To illustrate, these two images I came across while browsing last night.
Photo taken in Kyoto, Japan, by Haku Huang
Like many people, I’m in love with the sensibility of Japanese old culture. Since Lao Tzu and before, they’ve been aware of the importance of naturalness and harmony with nature.
However, these stepping stones don’t do it for me. Aside from the joyful experience (and perhaps zen) of jumping from one stone to the other, there really is no reason for stepping stones in this garden. They’re laid out like nature put them there, but we all know this is not the truth. A simple, honest path – also much appreciated in Japanese gardening – would be much more naturally human solution for crossing the lawn.
We shouldn’t be afraid to show humanity in our design.
Woodland Residence, by Stephen Stimson
Based on this single image (I deliberately haven’t checked out images of the rest) I would say that this garden embraces nature as much as the Japanese one. Plants grow in abundance, it moves with the hillside and even has flowing water (video).
The design accentuates all these aspects; the wall accentuates the slope by contrast, the water is given center stage by lifting it off of the ground.
It offers us a heightened appreciation of nature, without denying our human design skills.
Acting natural doesn’t mean re-enacting nature. You don’t have to see nature to feel natural.
1. UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
On sustainability
2. UNDERSTANDING HOW THE WORLD WORKS
On nature
On human nature
On the meaning of life and living
On culture
On morality
3. UNDERSTANDING HOW CHANGE WORKS
On the Next Level Society
On behavioral change
On marketing sustainability
4-A. FIXING HOW WE DESIGN THE WORLD
On naturalness
On naturalness in behaviour
On naturalness in art
Artworks of interest
On naturalness in architecture
Architecture of interest: naturalness
On livable architecture
Architecture of interest: livability
On naturalness in design
Design works of interest
4-B. FIXING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OURSELVES
On well-being, self care and happiness
4-C. FIXING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
On responsible business
On Positive Design & design ethics
On privacy
Progressieve bureaus van Nederland, 2021
OTHER NOTES AND WRITINGS
On digital design, CX/UX, and technology
On the travel & hospitality industry
Miscellaneous