The design of the landscape surrounding the building takes cues from the design of the inner courtyards. Collaboration with Keiko Cramer.
Conceptual drawing of the large context showing "bands" of planting flowing through the site, the workers housing, and the office building courtyards.
The mix of planted and paved surfaces in the courtyards was inspired by the positive and negative spaces of a bamboo stand.
Abstracted diagram of the planted/paved mix.
Variations on a theme: studies testing a variety of rotation techniques to create different relationships between planted and paved surfaces.
A closeup of one of the courtyard design studies.
Conceptual design for the three inner courtyards. An integrated palette of paved surfaces, ornamental grasses, water, and tree plantings.
Dai-Ichi Office Landscape
In January 2009, I was invited to Tokyo, Japan as part of a team from WRT to work with Takenaka Architects. We collaborated on the conceptual design of a landscape for a new office building in a suburb outside of Tokyo. The site of the building was next to a neighborhood school, park, and workers housing. In response, we developed a conceptual plan for the entire site to integrate the building with its context.
We also worked on the design of the interior and exterior building landscape. I was tasked with creating a conceptual design for the inner courtyards. My design was inspired by the positive and negative space of a bamboo stand. I conducted a series of design studies whereby a solid surface was sliced into planks, which were then removed or rotated. This process created a design of overlapping paved and planted surfaces. The concept was extended out from the courtyards to influence the exterior landscape as well.
Nov2009
Professional
Client
- Takenaka Architecture
Firm
- Wallace Roberts & Todd
Collaborators
- Keiko Cramer
- David Ostrich