The Reopening of the Glasshouses of the Jardin des Plantes

The Reopening of the Glasshouses
of the Jardin des Plantes
A journey to the very heart of biodiversity
© Manuel Cohen
Jardin des Plantes
57, rue cuvier - paris ve
www.mnhn.fr
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
Jardin des Plantes - 57, rue Cuvier, Paris Ve
Open: everyday, except Tuesdays and 1st May
Opening times: 10am to 5pm in winter, 10am to 6.30pm in summer
Prices: adults, children (between 4 and 14 years old), free for children
under 4
Access: the glasshouses can be accessed by visitors with reduced
mobility and there is also assistance throughout the museography
for the visually impaired or hard of hearing and mediation for
the mentally disabled.
Information for the public: Call +33 1 40 79 54 79 / 56 01
School groups: information can be obtained from: +33 1 40 79 36 00
Site : www.mnhn.fr
Communication
Fanny DECOBERT - Call +33 1 40 79 54 44
Press contact
Agence OBSERVATOIRE
Aurélie LANDET - Call +33 1 43 54 87 71 - aurelie@observatoire.fr
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
Cécile BRISSAUD - Call +33 1 40 79 80 75
brissaud@mnhn.fr
Estelle MERCERON - Call +33 1 40 79 54 40
presse@mnhn.fr
Press photos
www.mnhn.fr click on press, then “royalty free photographs“
Access code “presse2010 “ to download the photos.
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At the heart of the Jardin des Plantes, the renovated, redeveloped glasshouses provide you with a great opportunity to get away from it all.© Manuel Cohen
« At one with nature »
Biodiversity makes the world go round. A network made up of millions of species, microbes,
plants and animals – including humans. Every single one is different and unique. In this
interactive chain, there are some that eat others, because this is how life goes on. But there
is also cooperation and mutual aid between individuals and species. Then there are lichens
which result from an intimate association, a symbiosis, between seaweed and fungus. And
our trees, would they be as magnificent without the filamentous fungi that settle in their roots
and give them valuable nutrients? And us human beings, don’t we stand to gain from this rich
natural diversity? Think of the corn, rice, potatoes, cows and sheep which feed us – these are all
products of biodiversity. As are the cotton, wool, leather which dress us. And the things that
cure us…penicillin, aspirin or quinine: once again, these are also the fruits of biodiversity! So,
let us join forces with nature, protect her: let us not forget, our future depends on it – and, even
more so, the future of our children.
Professeur Robert BARBAULT
Head of the department of ecology and management
of biodiversity at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.
« Un éléphant dans un jeu de quilles: l’Homme dans la biodiversité ».
Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 2006.
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Summary
A. A
challenge for the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
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1. A technical issue
2. An historical and botanical issue
3. A scientific and educational issue
B. Offering something new to the public
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1. Immersion in nature throughout the seasons
2. A walk accessible to all
3. Historical and architectural heritage
4. A new approach to the world of vegetation
C. The scenography and its landmarks
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1. A complete journey
2. A subtle museography
3. An “intelligent” liana
4. Also shows the invisible
D. Presentation of the four glasshouses
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1. The tropical rainforest glasshouse
2. The desert and arid land glasshouse
3. The New Caledonia glasshouse
4. The plant History glasshouse
E. Annexes
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25
26
27
28
29
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1. Let’s talk about botany: some important terms
2. The history of glasshouses
3. Bibliography
4. About glasshouses
5. Press photos
6. Scientific committee
7. Partners
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The Reopening of the Glasshouses
of the Jardin des Plantes
A journey to the very heart of biodiversity
The entirely renovated and redeveloped glasshouses will open
their doors again to the public in May 2010. Carrying out restoration
work to its historical structures was of vital importance and required
a lot of energy and investment. While maintaining its magic and its
potential as a place to get away from it all, the renovation – added
to a redesigned museography, some new plantations and plant
displays – enables us to incorporate the most up to date knowledge
regarding plants and current concerns, and to make our public
aware of the fragile nature of the environment and the current
issues concerning its preservation.
Four glasshouses are now open to the public:
the tropical rainforest glasshouse
the desert and arid land glasshouse
the New Caledonia glasshouse
the plant History glasshouse
This is where we see an imaginary kind of nature where plants
from all four corners of the world live side-by-side. A type of
nature which is in fact very real because plants grow in the earth
here and can be seen very close up. This ‘rendez-vous’ with the
plant world, life’s oldest laboratory, is both poetic and scientific
at the same time.
This is where we discover plant biodiversity in its abundance
or rarity among the many and surprising aspects of its adaption
to different terrestrial environments.
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Four glasshouses are now open to visitors - for a journey to the heart of biodiversity throughout the seasons. .© Patrick Lafaite / MNHN
A. T
he reopening of the glasshouses:
a challenge for the museum
The reopening of the glasshouses has got architects, scenographers, mediators, pedagogical,
scientific and garden experts involved, as well as associations specialised in working
with disabilities. For the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, this has represented a
major challenge in terms of several issues.
1. A technical issue
The glasshouses are classified buildings with both historic and fragile structures. They
suffer from differences in temperature and are affected by humidity. They have been renovated
but never quite to the degree that began in June 2005. The renovation and new interior
fittings were carried out while taking into consideration the necessary factors imposed by
World Heritage status and the desire to make the buildings accessible to the public.
The work carried out has allowed us to restore the original appearance of the buildings
while modernising them at the same time. Both the exterior and the interior were restored
and redesigned, meaning that the buildings had to be closed to the public and the plants
moved. The unwieldy objects that could not be moved bravely survived the renovation work.
The renovation of the corroded metallic structures and the restoration of water tightness
have therefore formed part of the basic renovation works. The electrical installations, heating, lighting, sprayers for recreating the tropical atmosphere of the grand glasshouse, the
restoration of the interior decorations of the forepart and the original lighting (blue farm
lighting) provide the museum with a new display point at the heart of the Jardin des Plantes,
saving its heritage while giving it a new mission.
