The reconstruction of the Gyokusen.in maru of Kanazawa
Résumé
In March 2015, the garden Gyokusen.in maru of Kanazawa opened to the public for the first time. It was originally built in the early Edo period (1634) in the castle compound as a garden of pleasure of the Maeda clan. The garden was destroyed in the Meiji era, and later in 1965, a gymnasium was built on its ground. After its demolition in 2008, archeological and historical studies have been carried out for several years in order to reconstruct the ancient garden of the Maeda family. From a European perspective, this reconstruction brings up questions regarding the historical value of the garden. Conservation and restoration of the architectural and landscape heritage are critical issues for the economic and urban development of cities, but is the reconstruction of disappeared buildings relevant from a historical and scientific point of view?