Architectural Record – August 2019

In the early 20th century, the actress known as

Madame Thébault built a villa on an idyllic plot of

rolling landscape in Étretat, France, atop the rocky

cliffs of Normandy’s Alabaster Coast. The grounds,

which she made into a garden for her orchids, be­

came a favorite painting spot for her friend Claude

Monet, who produced many artworks depicting the

Porte d’Aval, a natural stone arch in the distance. In

2016, Russian landscape designer Alexandre Grivko

transformed Thébault’s former estate into Les

Jardins d’Étretat—a public garden that hosts both

permanent and temporary displays of sculpture by

international artists.

With its meandering pathways, pristine array of

topiary, and unusual artworks, Grivko’s garden

recalls a scene from a storybook; the designer

cites the grounds at Versailles and the imaginary

landscape of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as

inspirations for his fantastical display of over

150,000 plants. Referencing Étretat’s natural splen­

dor, the voluminous formations of flora evoke cliffs,

waves, and whirlpools. “Just as the wind, rain, and

ocean have carved out a landscape of staggering

beauty, I thought of how human hands could mimic

nature to create something similarly exquisite,”

Grivko says. Using plants to occasion a kaleidoscopic

panorama of hues and textures, he has designed a

sensory­rich experience for visitors—and a dynamic

backdrop for sculpture—that evolves throughout the

seasons. Says Grivko, “The garden is a perpetual

artistic experiment.” n

PHOTOGRAPHY: © MATTEO CARRASALE

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD AUGUST 2019

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