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The glasshouses are listed buildings that form part of the garden’s history. Print taken from “Muséum d’histoire naturelle. Serres chaudes” Charles Rohault De Fleury – Paris, 1837
2. An historical and botanical issue
Preserving the glasshouses also means reviving the utopia of the great botanists of the
Jardin des Plantes and feeding the gardener’s fantasies: making plants that originate from
different latitudes grow, recreating a substrate for them, i.e. a soil that is close to that
of their own natural environment and maintaining adequate temperature and humidity
conditions. This is a permanent challenge for the six gardeners who look after the glasshouses
because nothing is given in advance: after all, nature - even under glass - can either be
capricious or generous.
The selaginellales in the plant History
glasshouse where we learn about the long
and fascinating evolution of the plant
life for the first time.
© Denis Larpin / MNHN
3. A scientific and educational issue
The glasshouses offer more than just immersion in the world of plants. Each opens up to a
fully-fledged universe, both visually and scientifically, revealing a different approach to plant
diversity. In the Tropical rainforest glasshouse, the visitor is plunged into an environment of
exceptional density in which the plants tell of their functions and their purpose. In the desert
and arid land glasshouse, we can see plant groups with amazing faculties of adaptation. In the
New Caledonia glasshouse, we pass a range of environments and landscapes before the scope
of observation broadens to the scale of the geological periods of the history of the earth in the
plant History glasshouse.
Finally, in celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity, the glasshouses are also places
that raise awareness of the diversity of plant life in an exemplary way, not just of the beauty of
plants but also their fragility. Without plants, life would not be possible for humans which are
closely interrelated to the plant world by thousands of years of cohabitation – something that
the scenography of the glasshouses prominently displays.
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The plant History glasshouse, the final stage of the visit, adjoins the curved glasshouses which serve the nurseries.© Manuel Cohen
B. New for the public
At the heart of the Jardin des Plantes, the glasshouses give the public the opportunity not only
to immerge themselves in nature whatever the season in the elegant surroundings, but also to
enter into the botanical world, and to both get to know plants and preserve them better.
1. Nature to be enjoyed in all seasons
The reopening of the four glasshouses offers an exotic journey into a nature that is almost
indifferent to seasons. A nature under glass which is given particular care, certain species
originating from far away appear as beautiful and unusual strangers. The marvel is not
just at the exoticism but also at the proximity of the plants and the discovery of their hidden
sides.
2. A walk accessible to all members of the public
The renovation work (widening of the paths, installation of two lifts, selection of informative
add-ons) and the scenography has made the glasshouses accessible to persons with reduced
mobility, the visually impaired, the hard of hearing and those with learning difficulties
through mediation.
3. A historical and architectural heritage
When we enter the glasshouses, we enter into the heritage of the Jardin des Plantes. The
current structures are the heirs of a history that began in the seventeenth century at the
time of the Jardin du Roy when the botanists, in their permanent search for new plant life
to study, were faced with the need to preserve subjects brought back home from far away
expeditions which were ill-adapted to the harsh conditions of Parisian winters.
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The first glasshouse was built in 1714, followed by several construction, extension, demolition
and reconstruction phases (see history, page 24). Glass constructions which cater for
the passions of botanists, the glasshouses are also bold architectural accomplishments
deserving of their classification as historical monuments. Throughout the centuries, the
garden’s managers and architects have always been committed to technical innovations
for improved temperature and humidity control and preservation of the fragile and precious
subjects.
Their names pay homage to their creators. The two pavilions (today the New Caledonia
glasshouse and the plant History glasshouse), called the Rohault de Fleury glasshouses in
honour of their architect, were built in the 19th century, and were very much true prototypes
of their time.
The biggest and highest was built in the 1930s by René Berger, it was called the Winter
Garden and is known today as the Tropical rainforest glasshouse. It has art deco style
elegance.
4. A new approach to the world of vegetation
The glasshouses of the Jardin des Plantes have an essentially educational purpose (the reference
collections and collections with scientific and conservation goals are cultivated in the tropical
glasshouses of the Arboretum de Chèvreloup, near Versailles). The botanical journey offered
by the glasshouses is an opportunity to travel to different biomes* and to discover the unique
diversity of the plant world. A diversity which is even more discernible in the glasshouses by the
evocation of very contrasting environments: the abounding tropical forests, the arid zones’ lack
of water, particularly the New Caledonia with its specific flora, resulting from long term isolation.
The current biodiversity can be explained by the evolution of plants (one glasshouse is
dedicated to this), but also by the former isolation of certain islands (New-Caledonia), or
by the adaption to extreme restrictions (lack of water).
During the XIX century, the first glass and
metal glasshouses in the world were erected
at the Jardin des Plantes.© Manuel Cohen
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The landscapes of the plant History glasshouse (detail). © Jeane Montano / MNHN
C. The scenography and its landmarks
1. A complete journey
The glasshouses should be visited one after the other: we enter via the great Tropical rainforest
glasshouse and, with a striking contrasting effect, we walk into the adjoining gallery dedicated
to desert environments. After this, we climb the stairs of the grand rock until we reach the
New Caledonia glasshouse and we go past it again from the outside to get to the plant History
glasshouse. Each glasshouse has double entry security doors where there are extracts of films
of landscapes and atmospheres, preparing the visit.
2. A subtle museography
The scenography of the glasshouses is designed to both amaze and allow intelligent observation
of plant life at the same time. The communication and information systems are intended for
families, children and all members of the public, particular attention is paid to disabled visitors.
Botanical signs, wall texts and labels provide information about the plants and environments
presented. In addition to this classic approach, interactive and playful elements can also be
found in the airlock security entrance and the desert glasshouse.
