13. Le Jardin des Murmures

Over half of the world’s population lives in urban environments today, and by 2050 this figure will represent seven out of ten people. A major challenge we all face is to prepare for a future where the quality of life for the world’s inhabitants and ecosystems is safeguarded. Climate change and the aspirations of citizens to protect biodiversity will lead us to reconsider urban spaces. Some plants already populate our towns, and have not been introduced by humans. These pioneering beings nestle discreetly in the cracks of our walls, on our pavements and our patios. Soon, they will attract other fellow species and a whole host of insects, birds and rodents. This source of life is under threat from urban planning and maintenance choices.

Le Jardin des Murmures (The garden of whispers) not only suggests that the city protects this source, but that it is structured around it. The gardener is therefore invaluable: they listen to the soft whisperings of the living, they guide it and help it to become established by creating gaps, by opening up spaces. Urban verticality provides opportunities to accommodate even more plants, insects and animals. Mineral features regain their natural purpose of welcoming flora and fauna. Low-carbon concrete sculptures with grooves on each side enable the development of a wide variety of resilient, colourful plants. Here the city reveals a paradoxical power in that it encourages a rich and living ecosystem.

 

David Simonson is an American landscape architect who graduated from the California Polytechnic State University in 2008 and then moved to France in the following year. Literally with his hands in the soil, he learnt to speak French while gardening for the prestigious parks and gardens around Paris. After studying at the École Nationale Supérieure de Paysage (ENSP) de Versailles (78), he founded Simonson Landscape in Paris in 2015. After winning awards at the Chaumont-sur-Loire competition and Festival des Jardins de la Côté d'Azur, he was able to work in partnership with a great number of landscapers and architects designing parks and gardens in France, China, Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Russia and Portugal. In 2021, he was the artist-in-residence at the Centre for digital arts in Enghien-les-Bains (95) along with singer Alexandra Grimal. In 2022, David Simonson won the Gardens of Peace competition, organised by the Art & Jardins association. He is now a member of the jury for the Fête des Plantes in Saint-Jean-Beauregard (91) and he teaches at the ENSP de Versailles.

Thibault Rouet is a landscaper with a passion for botany. He creates and then manages gardens with an original diversity of plant species. He is passionate about plants and is always looking for new plants for future projects. His company Botanic'Art is in Paris and specialises in the construction of green roofs and courtyard gardens in urban environments. His knowledge in botany earned him second place at the national plant recognition competition in 2013. He shares his expertise in botany by teaching classes at the École Du Breuil (75). He has also been a member of the jury at the Fête des Plantes in Saint-Jean-Beauregard (91) since 2016.