In this episode of Crossing Cultures, we explore two iconic garden models – a grand French masterpiece and a tranquil Chinese oasis – to discover how nature and design reflect the cultural identities that shaped them.
Gardens are more than spaces of beauty; they reveal cultural philosophies and identities.
This episode of Crossing Cultures explores France’s Vaux-le-Vicomte and China’s Humble Administrator’s Garden. Designed by André Le Nôtre, Vaux-le-Vicomte exemplifies the ambition and symmetry of 17th-century France and influenced the grandeur of Versailles.
In Suzhou, the Humble Administrator’s Garden embraces natural flow and asymmetry, reflecting the unity between man and nature.
While French gardens demonstrate strength and precision, Chinese gardens emphasise harmony and poetic meaning. From structured perfection to serene landscapes, these masterpieces show how two cultures have used gardens to express their values and shape their heritage.
