In Tadao Ando’s chapel, the light enters from behind the altar from a cross cut in the concrete wall that extends vertically from floor to ceiling and horizontally from wall to wall, aligning perfectly with the joints in the concrete. At this intersection of light and solid the occupant is meant to become aware of the deep division between the spiritual and the secular within themselves.

"At times, walls manifest a power that borders on the violent. They have the power to divide space, transfigure place, and create new domains. Walls are the most basic elements of architecture, but they can also be the most enriching."

The density of the concrete results in a glass-like surface that registers the different qualities of light, and tends to dematerialize it. Because Ando's concrete is so precisely wrought, smooth, and reflective, it produces an illusion of a taut, textile surface rather than presenting it as a heavy earthbound mass.

When the formwork is removed, the seams between the wood panels leave behind Ando’s iconic lines, while the tie holes produce his trademark ‘dots,’ which are then partially plugged with mortar. Ando’s concrete is both structure and surface, never camouflaged or plastered over. This deliberate exposition of the underlying framework signifies Ando's deliberate choice to abstain from concealment and embrace the inherent essence of structural purity, thereby fostering an aesthetic of transparency and authenticity within his architectural works.