TIME'S I + II

This building was the start of a recurring theme in Ando's talk, involving his persistence. Originally it was supposed to be a renovation, but Ando didn't think much of the building he was supposed to renovate. He admitted that he doesn't think about what the client wants. He does what he wants -- he wants to make it better. He thinks about how he can change the environment, change the block. Kyoto has shallow rivers, so he put in stairs down to the river. The client was worried about floods causing damage to the store merchandise, but Ando wanted the building to have as close a relationship with the water as possible. The final design has the building appear to be floating on a river, like a boat.
After he finished the Times building, he started dreaming up designs for the Chinese restaurant behind it (without the owner's request or approval). He approached the restaurant owner, who was angry with him. After four years of approaching the owner, Ando got permission to redo that building, and thus was born the Times II, which further extended his design down the riverfront. Ando then pointed out the building behind the Chinese restaurant and showed us his designs for that building (apparently that owner is still too angry); Ando is still hoping.
From the very first day Ando wanted to create a riverfront, to change the environment, to create a public space, and he fought for it.