By Khalida Sarwari
A renovated Hakone Gardens is still a few years away, but residents recently got a firsthand look at preliminary plans for the venue.
A consultant group overseeing the development of the master plan for the construction of two new buildings at Hakone Gardens provided an update to members of the city council and staff, along with about 20 residents in attendance, at a community workshop on April 28. The first workshop on the project was held in February.
Consultants will use the master plan as a technical and aesthetic guideline as they attempt to renovate the gardens and add a new retreat center, tearoom and gift shop.
“We’re not doing designs; we’re doing planning,” Dennis Meyer, a landscape architect with the Portico Group, reminded his audience. “The master plan is a long-term road map. It’s as much to tell you where not to put things as it is about where to put things.”
As part of his presentation, Meyer shared goals and plans for the venue, while his partner Dean Runyan provided an in-depth look into the statistics and financials around the renovation project.
Meyer revealed three plans, all of which include a reconfigured parking and arrival space, new entry and courtyard, repurposing of existing structures, new tearoom and gift shop, new entry garden, garden operations yard and accessible garden pathways.
The difference between the three is that the entry and courtyard outlined in the second and third plans vary from the first, the second plan calls for new restrooms and the third plan includes a new hall. In addition, the entry garden includes a perimeter path in the first plan and a switchback path in the second.
To raise Hakone’s visibility, they want to establish closer connections with the Saratoga business community and public schools, reinvigorate members of the foundation, as well as volunteers, docents and donors, and expand the venue’s audience by catering to both the retirement community and the younger generation.
Their second goal is to restore the legacy of Hakone’s gardens and buildings. This includes improving the composition and experience of the core gardens, enhancing the visitor experience, and restoring deteriorated structures and areas of the site such as the Upper Pavilion, Wisteria Arbor and Wisteria Pavilion. They’re also seeking to provide better access to the Moon Viewing House, upgrading the koi pond, waterfalls and water filtration system, and creating a focal point at the Well Garden.
One goal that resonated most with some members of the audience was expanding the interpretive and educational opportunities at the site.
“This used to be a great cultural contribution to the community,” said resident Jackie Welch. “I think there’s a need for … classes and cultural programs.”
As part of this goal, the aim is to offer more interpretive programs, promote year-round festivals, develop a public outreach program for teachers, create exhibits about the history of Hakone and the gardens in Japan as well as Japanese cultural influences. They’re also hoping to highlight the skills and techniques needed to maintain an authentic Japanese garden such as Hakone.
A fourth goal is to enhance the visitor entry. This entails addressing ADA deficiencies in the parking lot and upper courtyard, clarifying visitor pathways, improving the safety of pedestrian crossings and vehicle traffic and reducing clutter at the entry.
Another goal is to provide adequate space for staff, which could mean increasing the administrative workspace, upgrading IT capability and providing additional grounds for maintenance and material storage facilities.
Improving visitor services and amenities is another priority for the Portico Group. They want to either remodel, relocate or provide a new gift shop and explore the idea of offering new merchandise. They also are thinking about adding a food and beverage component to this space, upgrading restrooms and adding an interior event and support space to minimize noise impacts in the surrounding neighborhood.
The consultants also touched upon the idea of creating a sustainable organization, advising Hakone board members that it would be worth examining new revenue sources, such as donations and grants; defining staffing needs; building a strong volunteer pool; and identifying support for capital renewal and building projects. They suggested exploring alternative uses for the apartment in the Cultural Exchange Center and possibly rebranding and renaming the venue. One resident suggested using the apartment for visiting artists in the same way that Montalvo provides space for its artists-in-residence.
Councilwoman Emily Lo said she was pleased with the Portico Group’s work.
“This speaks from a visitor’s perspective, from a patron’s perspective,” she said.
The next workshop will likely be held at the end of summer. At that meeting, the Portico Group will unveil a more focused plan.
Link: Workshop offers a look into the future of Hakone Gardens
