- Rendez-vous de l'Institut
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Tout est jardin by Eric OSSART and Arnaud MAURIERES – Château de Bénouville
All is garden
Throughout Europe, the history of art and the art of gardens have merged and intermingled since medieval times. Sacred scripts, walled gardens, oneiric poems, visionary landscapes, wooded parks and naturalist music have collectively woven a complex web of relationships where we pain to distinguish the model from its representation. From existing historic models to the infinite scope offered by contemporary creations, how can we best design today’s garden? What are our sources of inspiration and how can we translate them via the gardener’s particular language? Over a few detailed examples, we will share our reflections and realisations, both private and public, in France and elsewhere.
Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières
Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières became associates in 1986 to create the Domaine de la Bellongue, horticultural estate in Arièges (France), specialised in rare plants. In 1989, they sold their collections and settled in Paris where they founded their own landscaping and events agency.
As from 1993, Eric Ossart became the head landscaper for the International Garden Festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire and, for 5 years, Ossart + Maurières created several gardens for the festival.
They also provided consultancy services in the field of urban development, concurrently creating a number of private gardens on the Mediterranean coast.
In 1996, they created the Jardin du Paradis, an experimental garden open to the public in Cordes-sur-Ciel (Tarn area). It was a prelude to a number of commissions for themed gardens.
In 2003, they set up in south Morocco then, in 2008, in Mexico, where they purchased a few hectares of wild and natural landscape. They are continuing their gardening experiences there through a range of spontaneous and exceptionally rich vegetation. The idea is not to never water the plants, but rather to adapt them to the climate by selecting species that can withstand long dry periods.
Since 2011, Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières have been dividing their time between Europe, North Africa, Mexico and other countries where they are called upon to design gardens or houses in harmony with the surrounding environment. Wherever they go, they devise exemplary projects, always perfectly in keeping with the soil and the existing local vegetation and climate.
Further reading :
Tout est jardin, Ulmer, 2017
Eloge de l’aridité, un autre jardin est possible, Plume de Carotte, 2016