This week in Japan I visited two parks on Miyajima Island and gardens in Okayama and Takamatsu. These experiences have made me consider how water powerfully shapes landscapes and how humans use a variety of strategies to control the flow and movement of water. Miyajima Island Miyajima Island, or Shrine Island, is designated as one…
Tokyo is one of the world’s largest and most populated cities. It is best known as a vast metropolis or megacity, yet 3.44% of Tokyo is green space. This week I visited green spaces in Tokyo—gardens, shrine complexes, parks, and tree-lined walkways. I also had the opportunity to visit Tamagawa University to visit elementary classrooms…
Waterfront Parks in New York City Waterfront parks are important reminders about how cities rely on water for manufacturing and transport of goods and how ports can facilitate economic development. While I was in New York I visited two waterfront parks, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Hudson River Park. Both of these parks are mixed-use…
This week Holly and I made a 3 minute video about the High Line. In this video we share images of the park while exploring how purposefully placed artifacts, like railroad tracks, are powerful teachers, how plants led the way for park design, and how seeing city views and ongoing construction invites visitors to re-consider…