ANThROPOMIMICRY

On a small island in the Hortillonnages of Amiens, a fortified garden only accessible for animals and plants has been created by studio audal. Adjacent to the Somme river, one of the floating islands archipelago of the fertile lands that have been used for centuries by horticulturists, so called ‘hortillons’ to grow their own fruits and vegetables, will be taken over by the local flora and fauna.

Throughout history, human technological progress has always been made by taking inspiration from nature, focussing on bio-imitation or even biomimicry. When studying the shape of the tail of a whale to design airplane wings or the eyes of a moth to improve computer screens, it is rarely benefitting nature. This is even up to the point that the number of airplane wings increase as the number of whales decline, while the relentless light pollution from our screens gradually reduces the territory of moths. Humanity even recognises itself as the main cause of climate change, the destruction of biotopes and the extinction of thousands of animal and plant species.

To combat the loss of the territory of flora and fauna it is time to make a change and turn things around. This time, it is nature that draws on the resources of mankind. studio audal's proposal is a garden where military engineering technology, as used in human citadels and that can be found within the city of Amiens, becomes the inspiration for a fortified ecosystem.

AN ANTI-HUMAN FORTRESS

Mimicking the layout of a military fort, the garden incorporates natural counterparts of citadel elements. Visitors arriving by boat encounter barriers, emphasizing their role as observers and limiting human intrusion.

• Thorny banks replace the covertway, offering habitat and shelter for reptiles and rodents while deterring invaders.

• The floodable ditch, once part of city ramparts, now hosts aquatic plants and shelters for amphibians and insects. The transformed suburbs become a dense, green plot with native flowers, pollinated by bees and equipped with mono-specific nesting boxes for insects and arachnids.

• In the center, a permaculture mound replaces the castle, serving as an observation point for human visitors. Composed of wood debris and plants, it aids soil fertility, water retention, and acts as a thermal buffer. Accessible only from viewpoints, the fortified garden provides a secluded space for observing local species.

Though visitors cannot access the fortress, two viewpoints offer glimpses of the protected ecosystem through thorny defenses. This fortified garden provides a crucial space for the development and observation of native Somme species. Using only recycled, natural, and local materials, this anthropodecentric garden design offers an opportunity for species identification and reestablishment over time.