Created in 2014 by Mexican artist Bosco Sodi, Fundación Casa Wabi adopts its name from the concept Wabi-Sabi, which represents a vision of the world focused on the acceptance of the ephemeral and the imperfect. Based on this philosophy, Casa Wabi, located on the Oaxaca Coast, was designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando (Pritzker 1995), looking to generate a space conducive to interaction; where our residents and the communities of the region come together.

The heart of its design is a 312 meter long by 3.6 meter high concrete wall that runs east to west, parallel to the ocean. This separates the compound's public programmes on the wall's north side and private programmes on its south side. A vertical, north to south road leading to the exact centre of the wall is then mirrored on the other side of the wall by a long, skinny outdoor terrace with two pools, these being a rectangular lap pool and a triangular wading pool that face the ocean, forming a perfect cross in the compound's design.

I love this project, particularly because it brings together the design of one of the best architects in the world with a social cause. All with the unique atmosphere of being in the face of the ocean.

Photography by Edmund Sumner.