Plants, a model for design ? 2012

Plant design is on the borderline between biomimetism, urban ecology and the decorative arts and has been part of the curriculum at ESAD Reims for the last five years or more. It is part of a new approach to home design.

Observing and examining plants, their form, their structure, their geometry, their colour and their relationship with their surroundings helps designers to offer special, tailor-made and innovative solutions to current social, economic and environmental problems. This work on the scale of humans and plants complements the approaches of architects and landscape architects working at the scale of a city or landscape. This research project was led by Patrick Nadeau, Sara Lubtchansky and Patricia Ribault and involved first-year Master’s students in 2011/12. The first results went on show at the Jardin des Tuileries from 31 May to 3 June 2012 as part of the “Jardins, Jardin” exhibition. The projects were also included in a science and culture exhibition with INRA and Accustica as part of the 3rd International Art and Design symposium co-organised by ESAD and the Comédie de Reims in November 2012 on the theme of plants.