In the heart of its vineyards, the famous champagne house has unveiled an architectural project, realized with the complicity of Italian design duo Formafantasma. The project is dedicated to biodiversity.
So far, it's just a beginning, but a remarkable one. Last September, Formafantasma unveiled the Îlot de Biodiversité, the very first part of the Cohabitare project, located in the heart of the Maison Perrier-Jouët vineyards. The shape of this installation? Seventy-four posts structured by terracotta modules, handcrafted in France and finished in a range of natural iron oxide glazes. Their bright colors attract birds and insects, as well as bats. Installed in a 285 square metre space, they will be surrounded by native plants that will provide food for animal species, while also acting as a habitat for insects thanks to the openings and cavities of various sizes provided for this purpose.
The aim of this project is to encourage local biodiversity, the rhythms of which will be observed by a scientific committee, says the duo on their Instagram account. A study will also be carried out with the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris, to establish biodiversity indicators for both Cohabitare and the vineyard plots managed using regenerative viticulture, a "holistic approach that benefits the climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the well-being of the community", adopted some ten years ago by the champagne house to minimize its impact on the environment and help enrich biodiversity.
To mark the island's inauguration, guests were invited to enjoy a "Banquet of Nature", for which Formafantasma designed a set of table art elements, including hand-painted glasses. These water and champagne glasses, created in collaboration with Viennese glassmaker Lobmeyr, feature hand-painted illustrations of species of flora and fauna, to demonstrate the region's characteristic diversity. The two designers drew shapes and motifs from the company's archives to bring this series of glasses to life, adding drawings of the species that will inhabit the Îlot de Biodiversité. Also featured were ceramic bowls, made from waste from the factory where the Îlot's ceramic modules were manufactured. The pieces are glazed using the same palette as that developed for the modules, and served during lunch as a special dish.
Another Cohabitare project is The Centerpiece. This consists of two sound sculptures that capture the specific sounds and frequencies of local species, enabling us to experience biodiversity around the world. The sculptures are made up of a wooden resonance board which, thanks to its vibrations, diffuses sound throughout the surrounding space. Wooden boards are placed in two boxes that can be opened and discovered as a sensory experience. Inside are hand-painted representations of local flora and fauna, which can also be heard in David Monacchi's sound composition Oecanthus. The eco-acoustic composer will continue his work over the next three years to highlight the evolution of biodiversity in the Îlot de Biodiversité.
Maison Perrier-Jouët and Formafantasma have unveiled a first chapter that we can't wait to read more about.
FORMAFANTASMA.COM
