Art Biotop Water Garden

A Japanese water garden, located in Tochigi, Japan designed by architect Junya Ishigami.

The garden was built as the consequence of the uprooting of hundreds of trees for the construction of an artists’ residence and hotel. Junya proposed replanting each tree in a meadow adjacent to the site – formerly rice fields and, before that, a densely wooded forest. In doing so, he utilised the traditional tools used for levelling water, and transformed the space into a woodland landscape dotted with dozens of ponds.