Asia Gardens Workshop

GARDEN OF TRANSFIGURATION

JOO LIEW #831400 DESIGN STRATEGIES OF ASIAN GARDENS

_SITE

Designer:

William Guilfoyle

Type:

Manmade garden

Built:

1846

Footprint:

38 ha

Program:

Conservation and observation; herbarium collection

Outdoor activity

Encourage study and public knowledge and awareness of plants

Research Centre for Urban Ecology

Plants: Home to a large collection of plant species, fungi and algae Features:

River, garden beds, lakes and expansive lawns.

Land management: 47% Melbourne City Council, 31% RBG Board, 11% Shrine of Remembrance Trusties, 9% Officeof Governor, 2% Victorian Arts Centre Trust

site of choice: Lawn in front of Ornamental Lake - minimal disturbance to surrounding native Korean plantations

_DESIGN INTENT

•

Placemaking, sensory experience, utilising “borrowed

SITE ~650 m2

scenery”.

•

On a functional level, to activate that particular area of the site that is often passed through quickly (provide space for users to stop and stay instead).

•

Rest and reprieve

•

Ceremony & utility (Shrine of Remembrance users)

Demographic of CBD, range of young adults to elderly, of working class and moderate to high socioeconomic status. Small groups of people looking to gather eg. families, of 2-3-(4)-6.

Functional intent: Passive recreation/rest area to enhance the existing programs that are in the garden.

Site area outlined; a section of the gardens currently unoccupied. To be proposed, a contemporary garden that highly regards Korean traditional garden principles, practices and philosophies.

_SOSWAEWON GARDEN Composition

Notions

Visual directions integrated

Close viewing to distant viewing platforms are established, as well as allowing visual changes from both inside and outside the installed buildings.

Borrowed scenery principle applied. Such as the Immersion of Nature

framing of a window from the building to allow for external interaction, as well as views of the scenery from various positions of vision.

Harmony between building composition and spatial

Form of symbolism

planning together with the surrounding nature applies Confucianism philosophies. Minimal artificial control as it is ‘one with nature’.

Form of sensory experience

Engaging the sense with the landscape, both artificial and natural to cultivate an organic relationship with the spaces.

Designer:

Yang San-bo

Type:

Manmade garden; garden of ‘cleanliness and transparency’

The outer, inner and auxiliary spaces of the gardens, that form a intricate life ‘cycle’ instead of a linear flow. This is also represented in the flow of circulation Spatial division

(access). The inner and outer spaces are segregated via the spatial topography but has a moment of ‘rest’,

Location:

Jigok-ri Village, Korea

Built:

1506-1544

stilled or slowed down whilst traversing through the

Footprint:

9900m2

as individual sensory perception may cause variations.

Image: Korea Tourism Organisation. 2008. Soswaewon Garden. Accessed from www.soswaewon.co.kr

a intermediary area to which interaction with nature is garden phases. This perception is ambiguous however

_SPIRITED GARDENS OF JEJU-DO

Designer:

Bum-Young Sung

Location:

Nokchabunjae-ro, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju-

do Built:

1968

Footprint:

40,000m2

Program:

Largest dedicated Bonsai garden. Display

of various plantation, relaxation and walk.

Hosting world dignitaries. Place for reflection Features:

Aquatic garden (aquatic plants),

Cactus garden (cacti) Jungle Garden (tropical) Tropical Fruits Seasonal displays Outdoor (Korean-Japanese) Jeju Native Plants Display Stone sculptures, Koi ponds & waterfalls Image: Spirit Garden Community. 2014. Soswaewon Garden. Accessed from http://www.spiritedgarden. com/en/index.php

Image: Spirit Garden Community. 2014. Soswaewon Garden. Accessed from http://www.spiritedgarden. com/en/index.php

KOREAN GARDENS TRADITIONAL TYPOLOGY

coordinate b coordinate c

coordinate a

space b (less time)

space c (less time)

CORE space a (more time)

cycle of

intermediary space possible

progression vertical axis; strong, robust and firm

Yang

Yin

horizontal axis; still and stable

ROCKS

PONDS

PLANTS

•

•

rectangular, square with a round island (symmetry)

•

for ideal picturesque landscape

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‘perfection’ and contemplation

•

for views; framing

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passive (round=earth, receptive and still)

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to indulge in nature and grow alongside it

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symbolism

groups of 2/3/9/12

•

an ‘eternal’ material due to its lasting capabilities

•

stable and enduring •

1 island: Daoist idea of Heaven to Earth

•

3 islands: peaks of the 3 immortals

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Boundary: separate mortal world and the divine plane

MODERN LANDSCAPE specific function immediate resolution specialising in specific element or theme hierarchy in subjects are established segmented (planning)

TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPE multifunctional long-term utility and consideration holistic autonomous integrative (objects)

external resources; may conflict

symbiotic

disorganised

connective

uniformed

diversity

inflexible

flexibility

maintenance can be expensive globalised; internationalised costly technical details and rationalism dependent on other factors surrounding the site and culture

contemporary garden

self-regulatory considers nature as the context cost-efficient for what it is symbolism-heavy autopoiesis

korean garden

_GEOMETRY + MATERIALS

Different user groups can use each area differently.

