Robert Murase
Encyclopedia
Robert Murase was a world renowned landscape architect
. His work throughout the Pacific Northwest
demonstrates the skill and passion he had for landscape design
. He was known as one of the best landscape designers
locally and internationally.
with a BLA in landscape architecture. He was hired by Robert Royston & Associates in 1965. To further enrich his experience in the landscape architecture field Murase moved to Japan, where he maintained a practice for almost 10 years conducting garden research at Kyoto University. He then moved to Portland to become a local Oregonian. He taught at the University of Oregon
's Department of Landscape Architecture for a few years and then he worked for the EDAW in Portland, OR. In 1982, he formed Murase Associates in Portland, and opened a Seattle office in 1989. His firm went on to win about 50 design awards. He was a fellow member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and honorary member of AIA Seattle.
. The Japanese American Historical Plaza along Portland's waterfront was strongly influenced by the internment camp of 110,000 Japanese-Americans. He was relocated from San Francisco and interned at the Topaz War Relocation Center along with his parents as a child. He influenced others by being a guest speaker at universities, museums, and other institutions. He recently authored Touching the Stones, a book tracing 100 years of Japanese American history, which is based on his design of the Japanese American Historical Plaza.
Robert Murase died at age 66 from heart attack complications. Robert was known as a true artist who had soul, where his works were poetical and often spiritual due to the emotional thought process he had with designing sites. Influenced by his Japanese heritage, Robert used elements that mimicked nature. "I always considered him a poet of stone and water," stated by John Nesholm of LMN Architects
.
Murase is well known for skillful and sublime compositions of stone, evident of an empathetic relation to the medium. However, he was arguably more adept at infusing sites with a sense of the spiritual (e.g. mystery, stillness, serenity, power, primordiality, reverence) despite whatever commotion surrounded it. This may be attributed to over a decade of self-directed exploration of Japanese artistic traditions, most notably garden design. He was greatly influenced by the artistic traditions of the Muromachi Period of 16th century Japan, when Zen flourished (subsequently influencing, transforming or leading to the creation of numerous art forms).
“What attracts me to Japanese gardens lies in the essence of quietness which they express; their meditative emptiness, the illusion of nature, the effects of shadow and filtered light, and their stark simplicity. These gardens provide a sense of “wabi,” the absence of any ostentatious element, and a sense of humility and melancholy. There is a dark, mysterious quality about them, an undiscoverable unknown which goes beyond our individual small self, which could be described as “yugen” in Japanese. These are some of the qualities I strive to express in the design process", Murase elaborates on Japanese garden design and its influence on his process.
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
. His work throughout the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
demonstrates the skill and passion he had for landscape design
Landscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
. He was known as one of the best landscape designers
Garden designer
The term garden designer can refer either to an amateur or a professional who designs the plan and features of gardens. Amateurs design their gardens for their own properties. Professionals, with experienced skills, design gardens that benefit clients...
locally and internationally.
History
Murase was born in San Francisco as a third generation Japanese-American. Murase graduated from the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
with a BLA in landscape architecture. He was hired by Robert Royston & Associates in 1965. To further enrich his experience in the landscape architecture field Murase moved to Japan, where he maintained a practice for almost 10 years conducting garden research at Kyoto University. He then moved to Portland to become a local Oregonian. He taught at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
's Department of Landscape Architecture for a few years and then he worked for the EDAW in Portland, OR. In 1982, he formed Murase Associates in Portland, and opened a Seattle office in 1989. His firm went on to win about 50 design awards. He was a fellow member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and honorary member of AIA Seattle.
Designs and influences
Murase found roots in his own ancestry where he incorporated the elements that are often found in Japanese gardens. His signature material was stone, strongly influenced from stone sculptor Isamu NoguchiIsamu Noguchi
was a prominent Japanese American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces,...
