SANAA
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
SANAA is a Japanese architecture firm known for its minimalist, fluid designs that emphasize light, transparency, and spatial continuity. Founded by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa in 1995, the firm has developed an international reputation for creating buildings that feel open, airy, and seamlessly integrated with their environments. Their approach often involves delicate materials, clean lines, and an intentional blurring of boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. Notable works include the Rolex Learning Center in Switzerland, the New Museum in New York City, and Grace Farms in Connecticut. SANAA’s architecture is both poetic and precise, often appearing deceptively simple while offering complex spatial experiences. Their projects reflect a deep sensitivity to human interaction, movement, and the qualities of natural light. The firm has received numerous accolades, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2010, affirming their influential role in contemporary architecture.
PROJECTS:
New Canaan, CT - United States
GRACE FARMS
ADDRESS:
365 Lukes Wood Road New Canaan, CT 06840
ACCESS:
Public Access: FREE
DISCRIPTION:
Grace Farms, situated in New Canaan, Connecticut, is a striking integration of architecture and landscape crafted by SANAA. The centerpiece, known as “The River,” stretches along an 80-acre preserve as a sinuous, single-story structure floating atop glass-enclosed volumes that house spaces like a sanctuary, library, commons, gym, and welcome pavilion . A light aluminum roof sweeps gently with the terrain, creating sheltered outdoor pockets and bathes interiors in panoramic views through more than 200 floor-to-ceiling glass panels . The building engages sustainably with its site, employing geothermal wells, recycled on-site materials, and LEED recognition . By blending transparency, flowing form, and ecological sensitivity, Grace Farms offers a contemplative, community-oriented environment that blurs indoor and outdoor boundaries in service of culture, nature, and well-being.
NOTES:
Grace Farms is FREE to the public, please check hours on the the website before visiting.
New York City, NY - United States
NEW MUSEUM
ADDRESS:
235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
ACCESS:
Adult $18 | Senior $15 | Student $12 | Under 18 FREE
HOURS:
Operating hours subject to change, confirm hours on website.
DISCRIPTION:
The New Museum in New York City, designed by SANAA, presents a strikingly minimalist stack of offset boxes rising along the Bowery. This layered composition creates subtle terraces and allows natural light to filter into the galleries through slits and skylights. The building's silvery, mesh-like façade gives it a luminous, almost ethereal presence, contrasting with the gritty urban surroundings. Its form rejects traditional museum grandeur, instead embracing a sense of openness, flexibility, and informality. The staggered volumes not only reflect the museum's mission to support contemporary and experimental art but also allow for varied ceiling heights and adaptable interior spaces. The architecture encourages a fluid visitor experience, where movement through the galleries feels intuitive and responsive. SANAA’s design is both quiet and radical, asserting a powerful identity through simplicity and spatial clarity. The building stands as a thoughtful, contemporary response to the evolving role of the art institution in the city.
NOTES:
The museum is currently constructing an addition designed by OMA that will double the square footage of the museum. This may cause limitation to the number of exhibits on view during construction. Check the website for temporary closures and current hours of operation.
Paris - France
SAMARITAINE
ADDRESS:
9 R. de la Monnaie, 75001 Paris, France
DISCRIPTION:
SANAA’s redesign of La Samaritaine in Paris presents a refined balance between historical preservation and contemporary clarity. The architects introduced a fluid glass façade that gently waves along the street, giving the building a light, animated presence without overwhelming its surroundings. This transparent skin softens reflections and subtly mirrors the city’s movement, creating an ever-changing surface throughout the day. Inside, SANAA opened the structure with generous visual connections between levels, allowing daylight to filter deep into the interior. Restored Art Nouveau details are framed by calm, minimal interventions, highlighting the store’s layered history. Supported by a precise steel framework, the curved glass panels demonstrate careful technical control, resulting in an architecture that feels both quietly innovative and deeply rooted in its urban context.
ACCESS:
Open from 10am - 8pm daily.
NOTES:
In 2023 a massive temporary sculpture of artist Yayoi Kusama was erected next to the historic building appearing to paint dots all over the neighboring Louis Vuitton headquarts. Depicted below, this installation is no longer in place.
ADDRESS:
Japan, 〒761-3110 Kagawa, Kagawa District, Naoshima, 宮ノ浦８４３
ACCESS:
Open to the public, check the ferry schedule for hours of operation.
DISCRIPTION:
The Naoshima Port Terminal by SANAA welcomes visitors with a light, airy structure made of overlapping, cloudlike forms. Its translucent surfaces and gentle curves create an inviting gateway to the island, offering shade, openness, and a seamless connection between arriving travelers and the surrounding coastal landscape.
NOTES:
This is the smaller of two ferry terminals on the island. It's unique construction makes it a beacon in the town.
ADDRESS:
2249番地４０, Naoshima, Kagawa District, Kagawa 761-3110, Japan
ACCESS:
Open to the public, check the ferry schedule for hours of operation.
DISCRIPTION:
The Marine Station “Naoshima” by SANAA is a minimalist ferry terminal featuring a light steel framework and a broad canopy. Its transparent pavilions house a café, waiting area, and ticket facilities, creating an open, airy space that integrates functionality with a sense of calm and connection to the sea.
NOTES:
A simple, but elegant structure. The is the main ferry landing for the island. Be sure to check out the Port Terminal on the other side of the island, also by SANAA.
ADDRESS:
5-chōme-9-11 Jingūmae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
ACCESS:
Because this is a retail space it is FREE and accessible to the public.
DISCRIPTION:
Dior (Omotesando) in Tokyo, designed by SANAA (Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa), redefines luxury retail through refined simplicity and spatial clarity. The building features a slender, ribbon-like form wrapped in horizontal glass fins that blur the boundary between inside and outside. This transparent facade allows light to filter into the interior while giving passersby a layered view of activity within. The store’s plan is organized around subtle shifts in floor level and ceiling height rather than traditional partitions, creating a continuous, flowing environment where clothing and accessories become part of a curated spatial experience. Materials are kept minimal and tactile—polished stone, glass, and metal—accentuating daylight variations throughout the day. By prioritizing openness, SANAA’s design makes the architecture feel light and inviting despite its urban context. The result is a fashion space that feels less like a conventional store and more like a sculptural stage for Dior’s collections.
NOTES:
The simple slab and glass façade is exaggerated at night, if you are in the area after sundown check this one out.
IMAGE CREDITS:
Images (1-3) WROT (4) Jonathan Lin (5) Nikola Simic
