INTERNATIONAL GARDEN FESTIVAL

Forteresses

Centred around the adaptation of our changing world sees landscape architecture, public art and sustainable designs from architects, landscapers and artists from France, Canada and the U.S. Five of the installations take inspiration from climate change and its effects on humans and nature.

Forteresses by Maison029, an urban planner and designer, and Lorenzo Saroli, an architect, is the construction of wood structures around trees. The installation is to protect the trees from humans, demonstrating a glimpse into the protection of forests. The designers explain that as long as humanity lives on, it is unrealistic to believe our forests will thrive due to human interference and its effects.

Les Huit Collines

Lichen by Marie-Pier Gauthier-Manes, an environmental designer, Chloe Isaac, a ceramicist, and Victor Roussel, a 3D artist, were inspired to create this sustainable installation off the changing colours of lichen. Lichen is an organism that derives from algae that depending on whether it is wet or dry can drastically change colour. The earthenware rings in this installation much like lichen change colour to adapt to the environmental conditions in the garden. Also inspired by terracotta pots, the 1,200 rings in this installation are handmade and fired in an outdoor kiln on site at the festival grounds.

Lichen

Gravity Fields by Theodore Hoerr, Kelly Watters, a landscape architect, and Rebecca Shen, landscape designer, comprises of sunflowers in spherical pots that are hung upside down that turn upwards and aimed toward the sun. This installation demonstrates the vulnerability of plants due to climate change and represents a sense of resilience to plant life in harsh environmental conditions.

Foret finie, espace infini?

Les Huit Collines (The Eight Hills) by Noel Picaper, architect, is eight planter box structures that are risen above ground. With a gap underneath to view the ground, the installation demonstrates the environments hidden underneath. Visitors can watch the bugs and earth that moves under these structures and have a glimpse into the behind the scenes of nature at work.

Foret Finie, espace infini? (Finit Forest, Infinte Space?) questions the use of forests and its space. By Antonin Boulanger-Cartier, Olivier Demeule and Melaine Niget all architecture interns take a look at the cohabitation of life in forests. With the assembling of unusual finely cut wooden slates, the structure sits in between trees and other plant life and asks its visitors to question how the space is being used and why. Taking on the appearance of a pile of wood, the installation holds a deeper meaning into space and how we use it, as well as for visitors how to move around the structure, or even through it?

Gravity Fields

The 23^rd International Garden Festival includes many more architectural and sustainable installations that are centred around adaptation. The festival begins 2 October 2022, visit the website to see more installations and how to get tickets. www.festivalinternationaldejardins.com/

Images Festival international de jardins via Dezeen