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Project Overview:

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This project involved the comprehensive renovation of the gardens at Shinkoji Temple, a Myoshin-ji sect temple located in Aichi Prefecture. I was approached by the temple’s head priest, whom I had met during his training at Kyoto’s Myoshin-ji Temple, to undertake the entire redesign and reconstruction of the temple’s landscape.

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Design and Planning:

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　·Zoning and Initial Planning: I began with zoning the entire site, which included designing the approach path, the main garden in front of the main hall, the garden beside the study hall, the courtyard, and the communal cemetery.

　·Preservation and Reuse: Prior to demolition, four large existing trees and all stone materials were carefully dismantled and preserved for reuse in the new design.

　·Design Theme: The overarching theme was to create an orderly temple environment within the urban context, reflecting the temple’s heritage and spiritual significance. The main garden symbolized the legend of the temple’s treasured Buddha statue, the rock garden represented the Seven Lucky Gods, and the views from within the building depicted serene countryside landscapes.

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Implementation:

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　·Construction Phases:

　　o　Approach Path: The temple, situated in a city center, required a wide parking area. Before creating the parking lot, I laid stone slabs for the approach path.

　　o　Main Garden and Surroundings: Once the zoning was complete, I proceeded with planting around the perimeter, constructing the main garden in front of the main hall, creating a rock garden beside the study hall, and developing a courtyard viewable from the multi-purpose hall.

　　o　Communal Cemetery: The communal cemetery was also designed and constructed within this phase.

　·Material Reuse and Aesthetic Integration: All previously used stones were integrated into the new gardens, ensuring continuity and sustainability. Each garden was designed to evoke distinct atmospheres, creating four unique settings.