3. An “intelligent” liana visitor guide
This steel ribbon with a tropical creeper-inspired shape is called a liana tortoise. This is
actually a list of contents and a guiding thread to give more information to visitors who require
it or to simply serve as an extra visual attraction for those who don’t (a natural vanilla
aroma molecule with cocoa beans hidden in its cocoa pod).
Informative focal points are distributed along the liana in the form of mandalas and satellites
which mark the important points of the visit, emphasising the thematic pathway. The mandalas
are the list of contents (visuals and texts), the satellites are images and the manipulations
allow a more playful approach: leaflets, sound boxes, smells, samples, history, microscopes.
4. Making the invisible visible…
…the flowers that we don’t see, the landscapes of the past. In the New Caledonia glasshouse,
in order to make us think of plants in a different way, films present their followed and accelerated growth in a large scale format using state-of-the-art technology.
In the plant History glasshouse, to recall nature as it was hundreds of million of years ago, the
designed landscapes translate the work of scientists in a very artistic synthesis.
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© Agence NC
Plan of the adjoining four glasshouses
From left to right: A palm tree in fruit .© Denis Larpin / MNHN - Prickly pear in flower (Opuntia). © Denis Larpin / MNHN - Proteaceae in flower. © Corinne Sarthou / MNHN
Selaginella. © Denis Larpin / MNHN
D. The four glasshouses
1. The tropical rainforest glasshouse.
All the richness and diversity of plant life
“Precious tropical forests. These green cathedrals – these tropical forest ecosystems – are both
high points for biodiversity and hot points for the threats that our appetite for space and resources
pose More than half of our living species can be found on just 7 % of our land: a mere hectare
of tropical forest can contain more than 400 species of different trees! In the field and in the
mountain, from the Amazon Rainforest to Indonesia, passing by west and central Africa, these
ecosystems which hold thousands of epiphytic plants and their rich, specialised fauna are the
last refuges of our cousins, the great apes, as they are for tigers, ocelots and other jaguars. They
are also the last refuges and the fabric of the culture for many indigenous populations. Tropical
forests are complex, organised systems that are essential to the physiology of our entire planet: they
are irreplaceable and no one is capable of reinventing them. Moreover, the twentieth century
has seen their numbers drop significantly and their eradication continues with almost general
indifference despite the activities of many associations and initiatives such as the regulation of
the trading of tropical wood. We have to learn to get to know them, understand them, and to
love them. Perhaps if we acquaint ourselves with them, we would then want to protect them
properly: they are the cathedrals of nature, the guarantors of our future.”
Robert Barbault
Head of the department of ecology and management
of biodiversity at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.
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Renovated identically, the art deco entrance of the great glasshouse, built in the 1930s by René Berger, Head architect of the museum.
Fountain detail on the right.© Manuel Cohen
We enter…
through a superb peristyle art deco.
• Built between 1935 and 1936, the tropical rainforest glasshouse is majestic with its fountain
and imposing hollow concrete rock in a cubist shape. Its great dimensions mean it can
hold the tallest of objects.
• As the visit starts off with the glasshouse, an immediate change of scenery occurs with
immersion into the hot and humid atmosphere of an imaginary tropical forest. We wind
along the alleys in the middle of the ficus, palm trees, banana trees and other inhabitants
of these forests, we lean up close towards botanical labels for an introduction, we crane
our necks to see the top of the tallest trees, we climb a rock with inner walls covered in a
superb Monstera deliciosa - a type of philodendron - to discover the complete panorama
of the glasshouse.
We see…
the beautiful plant density of the tropical forests in which all of the strata are filled.
• The great glasshouse provides a habitat for plants which benefit from optimal heat and
humidity conditions in nature. The planted plant life – originally from Africa, Central America,
South America South East Asia, Australia and the Pacific Isles come from areas of the
world with equatorial and tropical humid climates.
• All “types” of plant life are presented: tall trees, such as ficus and Bermuda palm trees,
small trees, shrubs and small trees, big herbaceous varieties such as banana trees, small
underbrush grasses, lianas such as the pepper and epiphyte plants* and lots of ferns and
orchids. The majority of the tall plants were already rooted in the glasshouse and some
trees are more than 30 years old. The floral diversity of the glasshouse has also been
significantly enriched particularly in the underbrush.
We learn…
the forest does not exist as a single entity, it is instead lived in, useful and fragile.
• Plants, humans and animals live at the heart of the ecosystem*. Some plants are extremely
useful to human beings. Under the canopy (the top of the highest trees), some plants develop
some clever strategies to reach or make the most of the light.
The rock at the heart of the great
glasshouse. © François-Gilles Grandin
MNHN
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Three pathways allowing us to acquaint ourselves with this infinitely rich environment.
a. W
hat is the tropical forest like? A vertical structure with tall objects that cast a shadow
over the underbrush plants. Even if the glasshouse is an artificial environment, this is
where we recount forest life and its natural regeneration, evoking this through the dead
branches and trunks on the ground (after they have fallen) which form a «chablis”, i.e.
a gap in the forest which will be recovered by vegetation from the environment and by
pioneer plants resulting from the seeds blown by the wind or by frugivorous animals.
The epiphyte plants are not anchored to
the soil; they live in high trees suspended
from the canopy (epiphyte orchids).
© Jean-Noël Labat / MNHN
b. How certain plants adapt to the shadowy light in the underbrush or compete for the light,
such as the lianas which can anchor themselves, tendrils, hooks or epiphytic plants that,
without anchoring themselves to the ground, position themselves in the branches of tall
trees. These plants feed themselves by capturing atmospheric water by their leaves or roots
and the nutrients in the humus retained on the supporting tree which composes of true
“suspended soil”.
c. What kind of plants do we find in the forest which are useful for man? A great variety of
plants linked to food, medicine, dyes, textiles, cosmetic purposes, not to mention those
that are used in perfumes, craft industry, construction, heating and consecrations. The
“plant resources” pathway emphasises, amongst others: the banana tree, the coffee
plant, the kapok tree, vanilla, the Madagascar periwinkle, the mahogany tree, the cocoa
tree and pepper.
