Gilles Clément and Piet Oudolf: Two Visionary Gardeners Compared

This article explores the ecological philosophies of French agronomist Gilles Clément (b. 1943) and Dutch designer Piet Oudolf (b. 1944), highlighting their distinct approaches. Clément's concept of the "moving garden" (Il giardino in movimento, 2011) perceives gardens as dynamic entities, while his "Planetary Garden" (Il giardiniere planetario, 2008) interprets Earth as a garden influenced by various flows. His work "Third Landscape" (Manifesto del Terzo paesaggio, 2004) emphasizes the importance of residual spaces for biodiversity, illustrated by Île Derborence at Parc Henri Matisse (1995). Oudolf, a key figure in the New Perennial movement, merges perennials with native plants, as seen in Hummelo (1982), the High Line (2006), and Lurie Garden (2003). Both promote "vagabond" plants and an "ecological economy," advocating for a human-centered ecology.