Traditional Japanese
Area: 180 sqm
This project was a collaboration between myself and HaoRan.
For this project, the client's requirement was very clear—a traditional Japanese garden. Centered around the wabi-sabi aesthetic of Eastern philosophy, the design aims to create a meditative space where residents can engage in a deep dialogue with nature.
In my design, I began by blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors. Large floor-to-ceiling windows transform the garden landscape into a "living painting" that changes with the seasons, offering unique scenic compositions from different rooms.
The flat, light-colored gravel symbolizes the "void" of the sea, while the strategically arranged natural boulders represent the "solid" of the mountains. The area of this "void" sea has been intentionally restrained, allowing the garden to still express the vitality of nature through varying layers of greenery. Mosses and ferns are planted among subtle undulations in the micro-topography, enriching the spatial layering and sense of life.
At the center, a traditional chōzubachi (stone water basin) is installed. Its gentle trickle introduces a soundscape that dissolves the noise of the city. The crafting and placement of the chōzubachi strictly adhere to traditional techniques, featuring three main stones surrounding the basin: mae-ishi (front stone), yutō-ishi (water bucket stone), and tōdai-ishi (lantern stone). When faced with such a deeply traditional design typology, one must restrain one's own design ambitions, prioritizing respect for cultural heritage above all.
