Huntington Library Chinese Garden Final Groundbreaking Ceremony
The Huntington library hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to officially launch the final phase of construction on its renowned Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan – the Garden of Flowing Fragrance on August 28th.
Featured speakers include The Huntington’s new president, Karen R. Lawrence, in her first public event; U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu; Consul General Zhang Ping of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles; and other local dignitaries.
“This is a long-held dream, to put the finishing touches on a project that has engaged thousands of visitors and scores of individuals — from donors and diplomats to staff, scholars, and volunteers,” Huntington interim President Steve Hindle said in a statement. “The Chinese Garden is essential to our mission in that it expands our research and educational programs and provides extraordinary inspiration that extends across cultures. We are profoundly grateful to those who have made it possible.”
Major donors to the project are recognized during the program.
The Huntington’s Chinese Garden originally opened to the public in 2008; Several additional features were built in 2014. This final phase of construction will increase the garden’s size from the initial 3.5 acres to its long-planned 12 acres, making it one of the largest classical-style Chinese gardens in the world. The new features to be built include an art gallery; a new cafe with outdoor seating; and a hillside pavilion with a view of the Mt. Wilson Observatory, among others.
Liu Fang Yuan will be among the largest classical-style gardens of its kind, globally. The Huntington aims to complete construction, steered by Chinese and American architects, contractors and craftsmen, by February 2020.
The Suzhou Institute of Landscape Architecture Design in China created the conceptual designs for the garden; L.A. architect Jim Fry developed the construction plans for the project.
The garden will remain open to visitors during construction, with the new sections anticipated to open in February 2020.
The Huntington has raised $19 million of the $23 million it needs to complete the garden. In all, the cost of all three of the garden’s construction phases will amount to $53 million.
Earlier this month, Karen R. Lawrence, former president of Sarah Lawrence College, was appointed the Huntington’s new president. Lawrence takes her post Sept. 1.