THE COFFEE PLANT
or Coffea Arabica, belonging to the Rubiaceae plant family.
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
The coffee plant is one of the most well-known that is useful
to man – each day, humans consume millions of cups of coffee.
There are many species of coffee plant, however, on a global
scale there are three that are mainly cultivated: Coffea arabica
and its numerous varieties, Coffea canephora (Robusta coffee)
and Coffea liberica. We derive the precious seeds from fruits
called cherries.
Its geographical origin: the East African forests.
Its uses: for food, aromas, and medicinal purposes. Known as
a remedy and a “drug” for a long time in Arabia, coffee contains
hundreds of chemical components and a principal active element –
caffeine - which delays fatigue, stimulates the heart and respiratory
rate and digestion. After petrol, it is the second most valuable
product on the world market today and a true source of wealth
for many tropical countries. Arabica provides 80 % of worldwide
production. It tastes better if it contains less caffeine than Robusta.
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© Agence NC
Plan of the tropical rainforest glasshouse
Différentes formes d’adaptation à la sécheresse : les réserves d’eau des plantes succulentes, les duvets pour limiter l’évaporation. © Denis Larpin/MNHN
2. The desert and arid land glasshouse
In the kingdom of strange shapes and textures
We enter…
by the tropical rainforest glasshouse.
• A water garden is displayed in the adjoining long gallery. The gallery has been completely dissembled, restored, reglazed and redeveloped. Dedicated to the adaption of plants to dryness
in different regions of the world, the exposition is arranged in a linear way, allowing close up
observation of the shapes and textures.
We see…
plants from arid environments (i.e. receiving less than 300 mm rainfall each year).
• Plants from the US and Mexican deserts; the Andes; South Africa; Madagascar; Sahara;
the Arabian peninsula; Australia; certain islands. The plants partially come from the
former glasshouse, called the “Mexican” glasshouse and the collections of the Arboretum
de Chèvreloup. Acquiring these plants was necessary to illustrate some particular cases.
• The glasshouse presents five plant scenes, the plants are regrouped according to their
type of adaption to this environment, i.e. according to their strategy for resisting the lack
or rarity of water. As many strange geometric shapes with varied textures provide a source
of amazement: plants in the shape of balls or cereus, plants with thorns, down or hair on
their leaves, plants with leaves and succulent stems (filled with water).
We learn…
how the plants have made impressive morphological adaptations to the dry conditions and
how life is able to adapt to battle and triumph against the most unfavourable conditions;
• how they search water from where it can be found, thanks to a double system of superficial
and deep roots;
• how they store water. There are some plants which store water in specific tissue called succulent
plants. Examples of these are cactuses or other plants with bulging trunks. For these plants,
stems serve as true water tanks;
• how they save water by limiting loss from evaporation. This is done by slowing down
transpiration through smaller size leaves or waxy skin (euphorbia, jojoba, and ocotillo) or
specific shapes: the ball shape perfect for this;
• how they protect themselves by living in the shade or being buried in the ground (for example,
semi-buried pebble plants and window plants conduct light by the “windows” to their chlorophyll
producing parts which are situated under the ground because it is a little colder there);
• how they reduce their life cycle, are short-lived, only develop a vegetative and reproductive
system if it rains, and spend dry periods in the form of seeds;
• some plants are resistant to fire and salt – they develop particular strategies for this which
are similar to those used for lack of water.
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Succulence
An excellent response to arid conditions
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Succulent plants (from the Latin succus, juice) also known
as succulents or fat plants, have water reserves in leaves,
stems or roots. After rare wet spells, the cells are gorged
with water which is then used during the long periods of
draught. Cactuses are a perfect example of this. There are
about 2000 species in the cactus family. All of the cactuses
are endemic to the American continent. Found between
Canada and the Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), they are
fully adapted to extreme arid, cold or torrid conditions.
Whether cereus, candelabras, balls, prickly pears, shrubs,
epiphytes, lianas or creepers, they often have iridescent
flowers, some of which can only be seen in the dark. Some
have a cylindrical shape meaning they can store up to several
tons of water, such as the giant Cereus from Arizona or
Mexico.
Ball cactus.© Denis Larpin / MNHN
A rosette of leaves (Agaves). © Denis Larpin / MNHN
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Cactus peruvianus.© Denis Larpin / MNHN
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© Agence NC
Plan of the desert and arid land glasshouse
Detail of the structure of the New Caledonia glasshouse, the island group with unique flora.© Manuel Cohen
Example of an endemic carnivorous plant. .© Jean-Noël Labat / MNHN
3. The New Caledonia glasshouse and its unique flora
We enter…
by the tropical rainforest glasshouse.
• Pavilion built by Charles Rohault de Fleury, it forewent its title of “Mexican glasshouse”
in favour of a new name.
We see…
…plants from New Caledonia – as we might expect from the name. The vast majority of
the plants had to be acquired and acclimatised. Very few plants formed part of the former
collection with the exception of some of the araucarias.
• New Caledonia is introduced in the airlock security entrance before entering the glasshouse.
This is where we discover its geography, its natural and cultural richness and its history.
• The very specific diversity of this flora is presented through five environments: the humid
forest, the dry forest – the extremely threatened environment – maquis minier, the savanna
and the mangrove. In each environment a number of plants – rare, endemic, original for their
capacities of adaptation, or useful for mankind – are commented on.
We learn…
• that living beings which inhabit ground that has been isolated for a very long time are
specialised to the extreme. They are endemic, i.e. specific to this territory (area, region).
A relic of the former continent called Gondwana from which it separated, as it did from the
other islands of the pacific south. 70 million years ago, New Caledonia set sail and diversified
as it slowly drifted, a Noah’s arc for the flora of this distant era.
• that New Caledonia is an Eldorado both for its wealth of plant species with a unique
character as well as for its great scientific interest. Despite its small surface area, New
Caledonia has 76 % of endemic plants, i.e. those that do not exist anywhere else, placing this
island group in third position behind Hawaii and New Zealand.
