各国名人英文介绍-Tadao Ando

Tadao Ando was born in 1941 in Osaka, Japan. He is a prolific¹ architect and is in demand the world over. He designs buildings using his distinctive² approach to architecture. His style uses simple forms, lots of exposed concrete, and the creative use of natural light. People describe his work as ‘international modernism’. A leading architectural critic said: "Ando is right in the Japanese tradition.”

Ando spent his childhood making wood models. He spent hours in a carpenter’s shop across the street and learnt many techniques from the craftsmen³. After leaving school he drifted from job to job. He was a truck driver and tried his luck as a boxer⁴. He eventually got into architecture, even though he had no qualifications.

Ando began teaching himself the principles of designing buildings. He visited temples and shrines⁵ in Kyoto and Nara to get a feel for traditional Japanese architecture. He also travelled to Europe to sketch⁶ the magnificent buildings there. His maiden⁷ project was Tomishima House in Osaka in 1973. Twenty years later he completed his first international project – the Japanese Pavilion at Expo92 in Sevilla, Spain.

Ando was first recognized for his work in 1979, when he won the Annual Prize from the Architectural Institute of Japan. In 1995, he scooped⁸ the Pritzker Prize – the highest distinction in world architecture. He donated the $100,000 prize money to the orphans⁹ of the Kobe earthquake. A housing complex he designed in Kobe survived the earthquake undamaged.

1 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

2 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

3 craftsmen   

n. 技工

参考例句：

• rugs handmade by local craftsmen 由当地工艺师手工制作的小地毯
• The craftsmen have ensured faithful reproduction of the original painting. 工匠保证要复制一幅最接近原作的画。

4 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

5 shrines   

圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All three structures dated to the third century and were tentatively identified as shrines. 这3座建筑都建于3 世纪，并且初步鉴定为神庙。
• Their palaces and their shrines are tombs. 它们的宫殿和神殿成了墓穴。

6 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

7 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

8 scooped   

v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）

参考例句：

• They scooped the other newspapers by revealing the matter. 他们抢先报道了这件事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块，在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。