The Japanese garden in this American city is considered one of the most "authentic" outside of Japan. It was created in the mid-20th century, shortly after Portland became the sister city of Sapporo; The 2.2 hectare garden was designed by one of the prominent landscape architects of the last century, Takuma Tono.
To some extent, the garden has paid for its beauty: it has recently begun to suffer from an excessive influx of visitors, so its management decided to expand its territory, as well as build a more spacious educational center and other institutions outside the original park than it is now.
After much persuasion, Kengo Kuma agreed to take on the project. Guided by an expansion master plan developed in 2007, he designed a classroom complex (for courses in landscape and gardening arts, and Japanese cooking), a new teahouse that operates as a cafe (there is a pavilion for tea ceremonies in the park, but it is closed for the public) and a gift shop. Combining traditional and modern elements of the building should fit into the landscape of the new territory of the park; As for its old part, the project's customers hope that the peace and quiet necessary for the perception of any Japanese garden will return there.
Construction is slated to begin in 2013, the 50th anniversary of the Portland park.
N. F.