Some of the environments in New Caledonia are the reserved domain of amazing, rare and
superb plants which are sometimes useful to the local populations. In the dry forest, for example, the magnificent bindweed, liana with red flowers (Turbina inopinata), the Captaincookia
(or Ixora margaretae), named after Captain James Cook who discovered the island group in
1774: a very rare tree with spectacular red flowers (which even grow on the trunk). We also find
the precious New Caledonia Sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledonicum), which also inhabits
other environments and from which we extract a precious essence and even an endemic rice
(Oryza neocaledonica).
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Îles Bélep
Province
nord
Mangrove (roots of the mangroves).
© Corinne Sarthou / MNHN
Ouvéa
Fayaoué
Koumac
Province
des Îles Loyauté
Lifou
Hienghène
Wé
Poindimié
Koné
Tiga
Maré
Houaïlou
Tadine
Bourail
La Foa
Mer de Corail
Thio
Province
sud
Nouméa
LA VÉGÉTATION DE LA NOUVELLE-CALÉDONIE
Humid forest (arborescent fern).
© Corinne Sarthou / MNHN
Île des Pins
Mangrove
Forêt humide
Forêt sèche
Maquis minier
Savane à niaoulis
The different natural environments of New Caledonia. © Maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Paris.
Dry forest (Captaincookia margaretae/
current name - Ixora).
© Jean-Noël Labat / MNHN
In the maquis, there are a number of endemics with iridescent flowers such as the myrtaceae
and the proteaceae and even some species which can detoxify soil by accumulating nickel, for
example. In the humid forest there are also a high number of endemics, such as the immense
arborescent fern Cyathea intermedia, lots of araucarias and other tropical conifers.
In New Caledonia, we find many groups of plants with very old origins, representing the basic
branches on the genealogical tree of the vegetable kingdom. For over one and a half centuries, botanists have collected this flora which is going to enrich the herbarium of the museum
during their missions. Today they still study the parts of New Caledonia that have been little
explored or revisit better known areas to make an inventory and to enrich their knowledge of
the flora and environments.
• that New Caledonia’s treasures of are very fragile. New Caledonia is a worldwide hot
spot for biodiversity, i.e. a zone where plant diversity is exceptional, but also very much
under threat. Lots of species are micro endemics (some palm trees or araucarias, for
example) that only live in some of the very concentrated areas of the island group. There
are many threats (fire, mining, urbanisation, introduced deer that are fond of the plants…)
for which protection and control programmes need to be set up for these species and
environments.
4. La serre de l’Histoire des plantes, une aventure
Maquis minier.
© Jean-Noël Labat / MNHN
Paperback tree savanne (white bark
trunks). © Corinne Sarthou / MNHN
The dry forest, an extremely vulnerable environment
Made up of shrubs and lianas adapted to the dry conditions, the dry forest or
sclerophyll* does not receive more than 1100 mm in rainfall each year. Originally
much vaster, this extremely vulnerable forest spreads between 0 and 300 m altitude
over the west coast of New Caledonia where it covers no more than 50 km2, i.e.
1 % of its initial surface area. A conservation programme is under development to
safeguard, restore and develop its strips of surprising forests with rich plant life.
456 indigenous species and 262 endemic New Caledonian species have been found
– 60 of the latter live exclusively in the dry forest. The shrub, Pittosporum tanianum,
which had once been declared extinct, was rediscovered in 2002 and is the object
of great attention today. The dry forest also shelters fauna that is yet to be properly
discovered including many endemic species.
Extract from “Nouvelle-calédonie Terre de Corail” Nov 2008.
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21
© Agence NC
Plan of the New Caledonia glasshouse
The ferns in the plant History glasshouse. © Manuel Cohen
4. The plant History glasshouse, an adventure that continues
up to the flowers
We enter…
from the outside because it is separated from the New Caledonia glasshouse. It is the
second pavilion constructed by Rohault de Fleury, which could not previously be visited.
We see…
• Some modern representatives of plant groups that used to exist, (lycopodiopsida, horsetails,
ferns, cycas, conifers, primitive angiosperms…) some fossil pieces and some reconstructions
of extinct plant life, presented in twelve scenes, five of which illustrate a major innovation
in the evolutionary history of the plants during the Palaeozoic era and the Mesozoic era
(between - 540 and - 65 million years).
• Using a chronological pathway, the aim is to make the visitor understand that the plants
also have a history – a history of adaptation to changing environments, from leaving water
to the emergence of flowers.
Selaginella
(a current group close to ferns)
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Cordaites fossiles (an extinct group close
to conifers).
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
We learn…
• that the history of terrestrial plants goes back at least 430 million years, we need plants
so that the terrestrial atmosphere can appear and so that animal life can develop.
• that the evolution of plants is not linear. The classification of the plant life which is
sometimes difficult to understand is today based on their relations (phylogenetics).
Current plants actually have diverse, ancient or recent origins. Apparent in diverse groups
of fossils, they are the living witnesses of this evolution.
• originally plants lived and reproduced in the aquatic environment: they had no need for
stems to stand up as the water carried them, nor did they need vessels to nourish their
extremities and insects for pollinisation.
When plants left the water, conquering new spaces, they superimposed themselves on
hundreds of years of different reproductive processes involving: spores, ovules, pollens
and seeds.
• that this adventure must be seen up close and it continues in the aisles.
The leaflet that is distributed at the entrance helps the visitor to relocate the Jardin des
Plantes by listing all of its trees (notably the flowering plants!) that he/she can continue to
see there throughout the seasons.
