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Conceptual drawing of restored "Bamboo Room" in the Jingu House Renovations at the historic Japanese Tea Garden. Photo Credit: Alamo Architects
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Tea once again will soon be flowing at the Japanese Sunken Tea Garden. Phase two was kicked off Monday for the restoration of the historic area in Brackenridge Park. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has the story.
October 12, 2009 · At the Japanese Tea Garden, the waterfall is flowing. The giant goldfish are swimming, and the exotic flowers are blooming. But where is the tea?
Former San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell says the restoration of the tea house, known as the Jingu House, is what’s next for the garden.
“When you come and enjoy a beautiful garden like this, it’s nice to be able to stop and have a cup of tea. We would have both the Japanese tea and other teas. I’m sure they wouldn’t say no to having ice tea as well,” said Cockrell.
Gerry Lammers with Alamo Architects is overseeing the restoration. Starting almost immediately they’ll be stripping the stone outer wall of the building and recreate the look of the building from the 1930’s.
“We are going to restore the exterior to the time period. Replace all the windows with historically sympathetic windows. And then on the inside its going to be renovated to the modern use of the facility which is as a support facility to the Japanese Tea Gardens,” said Lammers.
For help in recreating the look of the original building Lammers turned to Mabel Jingu.
“I was born in 1925, here in this house,” said Mabel.
The Jingo family lived in the building. They also ran the concessions stand and imported tea. But in 1942 that came to an end.
“The city evicted us when the war started, and so I never really imagined that we’d be called back,” she said.
Mabel said now the Sunken Gardens looks better than she’s ever seen it, and she’s happy to share her old birthplace with park visitors.
The Tea House restoration is expected to be complete in about nine months. |
