Takeo Uesugi
Encyclopedia
Takeo Uesugi is a Japanese-American landscape architect who designed acclaimed Japanese garden
installations. He is a graduate
of the University of California, Berkeley
, and Kyoto University
.
in a 1981 White House
ceremony that recognized his design of the James Irvine Garden. Today, this garden is widely regarded as one of the finest public spaces in Los Angeles
. In 2010, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure
Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from the Government of Japan for his work fostering the developmnet of Japanese gardens in the US. As such, he joins the ranks of fellow Japanese American landscape architect, Isamu Noguchi
.
Uesugi is currently the president of his own landscape design firm and a professor emeritus in landscape architecture
at Cal Poly Pomona
's College of Environmental Design
where he helped establish an exchange program with Kyushu University
.
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
installations. He is a graduate
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
.
Works
Uesugi's prominent works include:- The James Irvine Garden at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (Los Angeles, California)
- The Gardens of Belief at the City of Hope National Medical CenterCity of Hope National Medical CenterCity of Hope National Medical Center, is a private, not-for-profit clinical research center, hospital and graduate medical school located in Duarte, California, United States...
- The Japan Pavilion at the Expo '70Expo '70was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
, Suita, OsakaSuita, Osakais a city located in northern Osaka, Japan. As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 356,751 and the density of 9,880 persons per km². The total area is 36.11 km².... - The Hotel Nikko (now Grand Hyatt Hotel) in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
- The Japanese Friendship GardenJapanese Friendship Garden (Balboa Park)The Japanese Friendship Garden, also known as San Kei En is a Japanese Garden within Balboa Park, San Diego. It is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city Yokohama that binds the two cultures to create a unique experience for visitors from all over the world...
Expansion at Balboa ParkBalboa Park (San Diego)Balboa Park is a urban cultural park in San Diego, California. The park is named after the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa... - The Washington Center in Washington D.C.
- The George and Sakaye Aratani Japanese Garden on the campus of Cal Poly PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
Honors
Uesugi's honors include the National Landscape Award presented by First Lady Nancy ReaganNancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
in a 1981 White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
ceremony that recognized his design of the James Irvine Garden. Today, this garden is widely regarded as one of the finest public spaces in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In 2010, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure
Order of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from the Government of Japan for his work fostering the developmnet of Japanese gardens in the US. As such, he joins the ranks of fellow Japanese American landscape architect, Isamu Noguchi
Isamu Noguchi
was a prominent Japanese American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces,...
.
Uesugi is currently the president of his own landscape design firm and a professor emeritus in landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
at Cal Poly Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
's College of Environmental Design
Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design
The California State Polytechnic University, Pomona College Environmental Design also known as the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design is one of Cal Poly Pomona's seven colleges. The college houses over 1,600 students; making it one of largest environmental design programs in the...
where he helped establish an exchange program with Kyushu University
Kyushu University
Kyushu University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:The university has been ranked 8th in 2010 and 2009 in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai...
.