If you've ever spent an afternoon at the Japanese tea garden in Seattle's Arboretum, or Tacoma's Point Defiance Park, you've no doubt experienced the incredible sense of calm and stillness that a Japanese garden can evoke. Inspired through both the Shinto religion's tenets of oneness with nature and Zen Buddhism's philosophies of aesthetics, traditional Japanese gardens and architecture are thoughtfully laid out to reflect an emphasis on simplicity, a contrast of materials, the elements of mystery and venerability and a blending with the natural world.
There are many parallels between the terrains of Japan and the Pacific Northwest. Both landscapes are rain-soaked volcanic regions naturally suited to gardening. It is not surprising, then, that more and more Japanese style gardens are popping up in our neighbors' backyards between English gardens and other cultural fusion gardens. One such backyard belongs to a Capitol Hill couple who extended their love of Japanese aesthetics from their garden to the rest of their property. With an interest in Eastern design and a pressing need for a new garage, the couple called on Master Builders Association and Built Green® member Ventana Construction to marry the two desires. The owners had moved into a classic early-1900s house several years before and had breathed new life into the home and grounds through remodeling and upkeep, but the home's original 1910 garage languished like a curse on their property; decaying and only useful for storage.
The owners wanted to replace the shed with a multi-purpose structure; a building meant to house a woodworking shop, a project space and a storage area in addition to holding their cars. They also wanted a carport that could act as a covered work area when not occupied by a vehicle. But above all else, the building would need to be beautiful unto itself. As avid gardeners, the couple had lovingly nurtured a contemplative and productive natural respite. It was to this garden that the new garage should blend and intertwine, establishing a Japanese-style outdoor retreat in the midst of the city's chaos.
