dan pearson studio: tokachi millenium forest in japan

london-based landscape architecture practice dan pearson studio and japanese landscape designer fumiaki takano have collaborated on the tokachi millenium forest, a bosco garden on the northern island of hokkaido, japan. the project’s current progress was presented by pearson at this year’s design indaba conference in south africa, a design event which brings together visionary minds from around the world to share their global contributions and successful methodologies.

mountain stream crossing through the forest
image © syogo oizumi/tokachi millennium forest/midori shintani (also main image)

serving to offset the carbon footprint of the client’s newspaper business, the 240 hectare masterplan is the beginning of a sustainable vision for the next thousand years which will regenerate and foster habitats which have been lost in the region. an element of the program includes educating park visitors to take ownership and tend for the grounds to contribute positively to its future. this will also return to the people as the country becomes more urbanized, separating nature from the majority of the population.

seedlings from the original vegetation begin to emerge as the invasive bamboo has been succesfully eliminated
image © syogo oizumi/tokachi millennium forest/midori shintani

positioned at the base of the foothills, the mountainous terrain channels water through the land. despite the existence of natural vegetation, the premier woods have been deforested and the current growth are a regeneration of magnolia, oak and white birch trees. the dominant understory of sasa, an invasive bamboo, has been cut back over time to allow the original seedlings within the soil to emerge, restoring the native small scale fauna.

raised walkways make the forest accessible to visitors
image © syogo oizumi/tokachi millennium forest/midori shintani