Nestled in the verdant embrace of Sapporo’s landscape, the Hill of Buddha stands as a modern marvel of architectural spirituality, masterfully crafted by Tadao Ando. This extraordinary underground temple is a sanctuary where nature and reverence converge in profound tranquility. The temple’s unique design, a hollow hill, elegantly conceals its true magnificence, leaving only the solemn gaze of a giant Buddha visible from afar. Covered in a lush carpet of grass and lavender, the structure seamlessly blends with the natural environment, creating an ethereal atmosphere of peace and introspection. Venturing into its depths, visitors find themselves enveloped in a serene realm, where the subdued light and silence offer a sacred space for reflection and prayer.
The creation of the Hill of Buddha was guided by a singular mission: to augment the presence of a stone Buddha statue sculpted 15 years prior, elevating its solemnity in an environment befitting its spiritual significance. Spanning 180 hectares of the Makomanai Takino Cemetery, the temple’s presence transforms the landscape into a haven of meditation and homage. Tadao Ando’s architectural genius lies in his ability to evoke a sense of transcendence, where the threshold between the human and the divine is delicately blurred. Visitors are invited to journey through a world where architecture and nature dance in harmonious unity, each angle and curve whispering stories of spiritual enlightenment and the timeless beauty of the land it graces.
The aim of this project was to build a prayer hall that would enhance the attractiveness of a stone Buddha sculpted 15 years ago. The site is a gently sloping hill on 180 hectares of lush land belonging to a cemetery.
Tadao Ando
More info: Website (h/t: Fubiz, Dezeen).
