22. L’ode à Gaïa
It all began with the Earth. As a planet that can accommodate life, minerals and plant species, it nourishes both living beings and the imagination.
As you make your way through this garden, its many sides are revealed: from the transcendent planet, that nourishes myths through civilisations and across centuries, from the rock used to build and shelter mankind, to the organic and fertile matter that is the source of life. Much like an ode to the planet, a monolith in rammed earth represents a vast landscape. It reflects into a liquid mirror, where water, earth and sky come together as one. The layers of rammed earth resemble geological strata, reminding us of the sensitivity of the Earth, its unique and changing character. This building technique is used in Mexico and involves the use of compacted raw earth. At the beginning of the path, the vegetation is sparse and dry, to imitate the arid valleys of Oaxaca where the most surprising of plants are found nonetheless. Little by little, the land becomes more fertile and the vegetation becomes more and more dense. This protective space finally provides a place to rest. The open roof leaves a view of the sky in the middle. And so everything comes together, the mineral, the plant-life, the earth, the sky and Mankind.
DESIGNERS
Anna-Laura Bourguignon is a young Franco-Mexican architect who studied in Paris and Mexico. She is interested in sustainable architecture and participative approaches to creating cities. She has a passion for rammed earth architecture and carpentry, and works both independently and with Capaz, a charitable organisation that works in Mexico and Vietnam. Since her first visit to Chaumont-sur-Loire she has continued to enjoy nature, gardens and urban agriculture, and has tried to learn as much as possible about all the various aspects that make up more sustainable architecture.
