livingexhib.htm

Home > Chinese Garden > Living Exhibition

Building History: Construction of a Chinese Garden

A Landscape Takes Shape - View Progress of the Chinese Garden

A Chinese garden is essentially defined by its architecture. It is the pavilions that focus the eye on the scenery and create the views of the surrounding landscape. This spring, craftsmen from Suzhou, China, began work alongside American construction crews on the buildings that will complete the first phase of the Huntington’s Chinese Garden.

Because of the rare opportunity to see both traditional building crafts as well as the emerging landscape, visitors are invited to follow the progress by strolling along a specially designed construction fence framing views of the garden.

Stopping at different vantage points along the fence, visitors can observe the work underway on structures like the Hall of the Jade Tea-flower, Yu Ming Tang. Its delicate wood carvings bear camellia motifs that allude to the plant family from which tea is made. At closer viewing range are a traditional “cloud” wall and a covered walkway roofed with gray tile. The columns, beams, and lattice windows preserve the style of the 16th- and 17th-century scholar gardens in the city of Suzhou.

The Chinese Garden is closed to visitors during this period of construction, opening to the public in February, 2008.

About the Garden Nature, Art, and Literature Meet Fact Sheet Progress to Date Timeline E-Letter Funding for the Chinese Garden Donor Recognition Honoring Donors Recognition Program Acknowledgement Opportunities Leadership Meet the Leadership Team Advisory Committees Endorsements Programs Lectures & Events Contact us		Home > Chinese Garden > Living Exhibition Building History: Construction of a Chinese Garden A Landscape Takes Shape - View Progress of the Chinese Garden A Chinese garden is essentially defined by its architecture. It is the pavilions that focus the eye on the scenery and create the views of the surrounding landscape. This spring, craftsmen from Suzhou, China, began work alongside American construction crews on the buildings that will complete the first phase of the Huntington’s Chinese Garden. Because of the rare opportunity to see both traditional building crafts as well as the emerging landscape, visitors are invited to follow the progress by strolling along a specially designed construction fence framing views of the garden. Stopping at different vantage points along the fence, visitors can observe the work underway on structures like the Hall of the Jade Tea-flower, Yu Ming Tang. Its delicate wood carvings bear camellia motifs that allude to the plant family from which tea is made. At closer viewing range are a traditional “cloud” wall and a covered walkway roofed with gray tile. The columns, beams, and lattice windows preserve the style of the 16th- and 17th-century scholar gardens in the city of Suzhou. The Chinese Garden is closed to visitors during this period of construction, opening to the public in February, 2008.
		_____________________________________________________ © 2007 The Huntington. All rights reserved. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road • San Marino, CA • 91108 • 626-405-2100 Contact us