When the Concrete Poet Meets the Jeju Sea: A Dialogue of Light and Shadow with Tadao Ando

At Seopjikoji (also known as Cape Seopji), on the eastern tip of Jeju Island, the ocean breeze sculpts the rugged volcanic coast, and waves tirelessly crash against the black reefs. Amidst this magnificent landscape, brimming with primal energy, stands an understated, tranquil, yet powerful building, like a piece of earth art, engaging in a timeless dialogue with nature. This is Glass House, a work by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando.

This trip to Jeju is more of an architectural pilgrimage than a sightseeing excursion. As a follower of Tadao Ando, personally experiencing the spaces of light and shadow he crafts is a bucket list must-do.

Entering the Landscape: Architecture as a Frame

The journey to Glass House is a feast for the eyes. Walking along the Seopjikoji coastal trail, the tapering Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak stands in the distance, a giant natural landmark guiding visitors. As you approach, the outline of Glass House gradually emerges. Without exaggerated lines or ornate ornamentation, the building is composed solely of Tadao Ando's signature bare concrete, expanses of transparent glass, and clean, geometric lines.

The architect's ingenuity lies in restraint. He doesn't overpower nature with architecture, but rather humbly uses it as a viewing device. The cool, serene gray concrete wall, like a picture frame, precisely frames the most moving scene: the meadow ahead, the ocean beyond, and Shiroyama Hinode Peak towering over it. The building itself recedes into the background, guiding your gaze and focusing on the irreplaceable natural painting before you.

A Poetry of Light and Shadow: Walking Through Geometry

Entering Glass House, one is immediately struck by Tadao Ando's masterful control of light and shadow. The building is divided into two wings, with the ground floor housing an attached café and gallery, separated by a narrow outdoor passage. Walking along this passage, one is greeted by the light cut through by the narrow strip of sky, flanked by the calm concrete walls. The breeze flows through, bringing with it the scent of the sea. This experience of space, guided, compressed, and then suddenly opened up, is the true charm of Ando's architecture.

Straight lines and sharp angles intertwine throughout the space, creating a strong sense of visual sequence. Stairs, windows, and wall corners are meticulously calculated, allowing sunlight to enter at varying angles at different times of day, creating ever-changing patterns of light and shadow on the concrete walls. Everything here is minimalist, yet enriched by the play of light.

MINT Restaurant: A culinary feast suspended above the sea

Ascending the stairs, you arrive at MINT Restaurant on the second floor. It's a dreamlike destination surrounded by 270-degree ocean views. Tadao Ando has utilized the transparency of glass to its fullest, creating a long rectangular space that extends out to the sea. Sitting by the window, you feel as if you're floating between the azure sea and sky.

Reservations are required, and the restaurant serves creative Western cuisine incorporating local ingredients. However, for many visitors, the view is already the unrivaled main course. Whether on a clear, blue sky, watching the sun cast a golden glow across the sea, or amidst the raging wind and clouds, feeling the majestic power of nature, every moment of contemplation is a breathtaking experience. Dining here is not only a delight for the taste buds, but also an immersive experience seamlessly blending architecture and nature.

A Dialogue of Architecture: Facing the Yumin Museum

Notably, not far from Glass House lies another masterpiece by Tadao Ando: the Yumin Museum (formerly known as Genius Loci). Unlike the expansive, sea-facing Glass House, the Yumin Museum is more restrained, immersed in the landscape. If Glass House celebrates the outward landscape, the Yumin Museum is a journey of inner exploration. These two buildings, one bright, one dark, one dynamic, one still, dialogue across the land of Seopjikoji, together completing Tadao Ando's architectural philosophy on Jeju Island.

As I left, I gazed back at the Glass House, perched tranquilly on the cape, and was filled with emotion. Tadao Ando once said, "My concern is to create places that enrich the soul and bring joy to life." This day on Jeju Island, I deeply experienced this. This wasn't just a visit, but a soul-cleansing experience, reaffirming that the most remarkable architecture is always that which understands how to coexist harmoniously with nature and touches the heart.

#August_Destinations2025