I wanted to get to the other side, 2014
In 2014 in collaboration with Landscape designer Sarah Ricketts, we were commissioned by Maison de la Culture in Amiens, France to create a new large scale permanent public installation responding to the unique environment of the Hortillonnages.
Our project takes inspiration from the unique environment of the Hortillonnages, a historic landscape shaped by horticulture, water, and constant human intervention. The gardens are a place of play, exploration, and escape, but also reveal how quickly nature reclaims space when untended. We wanted to create something that reflected this delicate balance—provocative, sensitive to its context, and engaging for visitors.
At the heart of our project was a series of conceptual wooden bridges, each designed to embody different aspects of human ambition, fragility, and imagination in relation to nature. Some are half-built, others collapsed, some lead to unexpected views or remain inaccessible, echoing the intrigue and discovery visitors feel in the unique magical but delicate environs of the Hortillonnages. One bridge even reuses a decommissioned boat, paying homage to the waterways that sustain the site.
Together with natural planting and pathways, the bridges form a narrative journey, encouraging visitors to choose their own route, uncover hidden perspectives, and experience the landscape in personal ways. Beyond the installation, we hope to leave a lasting legacy by creating a space for community groups, supported by workshops and shared learning, ensuring the project continues to evolve with those who use it.
