Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 12-2020 Chinese Gardens: Solutions for Urban Nature Deficit Zachary K. Warner Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Part of the Chinese Studies Commons, Environmental Design Commons, and the Landscape Architecture Commons Recommended Citation Warner, Zachary K., "Chinese Gardens: Solutions for Urban Nature Deficit" (2020). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 1501. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1501 This Creative Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CHINESE GARDENS: SOLUTIONS FOR URBAN NATURE DEFECIT By Zachary K. Warner A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE In Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Approved: _____________________ _______________________ Benjamin George, PhD Keunhyun Park, MLA, PhD Major Professor Committee Member _____________________ _______________________ Jasmine Yu-Hsing Chen, MA, PhD Richard S. Inouye, PhD Committee Member Vice Provost for Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2020 ii Copyright © Zachary K. Warner 2020 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Chinese Gardens: Solutions for Urban Nature Deficit By Zachary K. Warner, Master of Landscape Architecture Utah State University, 2020 Major Professor: Benjamin George Department: Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Research shows that time spent in nature is good for human health and well-being. However, as the world’s population becomes more concentrated in urban areas regular time in nature, especially extended time, is becoming more difficult to have. On the other hand, Chinese gardens can provide one solution to this problem because they have a unique way of providing a naturalistic space within a small area. Despite this fact, there aren’t many Chinese style gardens outside of China. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to identify possible barriers to using Chinese garden design principles and construction techniques, then address them with a number of solutions. As part of this effort the best literature was consulted including books and journal articles on Chinese garden design, history, and related fields. The information from literature was then compared to both Western practices and current development processes for Chinese gardens in the West to identify iv possible barriers. Many of the barriers were found to be related to cost, cultural differences, materials, laws and regulations, and education. To address these barriers the literature was consulted, and a number of solutions sprung from the history of Chinese gardens as well as current literature. Overall, however, solutions for overcoming barriers to the use of Chinese garden design principles were found to be centered in foundational design objectives and principles. These objectives and principles were found to allow the flexibility needed for Chinese gardens to adapt to local circumstances and conditions. In the end following these ideas and principles will allow professionals to create gardens that are anywhere along a spectrum from fully Chinese in character to fully local in character. (169 pages) v PUBLIC ABSTRACT Chinese Gardens: Solutions for Urban Nature Deficit Zachary K. Warner Research shows that time spent in nature is good for human health and well-being. However, as the world’s population becomes more concentrated in urban areas regular time in nature, especially extended time, is becoming more difficult to have. On the other hand, Chinese gardens can provide one solution to this problem because they have a unique way of providing a naturalistic space within a small area. Despite this fact, there aren’t many Chinese style gardens outside of China. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to identify possible barriers to using Chinese garden design principles and construction techniques, then address them with a number of solutions. As part of this effort the best literature was consulted including books and journal articles on Chinese garden design, history, and related fields. The information from literature was then compared to both Western practices and current development processes for Chinese gardens in the West to identify possible barriers. Many of the barriers were found to be related to cost, cultural differences, materials, laws and regulations, and education. To address these barriers the literature was consulted, and a number of solutions sprung from the history of Chinese gardens as well as current literature. Overall, however, solutions for overcoming barriers to the use of Chinese garden vi design principles were found to be centered in foundational design objectives and principles. These objectives and principles were found to allow the flexibility needed for Chinese gardens to adapt to local circumstances and conditions. In the end following these ideas and principles will allow professionals to create gardens that are anywhere along a spectrum from fully Chinese in character to fully local in character. vii FRONTISPIECE Most Cherished in this mundane world is a place without traffic; Truly in the midst of a city there can be mountain and forest. ~Wen Zhengming (2006) viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my Committee for all of the excellent help and suggestions they have provided which have resulted in this thesis . I would also Like to thank my family for their constant support during my education and through the process of finishing my thesis. Zachary K. Warner ix CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT. iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT . v FRONTISPIECE. .vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . viii LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION . 1 Background . 2 Project Objectives and Methodology . .15 Deliverables, Expected Findings, and Significance. .16 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW . .17 Theory and Concepts . 18 Historic Developments . 24 Process . 33 Materials . 34 Chinese Gardens in the West . 37 Opportunities for Research . 41 CHAPTER 3 BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS. 43 Chinese vs. Western Practices . 43 Possible Barriers . 50 Solutions . 53 CHAPTER 4 DESIGN GUIDE . 58 Objectives and Principles . 58 Objectives . 59 Principles . 61 x Process . 69 Feature Design and Construction . 79 Materials . 115 Example Design. 117 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS . 130 REFERENCES . .133 APPENDICES . 140 END NOTES . 151 xi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Comparison Between a Chinese Garden and a Western Park. .8 2 Chinese Style Gardens Outside of China . .14 3 Table of Chinese garden design principles. 68 xii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 View in the Lingering Garden . 12 2 A Solitary Temple Amid Clearing Peaks. .19 3 Beautiful Scenery for the New Year . 19 4 Land and Water Penjing by Zhao . 20 5 Landscape Scale Penjing A . 21 6 Single Tree Penjing . 21 7 Landscape Scale Penjing B . 22 8 Ornate Garden Pavilion . 23 9 Recently Built Garden in Chinese Housing Complex . 24 10 Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong . 26 11 Song Dynasty Landscape Paintings . 27-28 a. Spring by Liu Songnian . 27 b. Section of ‘Composing Poetry on a Spring Outing’ by Ma Yuan . .28 12 Screenshot of Videogame Garden . 29 13 Screenshot of Information Pop-up . 30 14 Schematic map of the Garden of the Unsuccessful Politician . 31 15 Screenshot of Garden Featured on Chinese Youtube Channel . 32 16 Illustration of Garden Design Process. 34 xiii 17 Example of Taihu Rock . 35 18 Waterfall Made with Yellow Rocks . 35 19 Paving Pattern Made with Pebbles . 35 20 Song Dynasty Style Building in Suzhou City Museum . 36 21 Magnolia grandiflora . 37 22 View in Lan Su Yuan, Portland Oregon . .37 23 View in Liu Fang Yuan at the Huntington, California . 38 24 Courtyard in Liu Fang Yuan . 39 25 Workers from China Constructing Rockery in Seattle . 40 26 Unique Geology and Trees of Huangshan . ..