Living Log

Shortlist, 25th International Garden Festival

Location: Jardin Des Metis, Quebec, Canada

Type: Garden / Installation

– INSPIRED BY REVIVED DEAD TREES IN FOREST –

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

Living Log is an innovative garden and art installation at Jardin Des Metis, Quebec, Canada This unique creation stands as a testament to the unifying foundation shared by all gardens, responding to the 25th International Garden Festival’s theme “The Ecology of Possibilities”. It draws inspiration from designers’ everyday experience with nature – fallen tree trunks with moss, fungi, and ferns, a common forest sight in the northeastern part of North America.

– CELEBRATES THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF NATURE –

A fallen tree becomes a common ground for other wildlife. Living Log amplifies such scenarios in celebration of nature’s power and beauty in growth, resilience, adaptation, and sustainability. Suspended by the stainless steel ropes, reclaimed logs derived from the same trunk symbolize fragmented nature, with each log becoming a micro-ecosystem framed by a translucent matrix made of acrylic rods.

– ENGAGES VISITORS THROUGH DYNAMIC VIEWING ANGLES –

Living Log acts as a prism, offering two distinct viewing perspectives on nature: a singular, limited view, and a comprehensive, all-encompassing outlook. A series of polycarbonate veils separate each log, crafting a dynamic and captivating experience. While visitors could appreciate each log’s distinctiveness by walking around and through the garden, the holistic view of the whole 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.