--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot simply put something new into…" description: "\"You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge alon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png" --- # You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have… ![“You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see.” quote by Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png) > “You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see.” [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 must integrate existing context, absorbing surroundings before adding new elements. **In simple terms:** Learn from surroundings before creating. Key Takeaway Observe and respect context first. Themes architecture context design Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - urban planning - renovation - new construction Key Concepts site analysis cultural integration Questions to Reflect On - How to balance tradition and novelty? - When to challenge existing norms? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on context can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absorb Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absorb-exists-3691597/) [Contemporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) [Contemporary Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-thinking-3691593/) [Exists Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-land-3691594/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Place Absorb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-absorb-3691596/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Interpret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-interpret-3691595/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [If an artist and a scientist have a common point, it is probably in the need for some kind of imaginative thinking to interpret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-yass/if-an-artist-and-a-scientist-have-a-common-point-it-is-probably-in/) [Catherine Yass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-yass/) > [“The contemporary world has turned its back on the attempt and even on the desire to live reasonably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-contemporary-world-has-turned-its-back-on-the-attempt-and-even-on/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Most of my contemporary grant-getters are now doing something other than painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/most-of-my-contemporary-grant-getters-are-now-doing-something-other/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Going back to the noir fiction of the 30s, 40s and 50s. It's very contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goldblum/going-back-to-the-noir-fiction-of-the-30s-40s-and-50s-it-s-very/) [Jeff Goldblum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goldblum/) > [We have created indoor installations inside museums, like the Wrapped Floor at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago in 1968, and not monumental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christo/we-have-created-indoor-installations-inside-museums-like-the-wrapped/) [Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christo/) > [I'm educating myself more about world poetry. I know a lot about contemporary American poetry, so I felt I needed to learn more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-joseph/i-m-educating-myself-more-about-world-poetry-i-know-a-lot-about/) [Allison Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-joseph/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [“No." I pulled away just enough to lock my eyes with his. His crooked smile sent shivers down my spine. His eyes were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-witter/no-i-pulled-away-just-enough-to-lock-my-eyes-with-his-his-crooked/) [Stephanie Witter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-witter/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [“And for God's sake, don't let her watch Cinderella. What kind of example is that? A mindless twit who can't even remember where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/and-for-god-s-sake-don-t-let-her-watch-cinderella-what-kind-of/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) ## 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 Contemporary quotes > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“And for God's sake, don't let her watch Cinderella. What kind of example is that? A mindless twit who can't even remember where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/and-for-god-s-sake-don-t-let-her-watch-cinderella-what-kind-of/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [“No." I pulled away just enough to lock my eyes with his. His crooked smile sent shivers down my spine. His eyes were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-witter/no-i-pulled-away-just-enough-to-lock-my-eyes-with-his-his-crooked/) [Stephanie Witter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-witter/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [I'm educating myself more about world poetry. I know a lot about contemporary American poetry, so I felt I needed to learn more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-joseph/i-m-educating-myself-more-about-world-poetry-i-know-a-lot-about/) [Allison Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-joseph/) > [We have created indoor installations inside museums, like the Wrapped Floor at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago in 1968, and not monumental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christo/we-have-created-indoor-installations-inside-museums-like-the-wrapped/) [Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christo/) > [Going back to the noir fiction of the 30s, 40s and 50s. It's very contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goldblum/going-back-to-the-noir-fiction-of-the-30s-40s-and-50s-it-s-very/) [Jeff Goldblum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goldblum/) > [Most of my contemporary grant-getters are now doing something other than painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/most-of-my-contemporary-grant-getters-are-now-doing-something-other/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [“The contemporary world has turned its back on the attempt and even on the desire to live reasonably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-contemporary-world-has-turned-its-back-on-the-attempt-and-even-on/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [No, it's interesting to remake a film for the contemporary audience today. I think it's a good idea; it needs to respect the original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/no-it-s-interesting-to-remake-a-film-for-the-contemporary-audience/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) [Browse all 1,586 Contemporary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tadao Ando" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into-a-place-you-have-to-absorb/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contemporary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into-a-place-you-have-to-absorb/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/tadao-ando-12283_contemporary_you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into_1213921.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on…” — Tadao Ando", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tadao Ando", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You cannot simply put something new...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into-a-place-you-have-to-absorb/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/you-cannot-simply-put-something-new-into-a-place-you-have-to-absorb/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```