In Between
Yu-meng Tsai Master of Landscape Architecture
In Between
Yu-meng Tsai Master of
Landscape Architecture
In Between
Pursuing landscape architecture after establishing a foundation in architecture has been one of the most fullfiliing decisions of my academic and professional career.
Over the past two years, I’ve built the ability to approach design challenges from both architectural and landscape perspectives. My education at Tunghai University and my professional experience have shaped a well-rounded approach that considers urban planning, architecture, and user-centered design. Studying at the Academy of Art has expanded this perspective, deepening my understanding of sustainability, ecological design, and nature-based solutions.
Therefore, I see myself positioned in between architecture and landscape architecture. While the methods may differ, both aim to create sustainable, inclusive environments that serve people and connect them with nature.
Project
Angel Island Immigration Station Poetry Garden Course
Lan 611 Design Studio
Instructor
Mark Yin
Site
Angel Island State Park, Tiburon, CA
Semester
Fall 2024
Angel Island Poetry Garden
Translating poetry into a spatial experience
Statement
Angel Island Immigration Station, the heart of Angel Island State Park, has welcomed visitors since 1963. The preserved barracks display poems carved into the walls by detained immigrants between 1910 and 1940, expressing loneliness, hope for a new life in San Francisco, and frustration over discrimination. These verses offer a powerful glimpse into their struggles and resilience, preserving their voices for future generations.
The Poetry Garden project transforms the words of a poem into logograms, which are further translated into architectural elements and plant arrangements. The garden, planted with native species, fills the abandoned space between historic buildings and newly constructed hardscape areas. More than just adding beauty, it offers a peaceful place for visitors to relax, reflect, and connect with the island’s history. As they move from the quiet garden to the open view of the seashore, visitors experience the feelings and stories expressed in the poem through both sight and space.
San Francisco
Angel Island
Tiburon
Marin City
1. Warm and dry. The wind from the west is blocked by the hills.
2. Native plant communities: coastal grassland and coastal scrub.
Prevailing wind from the west got blocked by the hills
Native plant communities: Coastal grassland and coastal scrub.
Limit of Work
The low-lying terrain situated between the base of the old building and the new hardscape.
wind from the bay
Historic Dock
Renovated Landscape
Sun Path in Summer
Sun Path in Winter
Historic Hospital Building
Detention Barracks
Dinning Building N
Prevailing
望傳佳語藉書遊。回憶高情心未償，天涯作客遠方遊。握別依然又一秋，
Poem 19
Since our parting, another autumn has yet arrived.
I have become a distant traveller of far away places.
Remembering your great kindness, I know in my heart I have not repaid you.
Hoping to see good tidings, I’ll depend on writing letters.
/
/ Concept 1: Remebering
/ Concept 2: Diaspora
/ Concept 3: Looking Back
Lecture & Gathering space Large groups, students
01 / Bird's Eye of the Design
The Seat of Persecution
The stranded Cypress
The Looking Back Platform
Overlook Deck
Skylight
Seating (Large Groups)
Seating (small groups)
Seating (Large Groups)
Presentation of Poem 19 Line3
Presentation of Poem 19 Line4
Presentation of Poem 19 Line2
Presentation of Poem 19 Line1
Plaque with the entire poem DN
Gravel
Existing Barren Land
Vibrant Planting Area
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
Manzanita
Arctostaphylos edmundsii
Original Ground Cover
Lavender genus Lavandula
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Olive Tree Olea europaea
Monterey Cypress Hesperocyparis macrocarpa
California Sagebrush Artemisia californica
California Buckeye Aesculus californica
Monterey Cypress Hesperocyparis macrocarpa
Olive Tree Olea europaea
California Buckeye Aesculus californica
California Sagebrush Artemisia californica
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
Lavender genus Lavandula
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Manzanita Arctostaphylos edmundsii
01 / The Seat of Persecution
02 / The stranded Cypress
03 / Walking though the corten steel walls
02 /
01 / The Looking Back Platform
/ Lighting Design Demonstration
/
/
Project
Fort Baker Master Plan for Development Course
Lan 712 Site Design Studio
Instructor
Toni Bava
Site
Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA
Semester
Spring 2024
Fort Baker National Park
Waterfront Park and Marshland Restoration
Statement
Fort Baker, the final "Post-to-Park" transformation in the Golden Gate National Parks, is a 335-acre former U.S. Army post established in 1905. Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, it features over 30 historic military buildings around a central parade ground, now home to park partners like Cavallo Point Lodge, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The site also boasts a scenic harbor, historic gun emplacements, and trails with stunning views.