Younger ages

Older aged

- Active recreation - play areas - Passive ‘recreation’, rest - walking, bystanding, sensory

Diagram of the potential spaces/sights to be experienced in the proposed contemporary garden.

GARDEN OF TRANSFIGURATION

_BOUNDARY

Yarra River Linear Reserve boundary

Dallachy Island

Fountain island Ridoutt Island The Terrace Cafe

Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre A contemporary garden proposal based on Korean traditional garden principles is brought into the Royal Botanic Gardens to provide a space to house the vast range of East-introduced flora; as there is already spaces that cater for Western-inspired gardens, such as the ‘New Zealand Collection’ and ‘Australian Walk’ spaces.

Edmund Herrin Memorial Oval

Guilfoyle’s Volcano

Gate D

As Australian society moves toward emphasis on multiculture, the gardens are an opportunity to celebrate underrated typologies and principles that have not been implemented before in Melbourne.

The garden also provides a rest and reprieve area for those who walk further from the Terrace Cafe and simple want a change of pace, an atmosphere that is closed off from the bustling public vibe.

The boundary of the proposed garden design was determined by the placement of the lake and surrounding facilities.

It is positioned adjacent to the Terrace Cafe and also considers the gradient slope toward the east, which tends to be avoided by users due to its steepness.

_MASTERPLAN

A

_SECTION

A sacred sculpture garden transient garden

Ornamental Lake

[seating]

SECTION AA

B

B

sacred island

sound space

peach garden

SECTION BB

C

C

inner deuksu

three-step garden

peach garden

SECTION CC

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Elevated areas: Passing into a more ‘sacred’ part of the site. More private and typically a distance away from the active areas. Small, groups of 1-2.

Depressed areas: Shareable space for groups of a few people, 3+. To represent 0M

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the relationship between

nature and man, as well as the ‘natural’ flow of order.

_CIRCULATION

1 9 2

3

5 8

4

7

1 Entry/exit from main path 2 Transient garden 3 Sculptural garden 4 Deuksu - 3-step garden 5 Sound space

6

6 Peach garden 7 Inner Deuksu - Pavilion 8 Sacred islands 0M

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9 Secondary entry/exit

_ENTRY

Entry from the eastern side of the Royal Botanic Gardens. This is directly connected to the main existing path for direct access and makes use of what is already on the site. Its modern stone/ concrete rectangular form with a circle opening depicts the transition between the borders of man (RBG) into the korean garden (essentially stepping 1 Entry from the main path

into the heavens)

_SPACES TRANSIENT (GLASS STILLS) GARDEN

2

Reintroducing some of the Red Sands gardens and having this reminiscent of what is already existing in the RBG; intent is also to be celebrating other gardens.

Symmetrical Planning: Organisation in the garden. Segregates the ‘boundaries’ of what is human and what is considered divine property. An activated play/rest area that allows users to see, but not touch the divine monument but still can interact with it. A connection to nature.

Angled stairway: Daetol steps indicate progression to a sacred area. A depressed area compared to the 3-step garden. Deep depression to lead into a contemporary ‘forest’. Intended to emulate the downward flow of ‘water’, as the original idea was a pond (without water).

Borrowed scenery: The stalks mirror the environment, creating an abstraction of views and adding interest. Resting stone steps for elderly to sit; active play area for children.

Contemporary material substitution: Water -> sand (for ‘play’ and interaction with nature). Bamboo -> Mirrored tempered glass stalks; allow abstraction/distortion of the scenery.

_SPACES SCULPTURAL GARDEN 3

Levels: Generates hierarchy. Daetol steps that are relatively high to cross, and indicates going into the sacred planes or into royal spaces or major shrines. Has rocks placed for seating.

Polar coordinate system: Transition into this closed private area from the open areas. Planned in the North for location, supposed to convey this is an area of ‘nourishment’ for the mind.

Trees: Indicates type of sacredness and age of the garden. The sculpture is reflective (potentially steel) and its elements turns according to the flow of wind. Visual aspect for users to experience the flow of time alongside nature.