FIVE MAJOR SCENES, of the history of plants
The Palaeozoic Era
1. From bare ground to the first forests (Silurien)
2. The development of foliage: the ferns of the Carboniferous period
3. The ovule: the innovation at the origin of current plant diversity
4. From the ovule to the seed: the first conifers
The Mesozoic Era
5. The invention of the flower and the fruit: the first angiosperms
Prêles © Denis Larpin/MNHN
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23
© Agence NC
Plan of the plant History glasshouse
From left to right: banana tree flower © O.Borderie / MNHN, underbrush plants © Denis Larpin / MNHN, freycinetia, flowering plant © Jean-Noël Labat / MNHN,
a rosette of leaves (Agaves) © Denis Larpin / MNHN
E. ANNEXES
1. Let’s talk about botany – some important terms:
The topics covered in the different glasshouses offer you the chance to enrich your
vocabulary with some useful terminology. The plants live in natural environments: biotopes,
ecosystems, different biomes and environments transformed by human activity.
A BIOTOPE: An environment characterised by homogeneous and stable geological,
geographical and climatological conditions (earth, water, air, temperature, light).
AN ECOSYSTEM: A unity formed by a community of living beings (the BIOCOENOSIS),
linked together and linked by the physical conditions of the environment (ground, water,
nutrients, etc. i.e. a BIOTOPE). It is thus the interaction between the biotic and abiotic
factors. The ecosystems are of different scales: for example, a dead trunk, a pond, a rock
covered with moss and other plants, or a lake, a peat bog or a region, a watershed, a river,
or even a macro-ecosystem such as the sea, an ocean, a savanna, a big forest, a massif etc.
A BIOME: A vast territory (on a regional or continental scale) characterised by a particular
climate and other environmental conditions (ecological conditions) and living beings that
are adapted to it (flora and fauna). It can be made up of several different ecosystems. Some
examples of biomes: humid tropical forests, the mangroves, tundra, steppe, etc.
An environment TRANSFORMED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY: A natural environment transformed
by man’s actions (not necessarily damaged): a cultivated field, a planted forest, a meadow
or even secondary forests or savannas after forest fires, etc.
ENDEMISM: This term applies to plant or animal species (or their populations) whose
range or distribution is limited to a particular zone (cactuses and endemic agaves from the
American continent, the Galápagos giant tortoise which is endemic to the island group, the
Latanier rouge, an endemic palm tree from la Réunion, the Araucaria schmidii, endemic to
a mountain summit in New Caledonia).
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Print taken from “Album du Jardin
des plantes de Paris “Acarie-Baron. Paris,
Angé, 1838
2. A glimpse of history
The glasshouses have formed part of the history and the landscape of the Jardin
des Plantes since the 17th century. Here are some of the landmarks in the saga of the
glasshouses.
From the 17th Century … orangeries and glasshouses made from wood and glass.
Orange trees are the first fragile plants that we tried to preserve in the Jardin Royal. To
protect the jelly, we built what we call orangeries, non public utility buildings. The first
glasshouses made from wood and glass appeared in the 17th century. The aim of this
was, however, of a more scientific nature – this was intended to preserve and acclimatise
botanical collections and rare plants which the natural scientists brought back from their
exploratory travels.
The oldest glasshouse was built by Sébastien Vaillant in 1714, which housed a coffee
plant sent to Louis XIV. Over the years, further glasshouses were built by the managers of
the garden, among whom Buffon, the most famous of them all, built temperate glasshouses
in 1788.
The beginning of the 19th century… the garden is fitted with the first large glasshouses
made from glass and metal in the world.
A technical revolution: the use of glass and particularly metal meant is was possible
to build more solid structures, allowing more efficient isolation for the plants needing
constant heat. The glasshouse that Philibert built in 1821, the hottest one, was intended to
house plants from India and Cayenne.
In addition, technical advances made the conception of true architectural show pieces possible. In 1833, credit was attributed to the museum for its new constructions and for its
purchasing of land. Charles Rohault de Fleury, the museum architect, went to England
to study the system used there to construct heated glasshouses, particularly in Kew. On
his return to France, between 1834 and 1836, he built two square, tall glasshouses with
windows which were heated by the vapour produced by a boiler and diffused by pipes. The
oriental pavilion – which would later be named the “Mexican glasshouse” held eucalyptus,
dragon trees, and mimosas. It was decorated with passion flowers and other creepers. The
western pavilion where temperatures are at their highest – originally called the pavilion
of palm trees and later renamed the Australian glasshouse – welcomes bamboos, palm
trees, vanilla, sugar cane, banana trees, date palms and arborescent ferns. It includes a
pond with water lilies decorated with a nymph sculpted by Brion.
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These buildings – which were the first prototypes for modern glasshouses – are among
the most important innovations in metal architecture. They were the first glasshouses in
the world of their size to be built in glass and metal. Charles Rohault de Fleury’s project
crystallised the formation and location of the current buildings.
A few problems… the Franco-Prussian War, particularly the bombing of January 1871 during which damage was caused to the glasshouses. They were later restored in 1874 with a
few minor modifications. The technological innovations of the era also enabled Rohault de
Fleury to build curved glasshouses in place of the former Buffon and Bernardin de Saint Pierre
glasshouses.
Inside view of the great glasshouse.
Print from the “Jardin des Plantes”
Pierre BOITARD - Paris, 1842.
The winter gardens
From the second half of the 19th century onwards, technological developments gave birth to
a new type of building: the winter garden. This is where plants are directly planted in the open
ground. The museum’s first winter garden was set up by Jules André between 1881 and 1889,
it was demolished and the current winter garden ( the tropical rainforest glasshouse) was built
on its foundations. The construction of this between 1935 and 1936 was led by René Berger,
(1878-1954), Head architect of the museum since 1933 and creator of the new wild cat house
in the menagerie in 1937. The art deco aesthetic which characterises the grand glasshouse
dominated. The monumental entrance consisted of luminescent pillars in pâte de verre (glass
casting) and low gates which were designed by the craftsman in wrought iron, Raymond Subes
(1891-1970).
