From the New York Times comes a lovely article about “tsubo-niwa” — very small gardens that are popular in Japan, where urban apartments often can’t support a larger outdoors space.
Though these gardens and green spots are quite petite — often no larger than the same area that would be covered by a king-sized mattress — their popularity in Japan is growing, as people living in urban centers start to realize their need to connect with nature on a regular basis — even if it’s in a small way.
From the article:
“People feel isolated from nature and from a sense of geography. They want to feel the nature,†said Takeshi Hirobe, an architect based in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo. “The trees bring that into the house.â€
And the concept of the tsubo-niwa is quickly growing outside of Japan, too. A Parisian architect has built up a clientele by designing his version of the gardens for their apartments. And the concept has even gone online: “Some horticultural companies are selling tsubo-niwa sets, with stone lanterns, gravel, bamboo fences and artificial plants, which can be ordered online and installed on a balcony or patio.”
What about you? If you live in an urban center with restricted space, would you buy a tsubo-niwa kit or install a small garden in your space? Tell us in the comments!
