Gardens Festival Chaumont sur Loire 2024
AT THE WATER'S EDGE :
Water is a fundamental element of life. It is a precious resource that must be preserved in our environment, benefiting both flora and fauna. However, without its exchanges and interactions with soil, light, air, and all living beings, its role becomes insignificant. All these elements are interconnected, and none can be isolated if we want to maintain the balance of our ecosystems. This garden invites a quest to return to the diverse sources of life. It intentionally contrasts two atmospheres: one representing anthropogenic environments, altered by human influence, and the other showcasing natural surroundings.
The journey begins with a dim entrance, a true decompression zone featuring worn materials and muted foliage, illustrating a world shaped by humanity and devoid of life. A monumental, charred bud opens to a new section of the garden, which contrasts sharply with the previous area through a harmonious connection among its elements. Colorful strands of rope symbolize the links between essential resources for living beings. Yellow represents light, blue evokes water, red symbolizes soil, and green embodies life. On this side of the garden, the fence that divides it reflects the vegetation and the stream flowing from a water feature. The surface of this circular, reflective body of water is adorned with stems in the four colors, marking the conclusion of the quest.
Concept Illustration
3D Renderings
Build Garden for showcased in 2024 in Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle Domain's
DESIGNERS
Alexandre Vandiest, Landscape Designer, MUDA
Elisa Lopes Vieira, Founder and Outdoor Designer
Tandem Studio - François Crucifix, Landscape Illustrator
Freshly graduated in landscape architecture from Haute École Charlemagne in Gembloux, Belgium, Alexandre Vandiest established his landscape design studio twenty years ago. A lifelong nature enthusiast, he also trained as a nature guide with the Naturalists' Circle of Belgium alongside his studies. His fascination with the living world later led him to discover beekeeping. His projects span various scales, from the smallest gardens he calls "microcosms" to the design of vast public and private spaces. Regardless of the scale, minimizing human impact on the natural environment is his guiding principle. Over time, his style has evolved to prioritize the vitality and spontaneity of nature. He advocates for differentiated management practices to nurture our green spaces and the surrounding living world, passionately promoting harmony within the ecosystem. Based in southern Belgium, his studio operates throughout Belgium, as well as in Luxembourg and the Grand Est region of France.
Originally from Nantes, Elisa Lopes Vieira specializes in creating outdoor spaces for private clients. Her passion for plants and architecture naturally led her to pursue studies in landscape design. After obtaining a BTS in Landscape Development from Lycée Agricole Le Fresne, she continued her academic journey at Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, where she earned a degree in Landscape Engineering. Throughout her education, she specialized in the life sciences and technologies, while also expanding her knowledge in economics, humanities, and social sciences. For five years, she worked as a project manager on the Vendée coast with landscape firms, gaining invaluable experience on high-end projects. There, she developed a versatile skill set, excelling in creativity and design, as well as in client relations, technical aspects, and project execution. More recently, she embarked on a new venture by establishing her own design firm, MUDA, where she assists clients in arranging their outdoor living spaces and offers advice on plant selection. Each project is unique, emerging from thoughtful research and reflection to ensure that forms, materials, textures, and lighting reflect coherence and harmony, all while being resource-efficient. She aspires to a straightforward approach where habitat and nature converge, addressing the ecological challenges of the future.
Born in the Semois Valley, François Crucifix naturally explored the Ardennes landscapes and the wildlife inhabiting its rivers and forests. Initially experimenting with watercolor, he quickly branched out into various mediums, marking the beginning of an artistic education enriched by the Academy of Fine Arts in Vresse-sur-Semois, where he discovered multidisciplinary techniques. At Saint-Luc Liège, he studied comics and illustration while also exploring engraving, animation, and graphic design. He never confined himself to mastering one discipline, opting instead for continual experimentation. He obtained his degree in visual arts and spatial design. After graduation, he joined the family business in the automotive sector, honing his commercial skills. Although his artistic pursuits were sidelined, his travels fueled his curiosity and shaped his family life. Tired of the automotive business, he leveraged his commercial experience and artistic instinct to create François Crucifix Graphics, embarking on a journey into landscape illustration. Inspired by the natural chaos of growth, François Crucifix Graphics connects clients' landscape and architectural projects to spontaneous environments through vibrant and untamed 3D renderings. Fascinated by wide-open spaces, he founded Tandem Studio with his wife in Fruita, Colorado, and now illustrates projects for both American and European clients, closely aligned with spectacular and inspiring environments.