Bridges of Friendship Garden

As part of the landscaping for the Jack Erskine building (constructed in 1998), and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Christchurch and Kurashiki at the time, the University constructed this unique garden. The garden was conceptualised by Professor Tadao (Tad) Takaoka (1943 - 2017).

The structure of the garden embodies modern ideas from computer science and mathematics, but the idea comes from the Oriental "Scholar's garden": crossing a bridge symbolises leaving day-to-day cares behind as the scholar focuses on more academic matters. The "Bridges of Friendship" also represent the many relationships surrounding a university: international links, links to industry, between staff and students, and between the university and the local community. The symbolism is made particularly strong because the garden has been made possible by generous sponsorship from local industry; each of the seven bridges is sponsored by one of the following companies:

• Business Computers Limited - providing the best price/performance quality hardware and software solutions to discerning customers
• iTec - iTec is a leading wholesale importer and distributor of quality brand computer components and finished products, primarily PC compatible. The company was recently voted one of the best and most informed providers of sales, service and technical support in the industry (Reseller Trends 1998).
• MagnumMac - Authorised Apple Reseller, Authorised Apple Education Reseller, and Authorised Apple Service Provider.
• Sun Microsystems - pioneering new concepts in computing technology and enterprise network computing.
• Tait Electronics - supplying and servicing our customers with world class radio communications equipment and systems
• Trimble Navigation - Trimble is a world leader in the emerging commercial markets for GPS satellite-based navigation, positioning, and communications data products.
• The garden was designed by Architectus Bowes Clifford Thomson, who also designed the Mathematics and Statistics/Computer Science building.

Features

• The paths and bridges embody the famous Königsberg bridges problem.
• The smaller island has a stone lantern that was donated by Kurashiki City, Japan, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Christchurch and Kurashiki.
• The larger island contains a parallel sorting network.
• The smaller island contains a solution to the eight queens problem.
• A binary counting fountain has been proposed, but not yet installed. Thanks to a generous donation from Glen Langdon (an Erskine visitor from UCSC), the fountain is now proceeding, and is scheduled to be installed over the 1999/2000 summer. In the meantime, you can watch the animated virtual binary fountain (and see some real integer overflow!)
• View the garden on gardencam.
• An article about the garden appeared on The Press computer pages (24 November 1998).
• View some plans of the garden and fountain.
• The garden is a joint project of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.