On my way back from a short break at Mint, an unusual-looking building caught my eye, so I went in. At first I only meant to look at the entrance, but something about the mood told me this was no ordinary place. Even the name sounds like it means something – Genius loci – and according to the information board, Tadao Ando built it as a space for meditation.
The pond at the entrance
For how well kept it is, there was almost nobody around. Maybe it just hasn’t been promoted much. Then again, Mint didn’t have many visitors either, so I get the feeling they built these places without ever really meaning to let ordinary tourists wander in.
The garden you come to once you step through the entrance
Honestly, looking at this bare, empty scene you’d have no idea what the inside is like. With nobody coming or going, I got to look around completely at my own pace.
The meditation waterfall
The photo doesn’t capture it, but the drops of water fell glittering in the light. It really did feel like my mind was being washed clean.
The view through the square opening in the wall
It looks like a painting. It also looks like the hat drawing from The Little Prince. That must have been the architect’s intention. Just this much was already far more artistic than Mint.
The path to the exhibition hall
The exhibition hall turned out to be underground. I found out later that the light coming in through the opening along the side is what lights the interior – natural light only.
Like this.
I’ve been to Naoshima before, and this feels almost exactly like that. Naoshima had a lot of Tadao Ando’s work too.
The meditation space
I’ll skip the detailed explanation – go and see it for yourself. I had no idea we had an architectural work of art like this in Korea. I suppose it’s here because Jeju Island is such a special place.
The rest area
After going all the way around, I came out to find a space like this. There were so few people that it felt a little desolate.
Mint
Taken from Genius Loci. I can’t help thinking it would melt into the landscape better if it were just a bit smaller, but that’s the landowner’s call.
I saw something genuinely wonderful on Jeju Island. It seems incredible that a place like this existed and I never knew about it until now. The connection is thin, but I hope the film Architecture 101 puts the spotlight back on Jeju Island architecture.