Everyone loves how Japanese Gardens look. These gardens are results of detailed design and care. Having a Japanese Garden is hard work. And maintaining that garden is even harder. In 1967, Japanese Takuma Tono designed a Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon. Known as the Portland Japanese Garden, this garden was first built on a 9-acre area.
In 2007, another Japanese Kengo Kuma expanded this garden with an additional 3.5 acres. Kuma worked together with Sadafumi Uchiyama who is the curator of the garden. The aim of this cooperation was to add a cultural village inside the expanded part of the garden.
Although this cultural village reflects a traditional Japanese structure, the interior is designed in a modern way. Inside the cultural village, three buildings were constructed. These buildings are in harmony with the surrounding Japanese garden. Kuma wanted to capture the essence of a village in the middle of nature and reflect this image in the buildings.
The first building inside the village has a library and gift shop. Also, there are classrooms to offer Japanese culture lessons to visitors to the village. In the second building, workshops are organized about gardening and other horticultural applications. At last, in the third building, there is a café. This café has an amazing view of Mount Hood.
First designed by Takuma Tono in 1967, Japanese Garden in Portland is expanded in 2007 with an additional cultural village designed by Kengo Kuma.
Kuma integrated traditional Japanese architecture with the surrounding garden and created a recreational place that attracts numerous visitors.
The heating of the cultural village is made with 24 geothermal wells that help energy savings.
Surrounded by a beautiful Japanese Garden, this cultural village also organizes workshops for people who are enthusiastic about Japan.
In addition to a library and gift shop, tourists can relax in the café and enjoy a calm and splendid view.
The new structures provide a cultural center, a garden studio, and a café.
