Embarcadero Marina Park - Photo by Charles Birnbaum, 2011

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Joseph Y. Yamada Oral History

Oral History on YouTube: Ideal for mobile devices

This Pioneers Oral History with Joseph Yamada, who influenced the San Diego area's landscape for more than 50 years, features 25 separate clips that cover his life, design philosophy and projects.

His modernist practice with Harriet Wimmer, the first commercial practicing woman landscape architect in San Diego, and later with Pat Caughey and others, created innovative design solutions for a wide range of still very influential projects.

Oral History Framework

Video Clips are divided into three categories: BIOGRAPHY, DESIGN, and PROJECTS.

Each clip is between 2 and 5 minutes long.

Interview: Joseph Yamada was interviewed on July 18-20, 2011 by Charles A. Birnbaum in and around San Diego.

Joseph Y. Yamada Oral History Transcript

Reflections: In a practice which spanned more than fifty years Joseph Yamada has shaped the San Diego landscape. The Cultural Landscape Foundation contacted former associates, colleagues and family to share their stories.

Joseph Y. Yamada Reflections

YouTube Clip Listing by Category


BIOGRAPHY 1. Making a Life in California Yamada recalls stories of his family’s new life in California. 2.The War Years Hear Yamada tell about life in a war relocation camp in Poston, Arizona. 3. The Berkeley Years Learning lessons from Garrett Eckbo, Tommy Church, Geraldine Knight Scott and Lawrence Halprin. 4. A Band of Students Competition with other students makes for spirited learning. 5. Meeting Harriet Wimmer Learn how this interview changed his life. 6. Beginning Practice Harriet Wimmer makes an offer he can’t refuse. 7. SeaWorld Opens Doors New business causes changes for the firm. 8. Change Comes to San Diego Hear why “everyone wanted to be in San Diego.” 9. The Office Grows Over Time “The firm is a legacy to all of those who were part of the process.” 10. The Legacy Continues Pat Caughey talks about the tradition of inspiring and mentoring others.		DESIGN 1. Mentor Tommy Church Learn how Church’s garden style inspired Yamada’s designs. 2. Learning from Garrett Eckbo Eckbo’s book is one of his favorites and one he still looks at today. 3. Meeting Burle Marx Yamada recalls a wonderful tour of Burle Marx gardens. 4.The Name Garrett Means a Lot Hear how a college promise is fulfilled. 5. What are Yamada Bumps? Learn how Yamada’s bumps and Wimmer’s plantings complement each other. 6. A "Real" Japanese Garden? A Japanese garden is more that it seems. 7. Secrets of a Good Garden Yamada talks about the Wimmer Yamada design strategy. 8. Who Sites the Building? Learn how a building site can make for interesting landscape.		PROJECTS 1. SeaWorld This project launched the firm in a new direction. 2. Scripps Institution of Oceanography Learn how Yamada bumps solved a problem. 3. UCSD a Legacy Project Listen to how they started their 60 year association with the university. 4. Saving Trees at UCSD Learn why a library was moved to save some trees. 5. The Embarcadero and Seaport Village Yamada describes the building of these active waterfront parks. 6. Breaking Ground in La Jolla Hear how he became the first Asian to build in La Jolla. 7. Design for Plaza La Jolla Village Learn the many stories behind this favorite project.

Production Credits and Acknowledgments

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Gina M. Angelone

SA KWA Pictures

INTERVIEWER

Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR

PROJECT MANAGER

Nancy Slade, ASLA

CAMERAMAN/PHOTOGRAPHY

Lenny Manfred

GRIP

Luis Luna

EDITOR

Alejandro Treviño

COMPOSER

Brian Cho

The Cultural Landscape Foundation would like to thank the many people and organizations who contributed to the Joseph Yamada oral history project. First, we wish to acknowledge Pat Caughey who set this project in motion, provided a great interview, helped coordinate logistics and fielded numerous post production requests. Thanks go to Marilyn Fink at Wimmer Yamada & Caughey and ONA who was essential to assisting with our myriad inquiries. We are also grateful to all the libraries and institutions that so generously shared their image collections and by doing so made this a richer story. Finally, special thanks goes to Joe and Liz Yamada whose warmth, hospitality and enthusiasm throughout the interviews at their home, office and projects in and around San Diego made this a memorable three days.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation is grateful for the financial support from: Wimmer Yamada & Caughey; the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works program; Joseph and Elizabeth Yamada; Maria and Robert Kelly Stewardship; and the San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Photographs, prints and drawings reproduced courtesy of the following individuals and institutions:

Thank you to: Charles Birnbaum, Harry Crosby, Cultural Landscape Foundation, David Kikuchi, Office of Lawrence Halprin, Modern San Diego, Robert Mosher, Mosher Drew Architects, Nancy Slade, Wimmer Yamada & Caughey and ONA, and Joseph and Elizabeth Yamada.

Chula Vista Library, Chula Vista, California; Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego, SanDiego, California; Santa Cruz Public Library, Santa Cruz, California.

University of California, San Diego Library, San Diego, California _Image 20775;-bb79191784-1-3 “Copyright UC Regents. Scripps Institution of Oceanography Collection bb9420935s;bb4369738s;bb5530214n;bb5052336z;bb94551629;Sverdrup Hall; IGPP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Robert Glasheen Photography Collection, MS154, Mandeville Special Collections Library. Chancellor John S. Galbraith on Urey Hall balcony with Revelle Commons, under construction, in background", 1965, Robert Glasheen Photograph Collection, MSS 154. Mandeville Special Collections Library.

United States National Archives image Records of the War Relocation Authority, 1941 - 1989 ARC Identifier #- 536149, 536156, 536279, 939864, 536621, 536072,538532, 538532, 536074,538532, loc id 210-G-A385, 210-G-A14.210-G-A399.

Joseph Y. Yamada Oral History

This Pioneers Oral History with Joseph Yamada, who influenced the San Diego area's landscape for more than 50 years, features 25 separate clips that cover his life, design philosophy and projects.

Oral History Framework

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