The Garden of Living Logs

The Garden of Living Log peacefully inhabits the woodland along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Occupying a 20 by 10-meter site, it delves into the topic of ecology, offering visitors an immersive and dynamic journey through symbolic nature. This project acts as a manifesto, advocating profound respect for nature's inherent power in growth, resilience, adaptation, and sustainability.

The pervasive influence of human activity has transformed the essence of nature, both physical and conceptual. The pristine nature was manually partitioned into fragmented micro-ecosystems, manipulated to align with human desires. Gardens, as a manifestation of this intervention, intricately weave living plants into semi-nature scenarios. However, despite their cultivated appearance, gardens must follow the immutable laws of nature.

The Garden of Living Log stands as a testament to the unifying foundation shared by all gardens. It acts as a prism, offering two perspectives on nature: a singular, limited view, and a comprehensive, all-encompassing outlook. In this garden, suspended logs from the same salvaged trunk symbolize fragmented nature. New micro-systems will flourish from these pieces, separated by obstructive polycarbonate veils. Visitors will experience each piece of nature when walking along the path.

The holistic view of the entire trunk is perceived only at specific vantage points. At that moment, fragmented elements become a whole, revealing the narrative that man-made and pristine nature share a common ground, calling for the integration of nature's power into man-made landscapes.