23. Fruit de l’imagination
published at 27/10/2017
The garden’s design is evocative of feng shui (wind and water). In the south, rectangular forms in strong, contrasting colours exhibited at the entrance of the garden symbolise the earth. In the north, circular forms in more pastel shades characterise the divine – which is the space being aimed for, a place of rapturous delight. Here the fruit is envisaged in both a literal sense through plant forms and varieties that are little known in Europe – more common in Asia – and an awakening of the imagination.
Thus we enter this garden via a “terrestrial” forecourt lying to the south, which stands out by the geometry and sheer intensity of the dark and colourful chromatic constrasts of the plants and soils. We then cross the first threshold, passing into an enclosed square area of transition – between earth and divinity. Finally we access the north through yet another door – to a delicious and delirious celestial realm. Here, different plant chambers hug the curves beckoning us on a gradual and surprising discovery of the divine world – bejewelled with rapturous human, plant and animal forms.
An expanse of cabbages, alyssums and euphorbia with white and green leaves encircling this divine space hovers like a sea of clouds.
From the pathways, windows and visual filters treat adults and children alike to intimate glimpses of this unique setting: astonishing fruit, giant leaves, intriguing faces and figures, etc.
Red sun loungers – alluding to psychiatrists’ couches – have been placed alongside mirrors, allowing visitors to sit and gaze at themselves in this singular environment.
Visitors can then return to the terrestrial area and continue their tour of the other gardens.
designers
Dr. Jon Burley FASLA, Yu Wang
Noémie BUREL , Lucie CATANIA, Quentin CEDELLE, Marie DEHAENE, Aurélie DEMUYTER, Nicolas DESTRUMELLE , Paul GAPANY, Cindy HEINRICH, Jérôme HEINRY, Sébastien JEANPIERRE, Stéphane LEGOURRIEREC, Gaëlle LIRAUD, Barbara MARION, Laure MUNZING, Florent RULLIER, Kenza SOUNI
Sébastien GUILLET, Vincent BOUVIER
AGROCAMPUS OUEST
FRANCE
The Institut National d’Horticulture is a public higher education and research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture. With traditions going back to the 1970s, the INH has been incorporated into AGROCAMPUS OUEST since 1998.
Born of the wish to create a major life-sciences institution in the heart of Europe’s foremost agricultural and food production basin, AGROCAMPUS OUEST is a university unparalleled anywhere in France with regard to the range of themes covered and expertise assembled in the realms of agronomy, food production, environment, horticulture and landscaping, as well as improvement of the living environment.
