Junya Ishigami presents Art Biotop Water Garden | The World Around

Summary

The Water Garden Project aims to create a new natural landscape at an existing hotel site in northern Japan. By deconstructing the current environment and using only its elements, the project blends water, trees, and historical features into a harmonious garden. The design involves relocating mature trees and connecting ponds through pipes to maintain an ever-changing water system. The garden’s features evolve with the seasons, offering a dynamic and reflective experience. Ultimately, the project seeks to create a new form of nature that exists between the artificial and the natural, reimagining the relationship between humans and their environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The project aims to create a new garden in the site of an existing hotel in northern Japan.
• 😀 The new garden will combine natural elements from the existing environment with a unique design to create a new landscape.
• 😀 The project site covers an area of 60,000 square meters, which is the same as the neighboring new hotel site.
• 😀 The design focuses on preserving and enhancing the natural environment by incorporating historical features such as past agricultural fields and old landscapes.
• 😀 The main element of the garden is water, which will be featured prominently in a series of ponds, each with distinct shapes and interconnected by pipes.
• 😀 The design will feature a high density of trees and ponds, creating a landscape that does not naturally exist in the environment, blending water and trees.
• 😀 An innovative method will be used to move large trees quickly without disturbing the surrounding ecosystem, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
• 😀 The ponds will be waterproofed and connected by a water flow system that mimics natural watercourses.
• 😀 The design seeks to create a new kind of nature by blending artificial and natural elements in a way that hasn't been seen before.
• 😀 The scenery will change with the seasons, from the vibrant summer to the snowy, quiet winter, creating a dynamic and constantly evolving environment.
• 😀 The project will not introduce any new materials from outside the site but will instead focus on rearranging and enhancing existing natural elements.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the water garden project?

The main goal of the project is to create a new natural environment in a forested area near an existing hotel, blending the natural landscape with designed elements like ponds and trees, all without introducing external materials.

Why does Jesse emphasize using only elements from the existing environment?

Jesse aims to maintain the authenticity of the site by using only the existing elements, thus preserving the natural ecosystem and creating a garden that evolves organically from the land.

How large is the site for the garden project?

The garden site spans 60,000 square meters, which is similar in size to a neighboring site where a new hotel is being planned.

What challenges does the project face in relation to tree relocation?

Relocating large trees is typically a lengthy process, taking one or two years, as roots must be cut and regrowth must be carefully managed. However, by using industrial machinery, the trees can be moved much faster, minimizing disruption to the surrounding ecosystem.

How are the ponds in the garden connected and maintained?

The ponds are connected by pipes that allow water to flow continuously between them, with water being maintained at a consistent level through a system that mimics the natural flow of water in the environment.

What is the significance of the seasonal changes in the design?

Seasonal changes play a key role in the project, with the water level in the ponds rising during the summer, creating an ambiguous border between water and ground. In winter, the snow and black water provide a stark contrast to the vibrant summer landscapes, creating a dynamic and evolving environment.

What is meant by 'creating a new abstraction of nature' in this project?

Jesse refers to 'creating a new abstraction of nature' as the process of designing an environment that blends artificial and natural elements in a way that reinterprets traditional landscape design and challenges the conventional view of nature.

How does the project approach the integration of trees and ponds?

The project integrates trees and ponds by placing them in close proximity, creating a high-density environment that doesn't naturally exist. This blending of water and trees aims to produce a unique and immersive landscape.

What is the historical significance of the site's design?

The site has a history of being a rice field and later a horse pasture, which Jesse aims to preserve in the design. The new garden will superimpose elements from its historical landscapes, like water features and trees, to create a new environment that respects the past.

How does the project handle the ecological impact of tree movement?

By using industrial machinery, the project moves trees quickly and preserves the surrounding ecosystem, preventing long-term damage to the environment that would otherwise result from traditional tree relocation methods.