JAPANESE GARDEN

LA 303 – Tony.P ,Meliana.S ,Cindie.K,

Scott.K
MAP OVERVIEWS
TOPOGRAPHY ANALYSIS:
LEGEND:

• 15 % UP

• 5% - 15%

• 0% - 5%
 The most steeper slope is from the
Proposed tea house going down to the river
 The shallow slope is found around the
dry garden area going up to the proposed
Tea house.
 the lowest point found in the area of
Rockscape
 the highest point found on the area
Overlooking to the Chinese Garden
HISTORICAL CONDITION
The original owner, Mr.Shrob, had installed a
dam across the south end and
Had it used it as a reservoir. It appeared that
the dam could be leveled and
Transformed into an attractive garden.
During the end of 19th century, the books
“Japanese homes and their surrounding”
and “Japanese gardening in Japan” create a
new aesthetic of architectural structure
related to the Landscape that had enormous
impact on the architectural style. As a result,
Japanese garden become the height of
fashion in Los Angeles, for those who could
afford them.
REGIONAL CONTEXT
San Gabriel Valley
 The Huntington lies to the
east of the city of Los Angeles,
to the north of Puente Hills, to
the south of the San Gabriel
Mountains, and to the west of
the San Bernardino Valley

Climate: Warm, Sunny,

Desert-like climate year around.
Rain is sporadic but when it
occurs, it usually ends within a
day or two
 CITY CONTEXT

SAN MARINO ,CA

91108
 Latitude: 34.12 N,
Longitude: 118.11 W
 Elevation : 556 feet
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON GARDEN
 Henry Edwards Huntington purchased San Marino Ranch in
1903. Interest in land development but also building great
literary, research, art and plant collections. Took advantage
of great climate to grow exotic plants. It was originally a
private estate and botanical garden.
  Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
opened to the public in 1928. There are 120 acres of
botanical gardens
 William Hertrich was first supervisor, 1905-1948. Studied
the lay of the land, upgraded existing facilities, installed
roads, irrigation & fencing. Established a nursery.

Huntington “rules”:
 Avoid formality where possible.

 Keep or transplant oaks wherever possible.

JAPANESE GARDEN OVERVIEW
GENERAL GARDENING PRACTICES
Details vs. Master Planning
 In the West, it is common practice these days for designers to draw up
a master plan for a garden before starting to build, especially true in the
case of larger gardens.
 In East Asia, gardens are designed as they are being built. Perhaps
this freedom is possible because of a large body of rules that govern the
general structure of different types of gardens.
 The gardener gathers these sundry elements on site and sets them
into place one by one. As each one is placed, the overall balances
affected and the next element is positioned accordingly. It is common for
a gardener to reset plants or rocks that have already been positioned in
order to obtain a better overall balance.
 EAST ASIAN GARDENS ARE DESIGNED UP FROM THE DETAILS
RATHER THAN DOWN FROM A MASTER PLAN.
HISTORY OF JAPANESE GARDEN
THE PATH:
 in Kabuki theater the movement of an actor through space
is a movement through time- a process called michiyuki.

 Gardeners consider michiyuki in the design of the garden

path. The path is a guide through the garden revealing it
succession of layers, while regulating the timing of the
experience as well.
 
THE ASPECTS OF THE GARDEN :
 The first aspect of the garden that can be said to have
evolved form ancient times is the balance of natural and
man made beauty-a guiding principle that forms the
aesthetic basis of all Japanese gardens. Japanese gardens
are based on the interplay of rocks, water, and plants.

 
HISTORY OF JAPANESE GARDEN
 Tea Gardens- the area that surrounds a tea house is called
roji, literally “dewy path” or tea garden. Its purpose is to
spiritually prepare visitors by leading them on a journey of
stepping stones, over thresholds, through gates and
lanterns, to a water basin to purify hands and mouth before
moving on to the tea house where the host serves
powdered green tea in a ritualized ceremony. Since a tea
garden is designed to provide a series of spatial
impressions in a tiny area, the design of its path is critical.
J.G MAP 1
SLIDE PHOTO 2
SLIDE PHOTO
J.G. MAP 2
SLIDE PHOTO 1
SLIDE PHOTO
EXISTING PLANTING
 SPOTTED BLACK BAMBOO (phyllostachys nigra ' Punctata'
This type of bamboo is located at the lower entrance of the
Japanese Garden. This species is
unique because of its color. The bamboo symbolizes
endurance and strength.

