Since its openening in the '60s, the Portland Japanese Garden has seen dramatic growth, from 30,000 annual visitors to roughly 350,000. But while the garden's popularity has increased, space to accommodate guests has not.
To preserve the sense of serenity the garden is known for, without limiting the number of visitors, the Oregon attraction is planning to a "Cultural Village," where Japanese arts and culture can be studied and celebrated, according to ArchDaily.
The village will be comprised of several different buildings all designed in the style of Japan's gate front towns, or monzenmachi. One such building, The Village House, will serve as a cultural center and offer space for art exhibits, lectures, and educational activities. There will also be a tea house, garden house and a new courtyard with space for additional activities.
The "Cultural Village" is the first public commission in America for Kengo Kuma, a Japanese architect, who explained in a statement that the expansion is an important venture for the two countries.
"The Portland Japanese Garden's careful growth is a very important cultural effort, not only for Portland but also for the US and Japan," he said.
And although the "Cultural Village" is still in the planning and fundraising stage, Kuma's mockups, below, clearly show what the expansion will look like.
