Wagon Landscaping is a Paris-based practice with a DIY attitude that combines landscape architecture, construction and gardening. Founders Mathieu Gontier and François Vadepied trained at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure du Paysage de Versailles where they were encouraged to “think like gardeners.” The studios sees itself as continuing a rich hands-on tradition in French landscape architecture.
Alex Breedon – Your approach to designing and constructing landscapes appears very hands-on. Does this approach differ from that of other landscape architecture offices in France?
Mathieu Gontier – I would say that we’re not working in a “classical” landscape architectural way. This way of working really began when me and my partner, François Vadepied, started the office. We’ve always been conceptual designers, but from the very beginning we’ve been gardeners and builders too. In that way, we’re a bit different to your typical landscape architects. We design in a way that’s more minimalistic, in many senses, the way that a gardener might design. We apply this to all scales. From masterplans to small plots, we try to keep the philosophy of the gardener throughout.
Liam Mouritz – Can you explain your design process, from drawing and representing your designs to gardening and construction?
We have two processes. The first involves the typical process and design stages that you will find in most landscape architecture offices, it’s a process that is really driven by government regulations, legality, and the desire for financial clarity. In the second instance, we have our own more intuitive process that is really a “Do It Yourself” approach that involves constant testing and adapting. When we’re doing it DIY we’re much more dependent on sketches, rather than any documentation or design through the computer. Even on projects with
