Jardin suspendu

In the urban heart of Lausanne, the interior of Saint-François Church removes its pews to host its own garden, as part of Lausanne Jardins. This garden is composed of a curved wooden superstructure resting on the church’s pillars, supporting a motorized rotation system. Suspended horizontally from this structure (about nine meters above the ground) hangs a wooden rosette, measuring 8.8 meters in diameter. It rotates slowly, completing one full revolution every thirteen minutes.

From this rosette descend fine copper wires. At the end of each hangs a dried Magnolia Grandiflora leaf. The wire passes through each leaf, stitched from side to side by machine. The leaves are suspended horizontally, skimming just a few millimeters above the floor and the magnets arranged orthogonally below. The copper wire, carrying an audio current, vibrates slightly when passing near a magnet. The dried leaf then acts as a membrane, amplifying this vibration — much like the functioning of a loudspeaker. Situated within a rather high frequency range, the sound remains extremely delicate.

To perceive its acoustic component, the installation invites the visitor to pause. Through this moment of listening and waiting, the surrounding sounds — peripheral, external, and intense — gradually emerge.

Support: Sandoz Family Foundation, Fondation Pittet SAV, Fondation Centre Patronal, Loterie Romande, EERV, L’esprit sainf, Ville de Lausanne, Landing, La Coulette, Loxam