06. Le jardin secret de l’Argoat

Romain Stivala was not immediately destined for landscaping, although his mother instilled a love of nature in him from an early age. His studies initially focused on animal sciences and ethology. It was not until he was studying in Rennes that he discovered his passion for plants. During his Master's degree, he sought to combine his interests in drawing, architecture and the life sciences, and the discipline of landscape design became an obvious choice, a way of combining art and nature. He pursued a second Master's degree in Angers, at Agrocampus Ouest and the University of Angers, where he deepened his reflection around the connections between humans and their environment, particularly the urban environment. His research into the balance between nature and the city led him to explore ways of reintroducing plants into artificial spaces. In 2017, he joined Topager, a Paris-based company specialising in urban greening, where he contributed to iconic projects such as the Bastille Opera House and the Philharmonie de Paris. In 2022, wishing to reconnect with his Breton roots, he founded the Paysage d'Embruns agency. His approach is based on two principles: a holistic biological vision, favouring the interconnection of living things, and a bioregional approach, focusing on the sustainable use of local resources. His projects are not limited to aesthetics; they aim to offer resilient solutions to environmental challenges, while reconnecting users with nature. He believes that every space can become a refuge for biodiversity and a place of wonde.