This is a landscape plan for a support facility for children with disabilities in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. Although the surrounding area is a residential area, a grove of trees, mainly carpinus arborescens, remained on the construction site of the facility. The plan calls for preserving the forest as much as possible, and the buildings are positioned to avoid the trees. The forest floor of the existing grove was barely developed, and only partially developed. If left as is, it would remain a simplified forest of the same generation, unique to artificial forests where generational change is not possible, so we considered creating a forest with a rich forest floor. Furthermore, as part of the road adjacent to the planned site was expanded, the edge of the existing forest had to be cut down, and compensatory vegetation was needed.

The plan was to first transplant a small amount of forest floor vegetation from the existing forest at the proposed construction site, nurse it to an adjacent site during the construction period, and then return it to the forest edge and forest floor. During the nursery period, the light intensity was controlled to match that of the original forest. In addition, new fragrant tree species were planted on the forest edge and forest floor, aiming not only to enrich the forest edge and forest floor, but also to create a forest that people who use the forest can enjoy for its scent. These low trees also provide tangible greenery, and perhaps offer a variety of experiences compared to the previous forest that only had tall trees.

The path was designed with great care to allow visitors to experience the forest floor and forest edge. The placement of each block of paving was carefully considered to avoid laying on the root systems of existing trees as much as possible. Handrails were also used in some areas to allow for no paving.

There are tables set up at the edge of the forest from which visitors can enjoy a view, and they are at a height that makes them wheelchair accessible.

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GARDEN FOREST WITH RICH EXPERIENCE

How can landscape architects encourage disable children to have lots of diverse experience? Colors, sounds, scents, textures, winds, rain, light, taste may stimulate these children through experience in nature. This garden of the group home and medical support center for local disable children “Bloom no kaze” can give disabled children rich nature experience with all physical senses in urban small forest.

 

RESERVED EXISTING FOREST WITH NEW COLORFUL AND SCENTFUL PLANTS

The main structure of the garden is the existing forest which we try to reserve by changing layout of main building for the center. The forest has many over 20 meter high trees with nice shadow, however, forest floor vegetation is poor to experience with visible flower and fruits, leaves in touchable height. In our design, new low touchable visible trees with special shapes or scent, color etc, are added in forest floor to encourage children to have rich experience in the forest. In construction phase, forest floor vegetation in some areas for main building was carefully moved out and preserve local natural resources. These returned vegetation to the forest can play role of grow up next generation of the forest. Nowadays, so many birds and insects come back to the forest and sing a song in the forest for children.

 

SEVERAL TRIGAR TO ATTRACT THE FOREST

We set several paths to guide you to enter the forest placed. Main path with concrete bricks are highly in the center of the forest from south to north between existing trees with careful layout to prevent any damage for roots of existing trees. The main path has enough width and gentle slope for wheel chair users. Impressive white steel handrail is set in area which is difficult to spare space for the pavements. The handrail is freely curved as swimming in the forest and displays moving shadow of existing trees. the forest and reflect light through canopy of trees.