Professor Philip Goad shares his recollections of Tadao Ando’s 1985 visit to Melbourne:
In October 1985, when a PhD student, I was asked to be Ando’s guide on a tour of recent Melbourne buildings. Jane Joyce and I picked Ando up from the airport in Peter and Dione McIntyre’s white Mercedes Benz and Ando fell asleep – immediately. Undeterred, we drove around Melbourne stopping to point out new buildings to our distinguished guest, who remained asleep throughout. However, when we pulled up at 290 Walsh Street, South Yarra – the Boyd House – Ando sat bolt upright, fully alert. We were greeted by Robin Boyd’s widow, Patricia Davies. Ando was animated, interested and paced out the house’s dimensions as we were shown around. For me, it was also exciting. It was the first time that I had visited and entered the Boyd House. Ando clearly loved it. He told Patricia in halting English that ‘Tange San’ (the formal way of saying the honourable Mr Kenzo Tange) had told him that the only building worth seeing in Melbourne was Robin Boyd’s beautiful home. Once back in the car, Ando promptly went back to sleep. Mission accomplished.