/mithun_design

The transplanted Kubota legacy trees frame the northern courtyard at The Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation, creating a sense of enclosure and a quiet and contemplative spirit. While not in the same location, the boulders originally associated with each tree are again placed adjacent to their partner. Recognizing their sculptural quality and delicate leaf, the courtyard design showcases the Laceleaf maples, giving both trees space to be appreciated from multiple angles. 📷: @k7scott

Posted: 03.25.2022

/mithun_design

At the center of the northern courtyard is the largest of the salvaged boulders. The keystone provides a focal point within the outdoor room and creates an eddy to one side with wood seats. Inspired by Kubota’s designs of dry streambeds, the ground plane of the pathways plays with different textures. A ribbon of exposed aggregate paving weaves through the west courtyards, with ripples of river rock at the paving edges. 📷: @k7scott

Posted: 03.24.2022

/mithun_design

Located at a key gateway, Seattle University’s Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation places STEM programs on display and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration at a visible interface between the city and campus. At the campus-facing entry, the new landscape incorporates trees and boulders from a previous garden on site designed by legendary nurseryman and local landscape designer Fugitarō Kubota (1879-1973). The design team thoughtfully studied the site and remaining Kubota gardens on campus, documenting the mix of materials, color and texture, placement of boulders and trees in relationship to each other, and the scale of spaces. The resulting design features two distinct courtyards—an open southern courtyard providing flexible open space for events and class experiments, and a more contemplative space to the north—separated by a wide west-east mid-block connector, linking the street through the building to the campus mall. 📷: @k7scott

Posted: 03.23.2022