Tokyo Green Space

Bonsai pots for air plants

palmsundae — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:46:22 +0000

盆栽の陶芸とエアプラントです。

Temporary and semi-permanent parking flanked by temple, offices, apartments

palmsundae — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:30:15 +0000

仮設の半永久的な駐車所はお寺やオフィスビルやマンションに囲まれています。高いエレベーターの駐車場はお寺の土地を使っているそうです。

In the foreground, there’s an automated surface parking lot on a lot that may get developed. The tall white structure is an elevated parking lot that is semi-permanent, and it appears to have been erected on the property of a fairly large temple and graveyard. On either side, offices and apartment buildings frame a dense and changing city.

Small house borders large empty lot and some greenery. How did this post-war house survive, and how long has the neighboring lot stood empty?

palmsundae — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:22:39 +0000

この小さな戦後に建てられた家は、東京の終わらない再開発を生き残りました。手前の大きな空き地が、どのくらい空いていたのだろうと思います。

This small post-war house has survived Tokyo’s constant re-development. I wonder how long the large empty lot in the foreground has stood empty.

Full moon adds magic to the mundane

palmsundae — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:19:04 +0000

満月は日常に魔法を加えます。

Lone palm looks radiant in twilight

palmsundae — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:12:02 +0000

夕暮れに一本のヤシが素敵に見えます。

Lone palm looks radiant in twilight. I had to stop my bike to take this photo. Gaien-Nishi Dori between Aoyama and Jingu-mae.

Update: Identified by @jasondewees as Washingtonia, or Mexican fan palm. This tall skinny palm also grows well in San Francisco (and possibly LA, too).

Small birdhouse adds charm to Marui department store’s roof garden

palmsundae — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:12:07 +0000

丸井の屋上の庭に、かわいい巣箱があります。鳥が入ったでしょうか。

This small birdhouse adds charm to the Marui department store roof garden. I wonder if any birds have found their way inside. Shinjuku san-chome.

A bare tree in a temple graveyard is very winter-like

palmsundae — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:12:10 +0000

お墓で、葉を落とした木がとても冬っぽいです。

This bare tree in a temple graveyard is very winter-like.

Four mature trees growing in 25 centimeters of earth outside Nishi Azabu home

palmsundae — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:12:53 +0000

二十五センチぐらいのスペースに、高くてかっこいい庭になりました。大好きです。

I love how this Nishi Azabu corner house has maybe 25 centimeters of space and a three-story tall garden of mature trees and bushes. The deciduous trees provide summer shade, and in winter the bare branches have a different appeal.

Olives on Roppongi Hills trees. I wonder how they taste!

palmsundae — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:12:40 +0000

六本木ヒールズでオーリブを見つけました。味はどうかと思います。

I was excited to see these olives on the trees outside Roppongi Hills Tower. I don’t think anyone’s going to eat them since they are shriveling up now. How do you think they taste?

Seoul’s transformation into livable city. Makes Tokyo look stunted.

palmsundae — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:12:10 +0000

去年の夏、ソウルを訪れて驚きました。短い期間で、東アジアの他の醜い都市から離れて、魅力的で住みやすい都市になりました。ソウルを見たときに、なぜは東京政府と都市計画は、過去でなくて、未来を見つめないのでしょうか。

In the past five years, Seoul has gone from one of East Asia’s ugliest mega-cities to one of its most livable and attractive. The transformation has been rapid. While I think Tokyo is often stunted by its autocratic government and urban planning, Seoul shows that East Asian cities can be dynamic and forward-looking.

On a visit last summer, I toured new city parks (the Cheonggyecheon river and Seonyudo island), visited art galleries, experienced the mix of old and cutting edge architecture, and met meta-designers, Seoul’s city brand manager, and a national environmental researcher.