Tadao Ando | Water Temple: Entrance Descending Through the Lotus Pond

The temple has no traditional main gate: one first passes through a long, straight wall of exposed concrete, then rounds a curved wall, and only an oval lotus pond is visible, with no building in sight. A staircase splits open in the very center of the pond, and one must descend between the lotus flowers, entering beneath the water surface—the main hall is at the bottom of the pond. The entrance is thus an act of "sinking downwards," contrary to the upward gaze direction of all temples. The concrete surface is smooth as silk, with formwork marks and tie holes precisely arranged. The pond is filled with lotus flowers, and the water surface is calm. Shot from above during a summer day, contrasting the crack of the staircase with the density of the lotus leaves. Avoid: setting up a main gate or doors, staircase going upwards, pond changed to square, rough concrete surface.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

寺院沒有傳統的山門:先穿過一道長長的清水混凝土直牆,再繞過一道弧牆,眼前只有一座橢圓形的蓮花池,看不到任何建築。池的正中央裂開一道階梯,人必須從蓮花之間往下走,進入水面之下——本堂在池底。入口因此是一個「向下沉入」的動作,與所有寺院向上仰望的方向相反。混凝土的表面光滑如絲,模板痕與繫件孔排列精確。池中種滿蓮花,水面平靜。夏季日間俯視拍攝,階梯的裂口與蓮葉的密度對比。避免:設置山門或門扇、階梯向上、池改為方形、混凝土表面粗糙。