studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles’ gardens as open dialogue on climate

the 300-meter table by 5.5 anchors 'nous… the climate' exhibition at the potager du roi.

Norman L edited by christina vergopoulou May 28, 2025 4 min

Studio 5•5 designs Nous… Le Climate: a Manifesto Exhibition

From May 7 to July 13, 2025, the Potager du Roi in Versailles serves as the site for Nous… the Climate, an open-air exhibition forming part of the 3rd Biennial of Architecture and Landscape of Île-de-France (Bap!). Designed by Studio 5•5 in collaboration with Agence TER, the exhibition serves as a spatial manifesto that addresses climate change through a combination of scenography and public installations.

The exhibition’s primary feature is a 300-meter linear table placed within the Potager’s historic layout. This table operates both as a symbolic structure and as a platform for presenting collective responses to climate issues. Its geometry connects multiple zones of the garden and introduces a spatial narrative that begins with the word ‘Nous’ (Us) and concludes with ‘the Climate.’ This layout forms a literal and conceptual axis, framing climate as a shared responsibility across disciplines and sectors.

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 1 — all images courtesy of Studio 5•5 and Agence TER

Nous… Le Climate scenography adapts to the natural setting

Developed by Studio 5•5’s design team, and commissioned by Agence TER, Nous… Le Climate table features various design projects. These include proposals and interventions related to ecological infrastructure, soil regeneration, urban cooling strategies, and regenerative agriculture. Each contribution emphasizes a landscape-based methodology and presents specific, localized responses to environmental transformation.

Constructed using weather-resistant materials, the scenography adapts to natural conditions. Its layout facilitates varied sensory engagement depending on the time of day and the weather. A key spatial feature of the route includes passage across the central basin of the Potager du Roi, enabling direct interaction with the site’s water systems and microclimatic variations.

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 2 — a 300-meter table anchors Nous… the Climate at the Potager du Roi

Potager du Roi becomes a living architectural laboratory

Originally designed in the 17th century to support controlled agricultural production, the Potager now functions as a research site for contemporary climate adaptation. The exhibition draws on this historical role to propose new forms of spatial practice, informed by both past horticultural techniques and current environmental strategies.

Incorporated within the site are collective seating areas and shared surfaces designed to host formal and informal dialogues. These elements frame the Potager as a working ground for civic, scientific, and design collaboration.

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 3 — the exhibition unfolds in the historic gardens of Versailles

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 4 — public installations connect ecology, design, and dialogue

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 5 — the table acts as both platform and symbol for climate action

studio-5-5-linear-table-potager-du-roi-versailles-climate-crisis-designboom-1800-2 — zones of the Potager are linked through the table’s linear geometry

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 6 — ecological infrastructure projects line the exhibition path

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 7 — the scenography changes with sun, wind, and rain

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 8 — the exhibition serves as a spatial manifesto that addresses climate change

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 9 — the open-air layout encourages informal discussion and exchange

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 10 — Studio 5•5 and Agence TER frame climate as a collective issue

studio-5-5-linear-table-potager-du-roi-versailles-climate-crisis-designboom-1800-1 — a route across the central basin highlights water and microclimates

studio 5•5 stretches linear table through versailles' gardens as open dialogue on climate - 11 — Nous… the Climate: a spatial sentence tracing shared responsibility

project info:

name: Nous…Le Climat
designer: Studio 5•5 | @studio5.5

commissioner: Agence TER | @agence_ter

location: École nationale supérieure de paysage, 10 rue du Maréchal Joffre, 78000 Versailles, France

dates: May 7th – July 13th, 2025

Studio 5•5 design team: Florian Stechenko, Anthony Lebossé, César Potel, Simon Lancelle, Marie Aujames, Eliott Bulle

Agence TER design team: Henri Bava, Michel Hossler, Olivier Philippe

construction: BARAKA & Cie

landscape team: Julien-Labruyere Degas Beatrice, Maëlys Laporte, Karima Agha, Leret Surrault, Anouk Lucile, Augiron Célia, Banyik Aldo, Jiménez Felipe, Philippine Ciupek

support: École nationale supérieure de paysage

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