The Department of Cultural Affairs’ partnership with its thirty four cultural institutions is enriched by the range of programs, exhibits and performances offered throughout the year. The high level of artistry exhibited and the depth of scientific information provided to the public add to the success of the institutions.

Two long awaited capital projects that are expected to continue that success are the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden at the Staten Island Botanical Garden and the Congo Gorilla Forest at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo. The projects, which open in June, were funded in part by the City of New York through the DCA and administered through the Department of Design and Construction.

The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden teaches us an appreciation for the ancient tradition of Chinese gardens, which, in most cases, emphasized the imitation of nature. The Congo Gorilla Forest applies similar imitative principles to landscape planning and architecture to create the world’s largest, most natural and compelling exhibition of gorillas and other animals. Artists and architects played key roles in shaping these two unique projects.

Inspired by the stories of the merchant seamen who traveled to the Far East and later retired to "Sailor’s Snug Harbor," Ms. Frances X. Paulo Huber, president and CEO of the Staten Island Botanical Garden, conceived a grand idea over 14 years ago — the outdoor Suzhou-style garden, which opened June 12. Ms. Huber says, "The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden will be one of the most magnificent celebrations of Chinese culture anywhere in the United States. Its tranquil beauty and intrinsic harmony will surely move visitors, excite the imagination and calm frayed nerves." What an oasis for harried New Yorkers!

The illusion begins as you walk down the curving path towards the marsh. Upon entering the front gate of the walled Chinese Scholar’s Garden, you are transported to China, the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. The one-acre garden is inspired by the 15th Century Ming dynasty gardens that provided refuge to scholars for meditation and reflection, and allowed them to express themselves through poetry and paintings far from the dusty world. The chief characteristics of Suzhou-style gardens were courtyards where scenery could be observed from a short distance, mesmerizing rockeries could be piled up, and water could be diverted to form pools.

The garden was designed by China’s leading expert on classical gardens, the late Gongwu Zou and The Landscape Architecture Company of China, in a joint venture with New York architect Demetri Sarantitis. Mr. Zou also designed the Astor Court at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Zou’s project on Staten Island was completed at the relatively modest cost of $8 million - $2.9 million of which was provided by the City. The construction of the garden was divided into three phases.

The City of New York through DCA and the Department of Design and Construction completed Phases One and Three while the Landscape Architecture Company of China finished Phase Two. From June 1998 to November 1998, the Landscape Architecture Company provided forty highly skilled artisans from Suzhou to construct the clay-tiled pavilions, teahouse, white stuccoed walls, ornamental walkways, floor tiles, and the three stone bridges that grace the garden. Handcrafted wooden beams, columns, benches, doorways, window grilles, stone paving and rockery were shipped from China in 40 containers. These craftsmen used hand tools to build many of the structures, water features and planters representing "the skeleton, blood, soft skin, and hair" of this garden. The expert Chinese artisans set small colored stones, bits of broken ceramic rice bowls, and green beer bottles to create a mosaic scene depicting elegant cranes and pine boughs. The master stone mason artfully placed and set large red brown stones near the waterfall and around the pond. He completed the composition with ‘rough, craggy and holey’ rockery extracted from Lake Tai in Southern China, where the stones were submerged for hundreds of years and attained their weathered appearance.

The Chinese Garden, which features three gardens – Billowing Pine Court, the Wandering in Bamboo Courtyard and the Court of Uncommon Reeds – is sited to overlook the nearby marsh. Other special features of the garden are: the Housing of Hearing Pines, the Knowing Fish Pavilion, the Reflecting Lake and the Moon Gate of Uncommon Beauty. This summer, programs that celebrate Chinese culture, ancient Chinese music, Chinese folk music and classical dance, workshops on calligraphy and brush painting-will be provided in the garden and its pavilions.

LAC Deputy General Manager Xie Yong Ping said, "In a time when art and design are often transient and of the moment, we have created something that will endure and enrich this community for centuries to come."

Would you like to visit an African rain forest? On June 24, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will open a six and one-half acre replica of a central African rain forest, the Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo. The opening of this $43 million dollar project – of which the City funded $14.45 million (net) through its Executive City Council and Bronx Borough President offices – will be one of the major events marking the Bronx Zoo’s 100th Anniversary.

The Rain Forest Trail immediately immerses visitors in the world of the animals. Scientists, animal experts, architects, contractors, sculptors, artists and painters have designed and created this new stimulating ‘natural’ habitat for two families of 22 Western African lowland gorillas and 300 other animals including mandrills, okapis, red river hogs, birds, fish, reptiles and Guenon and Colobus monkeys. Skilled artisans have crafted special places to observe the animals closely with no apparent barrier.

In the heart of the ‘forest,’ obscured by rocks, waterfalls and plantings, is a 40,000 square-foot two-story public exhibit and education building designed by Helpern Architects. This project demonstrates conservation principles by consolidating certain operations into a single complex. This also increases energy efficiency at the Zoo. Over 15,000 plants representing 400 species that resemble rain forest vegetation and grow well in the Bronx will be a part of this exhibit. Many of the trees, rocks and other features are crafted of concrete, plastic and epoxy. WCS’s Exhibitions and Graphic Arts Design department worked closely with hundreds of artisans and field scientists in order to successfully imitate the natural landscape of the gorillas’ habitat.

The artisans and designers studied rain forests, root structures and branching through fieldwork and photographs. They then prepared sketches and scale models of the artificial trees, rocks and vines. Vines were created by using steel cables covered with colored latex rubber or epoxy. Dangling roots were made with pipe cleaners dipped in latex. The underlying structure of those trees and rocks were made of layers of gunite (concrete), wire lath and steel bars. The artisans pressed embossing pads taken from living trees into the finish layer of epoxy to create the lifelike tree trunks, branches and rocks. The finish layer was then colored, textured and carved.

This exhibit provides an exciting and educational experience for the visitor, as well as a stimulating environment for the animals. WCS Project Manager, Mr. Lee Emkhe says, "the animals can do what they do in nature...forage for food and interact with members of their social groups." Not only do visitors learn about the animals, the environment and conservation efforts by WCS, they also get to contribute toward helping to save them. At the end of the exhibit, visitors select which rain forest conservation project will receive their admission fee. Visit the rainforest in the Bronx where the illusion of being transported to central Africa is a wonder!

Susan Chin, FAIA, is the Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects at DCA.

The information contained in the above article is current as of its June 1999 publication date. Please be advised that this information may be out of date.