Born in Saigon, Vietnam, James makes it a point to search out pho restaurants wherever he travels. In his opinion, the best place for a steaming bowl of this comforting noodle dish is at a restaurant-hotel in Dalat that only serves pho for a few hours in the morning. Nothing beats the subtle aroma of cinnamon, anise, onions, and beef wafting through the cool morning air of the central highlands of Vietnam. James also enjoys tending his garden and his bonsais, some of which he has cared for since he was a little boy. His interest lies in the cultural-historical landscapes of Asia and how certain elements can be incorporated into the language of contemporary landscapes. Another interest is the use of ecological practices and native California plants to drive the design process rather than using them as an afterthought. He truly believes that the garden, the heart of landscape architecture, offers sanctuary for the soul.
education
University of California at Berkeley
Master of Landscape Architecture
University of California at Los Angeles
Master of Public Health
University of California at Irvine
Bachelor of Science in Biology
design
R|H|A|A, San Francisco + Mill Valley
Hood Design, Oakland, intern
SWA Group, Laguna Beach + Dallas, intern
Peter Walker and Partners, Berkeley, intern
teaching and research
Guest Speaker - Graduate Student Instructor Seminar
College of Environmental Design, University of California at Berkeley
Guest Jury - Fundamentals of Design final review
College of Environmental Design, University of California at Berkeley
Guest Lecturer - Computer Graphics in Environmental Design
College of Environmental Design, University of California at Berkeley
Graduate Student Instructor - Introduction to Design
College of Environmental Design, University of California at Berkeley
honors
American Society of Landscape Architects Award of Honor