Reviving and fusing art, nature and wellbeing at a historic estate in Northern France

The Background

Having endured a thousand years of history, the Abbey of Bohéries, located in the lush valley of the river Oise in northern France, has had its fair share of reincarnations. Originally founded as a Cistercian monastery, the abbey has lived numerous lives as including as a weaving factory and a bolt hole for the young Matisse. Demolished and rebuilt countless times, the remaining buildings retain some of the original Cistercian water works as well as a stunning stable. Added in the late 18th century, factory buildings designed by Gustav Eiffel, complete the patchwork of architectural texture. 

The Challenge

The grounds, now overgrown and wild, are home to countless mature trees including fruit orchards wooded belts and copses and mature hedgerows, with a lake and watercourses meandering across the land. Some of the mature trees may even feature in Mattisse’s paintings.  

Choosing TreeSource

 TreeSource will be instrumental in this latest revival of the site. New woodlands and tree lined avenues will be created using the existing stock of trees and meandering paths leading to the many stunning vistas will be laid amongst them.

The Solution 

The trees will also be used to reconfigure access roads and to screen buildings. Another essential dimension in the design is in the multi-layer planting amongst the trees. Herbal, and medicinal plants for horses and humans will be included within the planting schemes alongside plants useful for painting pigments will be woven into the planting tapestry to provide materials and dyes for the resident artists, enhancing the community’s sustainability objectives and potentially providing valuable products for sale.  

The ultimate effect will be that of a managed integration of nature with architecture via art, wellbeing and community.  

The Future 

The new owners are in the planning stages of a new regeneration for the site in which the seemingly incongruous elements of the grounds and buildings will be integrated to fuse inside and outside, past and present, nature and industry to create new community space for art, enterprise and wellbeing. Ateliers for local crafts people and artists will share the space with a exhibition and meetings rooms: all will feature plants and trees. A small number of horses trained to help children with autism will have free rein of the development and accommodation in the form of 18th century military tents will be provided for people seeking therapy with them.