Auckland Landscape Designer Visits FGS Christchurch and Praises the Temple's Tranquil Design that Focuses on People

Trish Bartleet, a visitor from Auckland, accompanied by her brother and architect friends, visited Fo Guang Shan Christchurch on 7th March 2023and was received by the Venerable Abbess Manshin and FGS Christchurch Minister in Charge Venerable Juexi.

Abbess introduced the design of the temple construction to Trish and her group, especially the design of the clear concrete colour in the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art gallery, the plants on the walls, the lighting and shadows, and the water channels, which they found innovative and unique. Trish said that she is a landscape designer and the head of the North Island Auckland Landscape Design Association. She appreciated the creative and distinctive architectural design of the Christchurch Temple and expressed that the building materials used were simple and plain, with ingenuity in every detail, fully reflecting the designer's thinking. Her architect friend also praised the designer's craftsmanship.

Trish further stated that she is a frequent visitor to the FGS Auckland and often brings her hundred-year-old mother to visit the temple. Her mother enjoys the peaceful atmosphere of the Temple. Because of her frequent visits and her sensitivity as a landscape designer, Trish can recognise and appreciate the trees and plants in the North Island temple’s garden and praises the Abbess’s people-centred care and ingenuity.

Trish was delighted with the Abbess's enthusiastic reception and learned a lot from the visit, which will be helpful for her landscape design career. She also became aware of the liveliness and joyfulness of humanistic Buddhism. Abbess welcomed her to organise a tour to the FGS Auckland in the future and promised to provide a detailed tour guide.