La Ville Des Pollinisateurs, aka "Pollinator City", is designed for simplicity of meaning and ease of construction and maintenance. Our garden’s theme creates two separate spaces, evocative of a role reversal of species: a Central Park recalling New York City around which an urbanized pollinator city is built. The center is “urbanized”—full of bee towers, bird townhouses, bat boxes, and butterfly inns. Surrounding this urbanized Central Park is a bosque of birch (or similar trees) under which our human garden visitors are invited to watch the ensuing “busy-ness” of the city through the day. The bosque is cool and refreshing, shady. Ville des Pollinisateurs is sunny, bright, and in open space—ideal for garden visitation and contemplation.
The Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire, located in France's Loire Valley, hosts the International Garden Festival on its chateau grounds. Each year, landscape gardeners and designers from around the globe participate in this prestigious event. For over 30 years, the International Garden Festival has served as a canvas for contemporary garden and landscape design, making it a treasure trove of ideas and a nursery for emerging talents. The festival rejuvenates garden art by showcasing new blooms, materials, and innovative approaches, appealing to both the public and professionals.
This design is done in collaboration with Scott Biehle, the Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Arkansas, and my peer, Kara Simmons. The fabrication of the bird and bug houses was completed alongside Ava McMoran, Oliver Right, and Elijah Willis. This was an amazing experience. The six of us completed the installation from March 15th through March 30th of 2024.
Hand drawing by Kara Simmons & vector effects by Fiorella Sibaja
Hand drawing by Kara Simmons & vector effects by Fiorella Sibaja
Render by Scott Biehle & vector effects by Fiorella Sibaja
Render by Scott Biehle & vector effects by Fiorella Sibaja
Render by Scott Biehle
