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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Formalism Meets Naturalism, with A French Flair

Posted in Adult Education on January 28 2015, by Plant Talk

Water Theater grove at Versailles Louis Benech
The rendering of the new Water Theater grove at Versailles features beeches and holm oaks in the landscape. (By Louis Benech)

Tomorrow we say bonjour to Louis Benech, a renowned French landscape designer and first speaker in our 15th Annual Winter Lecture Series, Le Jardin Français. Benech has carried out some 300 park and garden projects worldwide, including his celebrated reimagining of Louis XIV’s Water Theater grove at Versailles.

Louis Benech
Louis Benech. Photo by Eric Sander, 2012

In his lecture, “The Graceful Garden,” Benech will share his approach to garden creation and restoration, highlighting 10 gardens from his portfolio. His technique combines French formalism with a loose naturalism, two seemingly contradictory styles, with designs coaxed almost intuitively from the existing landscape.

We’re excited to see his masterwork for his project at Versailles, Louis XIV’s Water Theater grove, last designed by André Le Nôtre in the 17th century. So meticulous is his design that Benech ensured the height of the trees in the grove would not exceed 17 meters (56 feet) tall, so that the landscape is invisible from the Chateau de Versailles and in proportion to its location.

Another project we look forward to viewing is the Mas Sainte Anne, a garden in Provence, France, where Benech created a luxurious summer garden overlooking the Gulf of Saint Tropez, using strategically placed Mediterranean plants that direct the eye out toward the water.

Louis Benech Mas Saint Anne Gulf of Saint Tropez
Benech’s landscape design at Mas Sainte Anne leads the eye to the Gulf of Saint Tropez. (courtesy photo)

But Benech’s work isn’t limited to France. He’s designed outdoor spaces internationally, including the Pavlovsk’s rose pavilion in St. Petersburg and the Achilleion in Corfu. For homeowners in the U.S. who desire the elegance of French design firmly rooted in natural settings, Benech also has designed residential gardens, one of which he will visually treat us to tomorrow.

Louis Benech’s lecture begins at 10 a.m., Thursday, January 29, in the Ross Lecture Hall. Don’t miss this glimpse into his delightful work. See our 15th Annual Winter Lecture Series page for more information or to register to attend.