Ginkgo: Sign of reassurement to reaching ascension Bamboo:

Uprightness, strength and resilience (closed)/

Open-mindedness (open, hollow stem)

_SPACES DEUKSU - 3 STEP GARDEN

4

Ponds with 3 islands: Portrays a meaningful relationship between man, heaven and earth. Ripples of water to allow for users to stop and look onward, reflecting. Part of the borrowed scenery and opportunity to reintroduce plants onto the islands.

Levels: Miniature hill aspect. Levels indicate that this space encourages movement and to reciprocate a direct relationship with nature (encourage user to ‘walk’ with nature essentially).

Rocks: Indicative of the peaks of immortals, showing that deities are present and there to provide safety and protection to the users.

_SPACES SOUND SPACE

5

seongnyeonji bamboo wall surrounding stone seating

Rocks: Indicative of the peaks of immortals, a symbol of safety and protection in this area.

Seongnyeonji: An area that is mostly enclosed, providing retreat to the water feature, a stone basin with aquatic plants or fish. Users can rest amidst the sculptural rock seating and enjoy the trickling of the water like hearing a the flow of a small forest stream.

Planning of the Auxiliary space: Unifies the 3 planes by integrating plantation/rock (earth), water feature (heaven), and allowing access via a rectangular opening (man).

Water flows downward, like in nature, hence this garden aspect is located toward the south of the overall plan.

_SPACES PEACH GARDEN

6

Symbolic outer garden edges: Angular planning, has a lot of trees to resemble the land that is aged and closes to the mountains, where nature is at its strongest impact/energy.

Trees: Level of sacredness. Peach tree forestation at this garden spot. Represents the immortality of the garden and its deciduous predisposition symbolizes this part of the garden as something of passive transformation and natural beauty.

_SPACES PAVILION

Model of fixings of Serpentine Pavilion’s roof & ‘wall’/window fixings based on observation and research. 2020. Glass fixings that could potentially be used to allow the pavilion to be semi-open at some places to help with framing of views.

7

_SPACES SACRED ISLANDS

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1 island: Connection of Heaven to Earth (Daoist concept) Boundary: Users onlook to the view of the Ornamental Lake, with the island as a sign of divine residence.

This separates the Man and Heaven planes.

Passive lake, that is receptive; conveys to users that it is a place of harmony and safety.

_PLANTING REPOSITIONED KOREAN FLORA SPECIES

Mostly deciduous, relocated Korean species: That were already in the RBG. Deciduous plants used for parts of the garden that undergo strong seasonal changes, to show the passing of time and the metaphorical changes in boundaries between man, heaven and earth.

Aphananthe aspera, Muku tree (evergreen)

Phyllostachys nigra, Black Bamboo (evergreen)

Broussonetia papyrifera; Paper mulberry

Low water use plants; Echeveria zorro (evergreen)

Cornus alba; White dogwood

Acer palmatum; Red Maple

Coastal Tea tree In substitute of Peach/ persimmon

Abeliophyllum distichum, Korean White Flowered False Forsythia

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Agastache rugosa; Korean Mint

_MATERIALITY PAVING/WALLS

Gravel

Bluestone

Weathered steel salvaged from existing garden sculptures

Sandstone

Paver 1 - stone

Paver 2 - gaps allowing for lawn exposure

Black Bamboo

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_SEATING ISOLATED & COMMON AREA SEATING

Bamboo; for users to experience resting, enveloped inside of nature and its closeness.

Bluestone, rectangular/ geometric. The main seat for man.

Bluestone, that would contrast with the red sands of this Transient Garden space. ‘Cools’ and softens the feel of the area despite being stone.

Excluding actual stone seating, these are 3 seat sets: To depict certain seating in areas where man and heaven metaphorical boundaries are represented.

In the Transient Garden, this was supposed to represent a ‘pond’ (without water; is a contemporary active area) but existing stone could be used for seating, safety and also act as ‘boundary’ around the edges.

Drainage path leading to the main path’s drainage. City West Water.

PVC pipeline Atrium drain Proposed drainage line Proposed extensions of sewer line Existing line 0M

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The activated Transient Garden space. Contemporary addition adjacent to the main entrance.

The Sacred Sculpture garden area.

The Three-Step Garden

The Sound Space.

View from Ornamental Lake with the integrated contemporary Pavilion.

Borrowed scenery and slight view of cityscape.

GARDEN OF TRANSFIGURATION

JOO LIEW #831400 DESIGN STRATEGIES OF ASIAN GARDENS