 LILIES (Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae)

The lilies in the garden are located in the lower stream
which flows under the moon bridge.
The lilies produce a beautiful flower which accentuates the
area around the moon bridge.

 MAPLES (Acer Palmatum)

The Japanese Maple is widely used in Japanese gardens. It
has a vibrant red leaf and has been placed all throughout
this garden.
EXISTING PLANTING
 CAMELLIA (camellia japonica, camellia sasanqua)
Camellias are widely used in Japanese gardens for there
beautiful bloom.
The camellia symbolizes happiness and contentment.

 MONDO GRASS ( Ophiopogon Japonicus )

Mondo grass is used throughout the garden as a ground
cover. Mondo grass symbolizes grace.

 JAPANESE RED PINE (pinus densiflora)

The red pine is seen in many forms in the Japanese garden.
This usually large tree provides plenty of shade for Canyon.
The red pine symbolizes the soft, female forces of then
universe.

 JAPANESE BLACK PINE (pinus thunbergii )

This is the most dominant and important pine in the
landscape. It works very well in this landscape because of
its ability to grow well on a slope. The black pine symbolizes
long life and consistency
EXISTING PLANTING
 WISTERIA (wisteria sinensis)
This rampant vine provides some of the only shade in this
garden, on the eastern slope where the bench seating is
located. The wisteria symbolizes sadness and
bereavement.

 GOLDEN WILLOW (Salix alba 'trista')

The most dominant willow in the garden is located by the
moon bridge. The golden willow was selected here because
of its beautiful golden bark, which gives added interest to
the garden in the winter.

 GINKGO BILOBA
The ginkgo tree is one of the most important and historical
plants in Japanese Gardens. This brilliant tree carpets the
with its yellow leaves. The best example of the Ginkgo
trees are in the Zen garden.
IRRIGATION FOR PLANTING
 The Japanese Garden have a very antiquated systems and
never being replaces since the garden was first built in
 Few areas are irrigated with manual valves, but majority is
done by hand watering with a hose.
 The Irrigation System using Rainbirds connected to quick
coplers, Standing Rainbird connected to a garden hose,
and spike type fan spray connected to a hose.
POND MAINTAINANCE
 The Japanese Garden only have two full time Gardeners
according to the budget
 The Gardener also responsible to maintain other Asian
Garden, However They put their times more into Japanese
Garden. David MacLaren, who in charge for Asian Garden,
also spend time to do the specialty pruning.
 The Pond uses two skimmers regularly for daily. During the
Fall Season They clean the pond several times a day
 Others maintaining like netting the debris on the surface,
cleaning and fertilizing the pond plants, cleaning the gravel
filter bed( located on the bottom of the pond) , and Hosing
the surface debris to the south end of pond for netting
purposed will be done when they are needed
 They also feeding the Koi on daily basis.
SITE ANALYSIS
NATURAL DETERMINANTS

 The Japanese Garden is located in a natural canyon.

Historically, the natural low point held a dammed pond
used for orchard irrigation.

 Warm, dry climate with average rainfall of 15”

 Canyon location creates large elevation changes that make

garden difficult to navigate for people who need accessible
paths.
 SITE ANALYSIS:
HUMAN DETERMINANTS: Visitor Use
 Visitors gather around interactive elements of gardens such as
ducks, Koi, viewing stones.
SITE ANALYSIS
 Lawn area and large entrance bench covered by wisteria are nodes
used for seating and shade.
 Some gathering along rails on each side of path.
SITE ANALYSIS:
HUMAN DETERMINANTS: Visitor Use
 Lower garden is used as a strolling garden, and where all major
nodes exist.

 Upper garden contains most features--a Japanese residence,

bonsai display, Zen garden and restrooms. A lack of seating and
shade mean people walk from one area to another, but do not tend
to stay long in any one place.

HUMAN DETERMINANTS: Visitors

 Visitors tend to visit in multi-generational family groups. Visitors
from North America, Europe, and East Asia were observed. There
are many senior citizens.