ビクトリアのRoyal Roads University（住所：2005 Sooke Road, Victoria, BC）にて、100年以上の歴史を持つ日本庭園の再生プロジェクトが進行中です。このプロジェクトの一環として、本格的な茶室が2024年8月末に完成しました。
A restoration project is currently underway at Royal Roads University in Victoria (Address: 2005 Sooke Road, Victoria, BC) to revive a Japanese garden with a history of over 100 years. As part of this project, an authentic tea house was completed at the end of August 2024.
この茶室は、地元のダグラスファー（米松）を使用し、手作業で丁寧に建築されました。
The tea house was carefully handcrafted using locally sourced Douglas fir.
設計と建築は、Ogawa Landscape Designの小川隼人氏が手掛け、持続可能な素材を活用しています。茶室は日本庭園の南西の隅に位置し、周囲の自然美と調和するようデザインされています。
The design and construction were carried out by Mr. Hayato Ogawa of Ogawa Landscape Design, utilizing sustainable materials. The tea house is located in the southwest corner of the Japanese garden and is designed to harmonize with the surrounding natural beauty.
プレオープン時には、Royal Roads Universityの学長やビクトリア駐在日本国名誉総領事、地元自治体の市長、考古学者などが出席し、ビクトリア裏千家淡交会のメンバーが主催する茶会が行われました。ゲストたちは、茶室内で和菓子と抹茶を楽しみました。
At the pre-opening event, the President of Royal Roads University, the Honorary Consul of Japan in Victoria, local mayors, archaeologists, and other dignitaries were in attendance. A tea ceremony was hosted by members of the Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association, during which guests enjoyed traditional Japanese sweets and matcha inside the tea house.
この八畳の茶室は、どの位置からも庭を眺められる設計となっており、雪見障子や襖を閉じることで外部から遮断された静寂な空間を演出します。内部には無節のダグラスファーや檜、掛川和紙、京畳、聚楽塗りの壁など、高品質な素材が使用されています。また、カナダの建築基準に準拠したバリアフリー設計で、茶道だけでなく、華道、香道、書道など多目的に利用可能です。
This eight-mat tea house is designed so that the garden can be viewed from any position within the room. By closing the yukimi-shoji (snow-viewing screens) and fusuma (sliding doors), the space transforms into a serene, secluded environment. The interior features high-quality materials such as knot-free Douglas fir, Japanese cypress (hinoki), Kakegawa washi paper, Kyoto-style tatami mats, and Juraku plaster walls. Additionally, the structure is built to comply with Canadian building codes and features a barrier-free design, making it suitable not only for tea ceremonies but also for ikebana (flower arranging), kōdō (incense ceremony), shodō (calligraphy), and other traditional arts.
将来的には、四畳半の小間と屋根付きの渡り廊下で接続し、北米でも類を見ない規模の本格的な茶室を計画しています。さらに、茶庭、メインゲート、神輿舎、花見ガーデン、盆栽園、菖蒲園、既存の滝や小川の補修、禅ガーデンとしてのリニューアルなど、多彩なプロジェクトが進行中です。これらが完成すれば、ビクトリアやバンクーバーの新たな名所となることでしょう。
In the future, plans are in place to connect the tea house with a four-and-a-half-mat koma (small tea room) via a covered corridor, creating one of the most authentic and expansive tea house complexes of its kind in North America. Additional projects are also underway, including the construction of a tea garden (roji), a main gate, a mikoshi pavilion, a cherry blossom viewing garden, a bonsai garden, and an iris garden, as well as the restoration of the existing waterfall and stream, and the transformation of part of the grounds into a Zen garden. Once completed, these features are expected to become iconic landmarks for both Victoria and Vancouver.
小川氏は、「この場所は単なる建物ではなく、自然と共存する場であってほしい」と述べ、茶室を通じて多くの人々が自然の美しさや季節の移ろいを感じ、新たな出会いを育むことを願っています。訪問者は、茶室に入る前に茶庭で心を清め、特別な空間で一服を楽しむことができます。
Mr. Ogawa stated, “This place is not merely a structure, but a space to coexist with nature.” Through the tea house, he hopes that many people will experience the beauty of nature, the changing seasons, and form meaningful new connections. Before entering the tea house, visitors are invited to purify their minds in the tea garden, and then enjoy a quiet moment of reflection with a bowl of tea in this special setting.
このプロジェクトは、Royal Roads Universityの「A Vision in Bloom」キャンペーンの一環として進められており、地域社会や寄付者の支援を受けております。茶室の完成により、学生や地域住民が日本文化を体験し、学ぶ機会が提供されることが期待されています。
This project is being carried out as part of Royal Roads University’s A Vision in Bloom campaign, with support from the local community and generous donors. The completion of the tea house is expected to provide students and local residents with opportunities to experience and learn about Japanese culture.
