Preserving the Japanese Gardens on our Europe Campus The Japanese Gardens on our Europe Campus have a unique story to tell. Landscaping the surroundings of the Euro-Asia Centre, they beautifully projected the Centre’s identity over the past decades. Thanks to the initiative of Professor Henri-Claude de Bettignies, INSEAD established the Euro-Asia Centre in 1980 to create greater understanding between Japan, other countries in Asia and Europe. Even in those early days, Japanese friends – corporate and alumni – saw the potential benefit of such a Centre and generously contributed to its creation and funding. The Centre’s iconic building was inaugurated in 1985. The interior design integrated a strong influence of the Japanese culture. On the exterior, the four Japanese gardens created an original entrance to the building. Designed by the talented gardens architect, the late Fumiaki Takano and his team of gardeners from Tokyo, the Fontainebleau Garden, the France Garden, the Euro-Asia Garden and the Universe Garden were distinct in their beauty and concept. Well-maintained over the past forty years, these singular gardens have now been seriously impacted by the necessary extensive renovation work of the Euro-Asia Centre building. We wish to revive and rebuild these gardens. They are the sole, tangible Japanese presence on our Europe Campus and we are keen to restore them to their former beauty. If we can raise €30,000 before March 23rd, one of the renovated gardens will be named in honour of INSEAD’s Japanese alumni, giving our community proud recognition in this living tribute. It is our hope that you will consider supporting us in this endeavour. With your help we will be able to preserve the gardens for the future and keep the legacy and culture of Japan visible on our Europe campus.
