will-become-of-architecture/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [But in Japan, there's nothing like that, since the temple is made of wood. The divine spirit inside the building is eternal, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/but-in-japan-there-s-nothing-like-that-since-the-temple-is-made-of/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [I hope that America as a whole, and especially its architects, will become more seriously involved in producing a new architectural culture that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/i-hope-that-america-as-a-whole-and-especially-its-architects-will/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [I am interested in things happening around me, and I need to understand what's going on in other artistic sectors like music and literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/i-am-interested-in-things-happening-around-me-and-i-need-to/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [I like ruins because what remains is not the total design, but the clarity of thought, the naked structure, the spirit of the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/i-like-ruins-because-what-remains-is-not-the-total-design-but-the/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [I believe that the way people live can be directed a little by architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/i-believe-that-the-way-people-live-can-be-directed-a-little-by/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) [Explore all 55 Tadao Ando quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. Because you have to force a utopia on a free people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/what-begins-as-a-utopian-vision-always-always-ends-in-bloodshed/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) [Browse all 3,949 Approach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. 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