The 20th century: the start of a great renovation process
The glasshouses designed by Charles Rohault de Fleury (the Australian glasshouse and the
Mexican glasshouse) were listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments in
July 1964. They were restored in 1980 with a prototype glass equipped with a metal oxide
protection tin base intended to help isolation. This layer quickly deteriorated, giving the glass
a purple gleam. The cover of the winter garden built by René Berger was redeveloped in 1980
with armoured glass and the forepart was restored in 1999. The restoration of the curved glass
was carried out by Paul Chemetov and Borja Huidobro between 1995 and 1997. In 2005, the
large scale construction work began and continues to this day.
3. Bibliography
Histoire et description du Muséum royal d’histoire naturelle. Deleuze. Paris, Royer, 1823
Muséum d’histoire naturelle. Serres chaudes. Rohault de Fleury. Paris, Firmin-Didot, 1837
Album du Jardin des plantes de Paris. Acarie-Baron. Paris, Angé, 1838
Le Jardin des plantes. Boitard. Paris, Dubochet, 1842
Promenades au Jardin des plantes. Guérin. Paris, education and religion bookshop, 1850
Le Muséum d’histoire naturelle. Paris, Curmer, 1854
Les jardins, histoire et description. Mangin. Tours, Mame, 1867 et 1887
Les serres du Muséum d’histoire naturelle en 1892-1893. Cornu. Paris, 1893
Le Muséum d’histoire naturelle il y a un siècle. Hamy. Paris, Leroux, 1896
Les transformations du Muséum d’histoire naturelle. Henry. Paris, 1938
Grande histoire des serres et du jardin d’hiver. Marrey et Monnet. Paris, Graphite Editions, 1984
Les serres historiques du Muséum, une restauration exemplaire. Delange. available in the information
leaflet of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, no. 40, Januar, p. 37.
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4. Around the glasshouses
a. Before your visit
• The documents serve as the guiding thread of the visit and can be downloaded from
the website www.mnhn.fr: plan of glasshouses – treasure hunt – plants and man –
the race for light – adaptation to arid environments. Special assistance will be given to
disabled visitors with the uploading of documents to facilitate independent visits.
Entrance to the great glasshouse through
which the journey begins.
© Manuel Cohen
• Educational documents are available from the MNHN website when the glasshouses
are open. They introduce the four glasshouses and suggest several visit routes for both
primary and secondary school pupils. Their goal is to make pupils aware of biological
diversity and to expose the different ways in which plants have adapted in the selected
environments, the fragility of ecosystems, the endemism of New Caledonia, etc… Two
treasure hunts enable pupils to understand plants which are useful to man (for food,
habitats, medicine,…).
Teachers lead the visits themselves according to the different routes:
“Plants and man” – upper primary school and lower secondary school
“Race for the light” – upper primary school, lower and upper secondary school
“Adaptation to arid environments” – upper primary school, lower and upper secondary school
“Insular endemism” – lower and upper secondary school
“History of plants” – lower and upper secondary school
> For schools (information from +33 1 40 79 36 00)
b. To find out more
• Cabinet d’Histoire Exposition: plans, watercolours, photographic prints illustrating the
history of the glasshouses and their importance within the heart of the Jardin des Plantes.
Vellums of plants that have found a suitable place for their development complete this
panorama.
> Between 14th April and 5th July at the Cabinet d’Histoire, open everyday except Tuesday
and 1st May, open from 10am to 5pm, and 10am to 6pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays
between April and September.
Last entry 30 minutes being closing. Price: 3e / Reduced : 1e Call: +33 1 40 79 54 79.
• Go to our new website « jardindesplantes.net » for true immersion in the pathways of the
garden and the multiple entrances for all botanical enthusiasts.
• A debate on 8th November 2010, as part of “lundis du Muséum” on the topic of glasshouses. Debate chaired by Marie-Odile Monchicourt.
> Monday 8th November at 6pm. Auditorium de la Grande Galerie de l’Évolution (free
entry – limited availability).
• Visits and events at the Jardin des Plantes
-The garden pathways including the botanical school are free to access to promote the
discovery of the variety of plant life. This is with the exception of the alpine garden (1€
at weekends and bank holidays) and the ecological garden which can only be visited as
part of a guided visit.
- To satisfy your curiosity as an amateur gardener, we hold the: “Propos de jardiniers”, on the 1st and 3rd Thursday every month at 3pm, from April to October.
- To find out more about what a palaeobotanist does, we welcome you to the “Métiers du
Muséum” event at the museum on 27th June.
> Sunday 27th June at 3pm. Auditorium de la Grande Galerie de l’Evolution (free access
– limited availability).
c. Participating in the great annual events
The plants will be honoured by the animations of the Jardin des Plantes on the occasion
of the national and Parisian events.
> “Le Festival de la Fête de la Nature” between 21st and 23rd May and the International
Day of Biodiversity, 22nd May.
> “Rendez-vous au jardin”, 5th, 6th and 7th June.
> “La fête des jardins de Paris” (Paris Garden Festival) 25th and 26th September.
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5. Press photos
Tropical rainforest glasshouse
© François-Gilles Grandin/MNHN
New Caledonia glasshouse
© Manuel Cohen
Tropical rainforest glasshouse
© Manuel Cohen
Tropical rainforest glasshouse
© Manuel Cohen
Tropical rainforest glasshouse
View of the great rock
© Manuel Cohen
Plant History glasshouse View of the structure reflecting
the New Caledonia glasshouse
© Manuel Cohen
Plant History glasshouse
© Manuel Cohen
Plant History glasshouse
© Manuel Cohen
Tropical rainforest glasshouse
View from the roof
© Manuel Cohen
Tropical rainforest glasshouse
View from the roof
© Manuel Cohen
Plant History glasshouse
Detail of the structure
© Manuel Cohen
Plant History glasshouse
Aerial view of the Paris Mosque
in the distance
© Manuel Cohen
Plant History glasshouse - Panoramic view showing the glasshouse
and the curved glasshouses on the left. © Manuel Cohen
View of the curved glasshouses.