. The Japanese American Historical Plaza along Portland's waterfront was strongly influenced by the internment camp of 110,000 Japanese-Americans. He was relocated from San Francisco and interned at the Topaz War Relocation Center along with his parents as a child. He influenced others by being a guest speaker at universities, museums, and other institutions. He recently authored Touching the Stones, a book tracing 100 years of Japanese American history, which is based on his design of the Japanese American Historical Plaza.
Robert Murase died at age 66 from heart attack complications. Robert was known as a true artist who had soul, where his works were poetical and often spiritual due to the emotional thought process he had with designing sites. Influenced by his Japanese heritage, Robert used elements that mimicked nature. "I always considered him a poet of stone and water," stated by John Nesholm of LMN Architects
LMN Architects
LMN is an architecture firm based in Seattle in the United States. The company was founded in 1979, and provides planning and design services to create convention centers, cultural arts venues, higher education facilities, commercial and mixed-use developments....
.
Murase is well known for skillful and sublime compositions of stone, evident of an empathetic relation to the medium. However, he was arguably more adept at infusing sites with a sense of the spiritual (e.g. mystery, stillness, serenity, power, primordiality, reverence) despite whatever commotion surrounded it. This may be attributed to over a decade of self-directed exploration of Japanese artistic traditions, most notably garden design. He was greatly influenced by the artistic traditions of the Muromachi Period of 16th century Japan, when Zen flourished (subsequently influencing, transforming or leading to the creation of numerous art forms).
“What attracts me to Japanese gardens lies in the essence of quietness which they express; their meditative emptiness, the illusion of nature, the effects of shadow and filtered light, and their stark simplicity. These gardens provide a sense of “wabi,” the absence of any ostentatious element, and a sense of humility and melancholy. There is a dark, mysterious quality about them, an undiscoverable unknown which goes beyond our individual small self, which could be described as “yugen” in Japanese. These are some of the qualities I strive to express in the design process", Murase elaborates on Japanese garden design and its influence on his process.
Notable projects
Murase took pride in many of his projects; but, according to colleagues, he was proudest of the Japanese American Historical Plaza along Portland's waterfront. Other projects include:- Astoria Waterfront Redevelopment, Astoria, Oregon.
- Esther Short ParkEsther Short ParkEsther Short Park is a public park and town square located in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Established in 1853, it is the oldest public park in the state of Washington. It has been called the "oldest public park in the West" by some, but was created after Lafayette Park in St. Louis, Missouri. ...
in Vancouver. - Garden of RemembranceGarden of RemembranceGarden of Remembrance may be:*Garden of Remembrance , Ireland*Garden of Remembrance, Lockerbie, Scotland, see: Pan Am Flight 103#Memorials and tributes*Garden of Remembrance , by Oneiroid Psychosis...
downtown Seattle. - Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson St MAX light rail station, Portland, Oregon.
- Grand Canyon transit center.
- Japanese American Historical Plaza, Portland, Oregon.
- Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles.
- Murase Plaza at Wilsonville Memorial ParkWilsonville Memorial ParkWilsonville Memorial Park is a large municipal park in Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1969, the park is the largest and oldest in the city. Located off Wilsonville Road east of Interstate 5, the park includes a plaza with water features, athletic fields and courts, trails, a...
, Wilsonville, Oregon. - OMSI's bioswales, Portland, Oregon.
- Oregon Convention CenterOregon Convention CenterThe Oregon Convention Center is a convention center in Portland, Oregon. Opened in 1990, it located on the east side of the Willamette River in the Lloyd District neighborhood. It is best known for the twin spire towers which provide light into the building's interior and for housing the world's...
's forecourt, Portland, Oregon. - Pier 69 headquarters of the Port of Seattle.
- St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Wisconsin.
- Sumitomo Museum in Kyoto, Japan.
- Sunset Transit Center landscape, near Portland, Oregon.
- Town Center ParkTown Center ParkTown Center Park is a small municipal park in Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. Located in the middle of Wilsonville’s town center, the park cost $4.5 million to complete. The park includes the Oregon Korean War Memorial, a visitor’s center, paths, a play area, picnic tables, and an amphitheater...
, Wilsonville, Oregon.