The Fort Baker Master Plan aims to preserve and enhance the site while integrating it into the national park system. It balances conservation, recreation, and adaptive reuse by restoring historic structures, protecting natural habitats, and improving visitor experiences. This ensures Fort Baker remains a vital part of the Golden Gate National Parks for future generations.
Presidio Yacht Club/ Trevis Sailing Center
Maintenence Division of the Lodge
North District Buildings and Utilities Maintenence Division
Cavallo Point Lodge
Habitat Preservation Area
History of The Army
Marshland, Coastal Sscrub, and The History of Miwoks People
Bioswale
Moore Road
New Center Road
Coastal Scrub Habitat
Basin Play Area
Boardwalk
Oyster Reef
Marshland
Boardwalk
Oyster Reef
Marshland
Project
San Francisco Fire Department Healing Garden Course
Lan 611 Design Studio
Instructor
Mark Yin Group Members
Site
Angel Island State Park, Tiburon, CA
Semester
Fall 2024
Fire Department Healing Garden A place for finding peace
Statement
In Therapeutic Gardens: Design for Healing Spaces, healing is defined as the process of making something whole or sound, a transformative journey that helps individuals overcome challenges and restore balance in their lives. This comprehensive concept spans across physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions, recognizing that healing is not merely the absence of illness but a multifaceted process that nurtures overall well-being and wholeness.
For this project, I am specifically focusing on addressing stress and PTSD. Behavioral scientist Roger Ulrich emphasizes the importance of individuals having a sense of control over their surroundings, as well as access to a variety of spaces. A well-designed healing garden can provide this by offering diverse environments—some enclosed for privacy and introspection, and others open for social interaction. Such thoughtful design gives users the freedom to choose the setting that best supports their need for stress relief and tranquility.
/ Concept 1: Rambling
/ Concept 2: Two Zones
/ Concept 3:
03 / Functional Diagram 3:
01 / Functional Diagram 1: Rambling
02 / Functional Diagram 2: Two Zones
Net
01 / 02 /
Garbage Bins
Proposed Rain Cover
Bush Street
Existing Paver
Sitting Area
Existing Podocarpus
Water Feature
Consultation Space Court - Bocce
-
-
- Sitting
Permeable Paving
Existing Paver
Meditation Pathway - River Rock Paver Gathering Area - Deep Breathing - Yoga, Taichi - Outdoor Kitchen - Kid's Playground
Existing Ivy Green Wall Memorial Wall
51'-11"
Existing Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Decking Area - Herbal Garden
Sitting Area - Patio Umbrella if needed
Horseshoe
Petanque
Gathering Area
Deck Grill
Project
San Rafael Residence Course
Lan 712 Site Design Studio
Instructor
Toni Bava
Site
Angel Island State Park, Tiburon, CA
Semester
Spring 2024
Residence in San Rafael Balancing public and private domains
Statement
The clients, a married couple, built their home in 1995-1996. The husband, a general contractor, oversaw the construction through his company. Originally home to a family of four, the couple’s two children have since grown and moved away. Their son, now married with two young children, has returned to the area and resides in another building on the lower part of the property, outside the project scope. Now grandparents, the owners cherish sharing their home and property with their son’s family, who visit daily.
This project reimagines the homeowner’s daily life by connecting previously fragmented and underutilized outdoor spaces through intentional design. The site is located in a wildfire-prone area, requiring careful plant selection that not only complements the living environment but also considers maintenance costs, drought tolerance, and compliance with the Marin County Fire Defensible Space Zones code.
Sidewalks
The Original Designed Area
Prevailing wind from Mount
Overall surface drainage pattern
Prevailing wind from the bay
Tamalpais
L.O.W
WinterSolstice
SummerSolstice
WSeaviewAve
SeaviewAve
SITE
Defensible Space Zones
01 / California Fire Perimeters 02 / Defensible Space Zones
/
Defensible Spaces Zones
Zone 0: No combustibles
Zone 1:
1. Use only compost or heavy bark mulch.
2. Use fire-smart plants
Mountain Mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides
Olive Tree Olea europaea
California lilacs Ceanothus spp. Salvia Salvia spp.
