Construction starts on Korean pavilion and bell garden

The first Korean bell pavilion on the East Coast and only bell garden in North America is being built at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, a regional park in Vienna near Wolf Trap.

The pavilion is being built at the garden by carpenters from Korea who are trained in building traditional structures. The bell is being handcrafted in Korea. The bell and pavilion will have images of herons, dogwoods, and other flora and fauna that are present both in Virginia and Korea, highlighting the natural connections between the two places.

The site will also include a traditional Korean garden, taking advantage of the park’s terraced rocks, scenic views of a lake, meandering trails, and trees native to the Korean peninsula, such as maples and red pines.

Professor David Chung of the University of Michigan designed the bell and pavilion. Professor Young-Sun Chung of Seoul University, an expert landscape architect, is working on plans for the garden. The picture shows what the pavilion and bell will look like when completed.

“With over 35,000 residents of Korean descent, Fairfax County has one of the largest Korean-American populations in the United States,” says Sharon Bulova, the chair of the Board of Supervisors. “The Korean-American community has made great contributions to Fairfax County in many ways. With the creation of a Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, we all will have a place where we can learn about andf appreciate Korean culture.”