From 13 June until 27 September 2015 at Lac de Gayme (Picherande, Auvergne region) nFestival Horizons “Arts-Nature” in Sancy #9nnWalden ...
From 13 June until 27 September 2015 at Lac de Gayme (Picherande, Auvergne region) nFestival Horizons “Arts-Nature” in Sancy #9nnWalden Raft is a dynamic and contemplative experience which offers the public a space for reflection, referencing Henry David Thoreau’s cabin built in the woods of Walden Pond in 1845. Designed be- tween opacity and transparence, “Walden Raft” is a space for experimentation- a floating, luminous, audible, mobile vessel.nnA CABIN WITHOUT WALLS ----------------------------nnAn archetype of the small rustic cabin chosen as a paradigm of “true” architecture, “Walden Raft” fol- lows the proportions of Thoreau’s cabin.nBuoyancy and mobility make this shelter a space which is neither too near nor too far from the human society. The combination of wood and a modern industrial material, acrylic glass, brings transpar- ency to the construction while maintaining its protective function. “Walden Raft” offers an intermedi- ary space between Thoreau’s ‘Walled-in Space’ and the open air, permitting a permanent interaction between interior and exterior. On the shore, cabin and visitors integrate with the landscape. Primitive and modern techniques mingle, permitting an experience lived and shared with solid ground.nThe esthetics of the structure which oppose the Romantic fusion of humanity into the environment are emphasized not only by the choice of transparency but also that of flotation. From the interior or the exterior, the material’s occasional transparency offers a ensemble of unique perspectives which dis- solve the perception of “wilderness” and “tameness” underlying the fundamental misunderstanding placing us in opposition with Nature. Thus, one does not inhabit this cabin; it serves to induce a spe- cific relationship to the territory surrounding it. “Walden Raft” is a non-space whose position is unceas- ingly readjusted. Neither public property, nor private, nor entirely outside the world, nor entirely interi- orized, it is an intermediatespace, a lookout post where one can see while accepting to be seen.nnA NAVIGABLE CABIN ----------------------------nnThe cabin, a model of the primitive habitat at the birth of architecture, can perhaps be considered as the beginning point of any house. The cabin is also a child’s dream. “Walden Raft” is a floating, “navi- gable” cabin which can be moved along a cable strung from the shore to an anchor in the depths of the lake. Movement of “Walden Raft” requires the strength of an individual moving the reel around which the cord coils. From that results enough pulling force to move the cabin, cutting it off from solid ground by a few meters.nThe stretch of water crossed does not serve to link two banks but in fact to distance and immobilize the vessel on the lake. The initial process of leaving the shore as an experience in itself emphasizes the idea that we are not only users but also practitioners. We can ‘practice’ objects and spaces as we practice a musical instrument. It thus no longer means that we “consume” a utilitarian path but actually understand it, work on it, fully take advantage of it. The visitor’s participatory movement reinforces the underlying message of Thoreau’s work, which we adopt: “the non-human environment is evoked as an entirely separate actor and not only as a frame for human experience.”n“Walden Raft’s” integration into the landscape is also defined by its trajectory, which underlines the horizon, and by its reflection in the lake, referencing Thoreau’s “open-air temple linking earth and sky.” Rich with these navigable, practicable, and observational experiences, the “Walden Raft” cabin mate- rializes a logical space, losing its unique dimension as a shelter, by involving a particular relationship between immediate and distant Nature.nGayme Lake is an artificial lake created from a bog in 1983. It is unique in being situated at the same latitude as the spot in which H.D. Thoreau performed his experiment.nnKindly sponsored by Altuglas International – Arkema Group - AbaqueplastnnAltuglas International, which aims to develop ever-more innovative and efficient materials, supplied 1.5 tons of recyclable acrylic glass for this project. This material is 2 to 3 times lighter than glass, is more transparent, and consumes less energy both in its production and in its various applications (building, architecture, design, billboards,, the automobile industry, visual communications).nnThese materials of superior quality were taken from the over-supply stock inherent to all industrial production. Walden Raft’s conception, with its emphasis on lightness and transparency, was attrac- tive to Altuglas International because it considers these qualities key to its brand. These shared values created a beautiful opportunity to share in this eco-conscious adventure.nLocationnLac de Gaymen63113 PICHERANDE Altitude: 1100 m Less