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Manzanitas Arctostaphylos
Succulent s No Mow Lawn Festuca rubra
Grayish Private Side Garden and Corridor
Yellowish Public Side Garden
Yellowish Public Side Succulent Garden
Precast Concrete Paver
Sandstone Paver
Wood Deck
Small Scale Stone with Steel Edging
Sandblast Concrete Driveway
Natural Stone
Precast Concrete Pool Coping
Project
Stevens Creek County Park Site Analysis and Demo Garden Course
Lan 609 Ecological Foundations of Design Instructor
Lee Toney Site
Stevens Creek County Park, Cupertino, CA
Semester Fall 2023
Stevens Creek County Park Site Analysis and Demonstration Garden
Statement
Stevens Creek County Park is located near Cupertino, approximately 35 miles south of San Francisco and 10 miles west of San Jose, with easy access via Interstate 280. The park is situated between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, featuring a diagonally sloping terrain.The region falls within a Mediterranean climate zone, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The Stevens Creek Reservoir, located within Stevens Creek County Park, intercepts Stevens Creek, creating a diverse range of ecosystems and supporting a rich variety of wildlife.
This series of works presents various aspects of Stevens Creek County Park through detailed fieldwork, on-site sketches, and comprehensive site analysis. By the end of the semester, I conducted observations, assessments, and analyses, building up to a conceptual site plan for the Bay Tree Picnic Area. The primary goal of this plan is to enhance the site's native plant communities and wildlife habitats, while also providing an educational experience for park visitors.
Stevens Creek Reservoir
Tony Look Trail - Along the creek
Coyote Ridge Trail - Along the ridge
Ephemeral creek
Creek
Ridgeline
Edge - Stevens Creek
Corridor - Coyote Ridge Trail
Corridor - Tony Look Trail
Node - Chaparral Hill o x
Landmark - Resevoir Lookout Point
Landmark - Ridge Lookout Point
Node - Woodland
Node - Oak Woodland
California Bay Laurel Umbellularia californica
Red Willow Salix laevigata
Mature White Alder Alnus rhombifolia
Young White Alder Alnus rhombifolia
Bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum
Soil: Elder fine sandy loam
01 / Section- Elevation: The Stevens Creek and woodland
California Bay Laurel Umbellularia californica
Young California Bay Laurel Umbellularia californica
Western Cottonwood Populus fremontii
Mature White Alder Alnus rhombifolia
600 ft
Carex globosa Vinca major Pacific Blackberry Rubus Ursinus Fern Polypodiopsida.
01 /
/
01 / Bridge at the Trailhead
02 / California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii )
03 / Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
04 / Pink Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula)
Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia
Coyote Bush Baccharis pilularis
Scrub Oak Quercus berberidifolia
California Sagebrush Artemisia californica
Curlycup Gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
Pacific Poison Oak Toxicodendron diversilobum
Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia
Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum
California Buckeye Aesculus californica
Mature Coast Live Oak Quercus agrifolia 680 ft
Soil: Airship-Minlum complex
01 / Section- Elevation: The Resevoir and the Chaparral and Grassland Habitats
/ 03 / 04 /
01 / Oak Woodland
02 / Pacific poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
03 / Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
04 / California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
02
01 / Chaparral Hill 1
02 / Coyote Ridge Trail
03 / Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
04 / Chaparral Hill 2
+15'
Stevens Creek
Tony Look Trail
+0'
Existing
Woodland, Riparian
Bigleaf maple
Resting Corner
Picnic Area
Waterfront Play Area
01 / Demonstration Garden - Conceptual Site Plan
/ Moodboard
03 / Native Wildflowers
Low Shrub
Tall Shrubs
Acknowledgements
01 / Mom, Dad, and Cheng-chieh, thank you for throwing your weight behind me and be my biggest fans.
02 / Tony Bava, Mark Yin, and Lee Ann Toney, thank you for pushing me and supporting me to finish these works.
04 / Mary Scott, thank you for all your advice and helping me with my first book.
03 / Academy of Art students, you are the best team, and thank you for inspiring me so much.
Colophon
01 / School
Academy of Art University,
School of Landscape
Architecture
02 / Course
MA Portfolio Seminar
Mary Scott
03 / Student
Yu-meng Tsai
+1 669 324 5268
yumeng.tsai@gmail.com
yumengtsaidesign.com
04 / Book Binder
Blurb
05 / Cover Stock Imagewrap
06 / Text Stock
Mohawk Superfine Eggshell (100#, Text, Eggshell Texture)
07 / Font
Franlin Gothic: Medium, Book
Didot LT Pro: Roman
08 / Software
InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator
09 / Image Sources
Google Earth(P.8,9,26,48,80-82)
California Migration Museum (P.10)
California Department of Water Resources (P.41)
Toni Bava (P.64)
Las Pilitas Nursery (P.97)
10 / Copyright
2025 all rights reserved
No parts of this publication can be reproduced without express permission from Yu-meng Tsai
yumengtsaidesign.com