Interview with Tomoaki Katsuba | A Multi Award-Winning Photographer Capturing the Livelihood of Human Lives
June 25, 2024
TRIBECA Restaurant & Bar | Connecting People & Space
June 25, 2024
A Rustic Getaway
Located in Yangpo Village, Shanxi Province, China situated in the Loess Plateau and the residual branches of the Qinling Mountains, the village is scattered with cave homes constructed from loess facades. It is a sanctuary for those who appreciate the rustic feel.
Covering an enormous area of 13,510.2 square meters, it encompasses a gravel public garden, eight medium-sized courtyard gardens, and ecological moss landscapes. The Blooming Sanctuary aims to transform this rustic land into a rural resort area that combines leisure, tourism, and ecological functionality, while also using unique landscaping designs to stimulate rural employment and urban-rural exchange.
The sanctuary consists of characteristics that make it unique. Namely, it consisted of multiple scattered courtyards, each with a considerable scale. Considering the microclimates of each courtyard, it was crucially connected through the landscape design. It was a necessary design to allocate appropriate plants accordingly.
The landscape is predominantly characterised by a yellowish soil tone. The garden design incorporates shades of blue and grey, interspersed with hints of yellow, pink, and white. The usage of these colours create a romantic and cool grey palette.
Shanxi Loess Plateau provides a unique geographical environment that adds distinctiveness to the garden. With cool summers and intense sunlight, the flower's colours become vibrant, and their blooming period stretches longer than on the plains. The garden's most eagerly anticipated season would be autumn, where in particular the garden becomes the most beautiful location due to the lush foliage.
The sanctuary introduces a combination of local and non-local plants, scientifically cultivated with naturalistic designs. It aims to create a Peach and Plum Fragrant Garden that not only attracts urban tourists but also resonates with the local community in the Shanxi Loess Plateau.
Considering the climatic conditions of Shanxi, a meticulous selection of over 40 plant species was made to ensure the garden's visual charm changes dynamically with each season. To maintain the garden's allure during spring, summer, and autumn, and to withstand harsh winter temperatures, numerous perennials and cold-resistant shrubs were carefully chosen, resulting in a low-maintenance landscape. Aligning with their vision of creating a place that brings pleasure to the eyes and solace to the soul, this project secured a win at the London Design Awards.
Credits
Entry Title: Blooming Sanctuary, A Rustic Getaway
Entrant Company: Yewu Design Studio
Winning Category: Landscape Design - Hotel & Resort Landscape
Explore the Beijing Wangfujing Shopping Mall an opus magnum of Beijing here.