Photos taken from « Muséum d’histoire
naturelle. Serres chaudes »
Charles ROHAULT DE FLEURY
Paris, 1837.
© Bibliothèque Centrale du MNHN
Paris 2010
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Interior view of the grand glasshouse,
Print taken from « Le Jardin des Plantes »
Pierre BOITARD - Paris, 1842.
© Bibliothèque Centrale du MNHN
Paris 2010
Cocoa plant © Michel Morin/MNHN
Flower of the Aristolochia liana
(attractive to pollinising insects)
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Ball cactus
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
The “bindweed” (Turbina inopinata,
part of the Convolvulaceae family)
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Selaginelle (a plant close to ferns)
the coffee plant
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Coffee-tree © Denis Larpin/MNHN
Pebble plant (Lithops) in flower
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Sideritis with downy leaves
to limit evaporation
© Denis Larpin/MNHN
Freycinetia, plant in flower
© Jean-Noël Labat/MNHN
Prêles © Denis Larpin/MNHN
An endemic, carnivorous plant from
New Caledonia
(Nepenthes viellardii)
© Jean-Noël Labat/MNHN
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6. Project Teams
Steering Committee of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
Geneviève BERAUD-BRIDENNE,
Director of the department of botanical and zoological gardens
Éric JOLY, Director of the Arboretum de Chèvreloup, Head of the renovation project
Damasia STOCKER,
Head of control of production of DJBZ content
Bernard NOËL, its manager and all of the gardening team of the tropical glasshouses,
and particularly Élisabeth LOPEZ and Jean-Christophe RIBES
Xavier RIFFET, Head of horticultural projects
Gaëlle BELLAMY, Director of renovation management
Christian LE BOUAR, Director of renovation work
Yvette DELPOPOLO, Head of distribution of knowledge and educational action
(Diffusion des Connaissances et de l’Action Éducative)
Jeane MONTANO, Scientific designer (landscapes) DJBZ
Pascale JOANNOT, Head of renovation at the direction of collections, head of relations
with French territories overseas
Agathe HAEVERMANS-RAVET, Scientific designer (landscapes),
Department of systematics and evolution
Aurélie ROUX, Documentation assistant, picture library
Catherine CHEVALIER-COULON, Handicaps
Scientific Committee of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
Dario DE FRANCESCHI, Lecturer and researcher, department of the history of the earth,
paleobiodiversity
Denis LARPIN, Head of tropical plant scientific collections DJBZ
Robert BARBAULT, Director of the department of ecology and management of biodiversity
Guillaume LECOINTRE, Director of the department of systematics and evolution
Thomas HAEVERMANS, Botanist from the department of systematics and evolution
Scenography Team
Agence NC Nathalie Crinière
Conceptualisation and Space Planning - Audiovisuals and Multimedia
OneTwo Marie Cuisset & Anne Jaffrennou
C-ALBUM Graphics Tiphaine Massari
Other contributors
Patrick BLANC, Botanist/researcher at the CNRS
Daniel Barthelemy & René Lecoustre, Mixed research organisations (UMR)
Cirad-Cnrs-Inra-Ird-Université Montpellier 2 “Botany and bioinformatics of the
architecture of plants” (AMAP)
Benoît Jallon, LAN Architecture
Jean-François Lagneau, Head architect of the historical monuments
Joël Viratelle, Director of the Maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie in Paris
Gildas Gateblé, Caledonian Agronomic Institute (IAC)
Walles Kotra, Managing director of France Ô
Thierry Mennesson, Head of the Caledonian Agronomic Institute (IAC)
Christian Papineau, Head of the “Dry forests” program in New-Caledonia
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7. Partners
The government, the Congress, the North and South Provinces and the Loyalty Islands
of New Caledoniae
The Maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie in Paris also supports the initiative of the Muséum
national d’Histoire naturelle which is dedicated to New Caledonia, the only geographical
glasshouse in the Jardin des Plantes among the four glasshouses at this magnificent site.
The partnership established between the Museum and the Maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie
allows the acquisition, replacement and transportation of plants from New Caledonia to
Paris, as well as the realisation of a part of the museography of the Caledonian glasshouse
to which the Maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie has contributed.
The visitors of the New Caledonia glasshouse will enjoy discovering the extraordinary
richness of the flora of this south pacific land through the humid forest, the maquis minier,
the dry forest, the savanna and the mangrove. Coming from the Caledonian forests, the
sculpted posts of the Ile des Pins as well as the magnificent frames on display evoke
the importance of the symbolic meaning of plants in the Kanak culture. At the heart of
Paris, the New Caledonia glasshouse will also allow visitors to experience “the spirit of
the country”.
Maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie – 4 bis rue de Ventadour – 75001 Paris
Call +33 1 42 86 70 00
La Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France makes access to the glasshouses possible for visitors
with disabilities
Right from the start, the Caisses d’Epargne has supported general public interest and
social cohesion. Created in 1818 on the basis of the original idea of relying on the virtues
of saving and financial education, the Caisses d’Epargne strive to accompany their clients
in their everyday life.
The support provided by the Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France to the renovation of the
glasshouses of the Jardin des Plantes is naturally explained by the community of interests
that links it to the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. That is to say, the willingness to
work for the sense of general interest and passing on knowledge to all members of the
public. The Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France has helped us to finance part of the fittings
and measures adapted for welcoming disabled visitors and to offer them a multi-sensorial
and educational journey of discovery through the plant world.
This project is fully in line with the social responsibility strategy led by the Caisse
d’Epargne IDF which is centred on social progression.
The Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France is the biggest of the 17 Caisses d’Epargne. It has
5 200 employees and near to 500 agencies which serve 3.8 million clients. A regional bank
for the community, the CEIDF develops a large selection of products and financial services to
cater for the needs of its many clients comprising of: 550,000 members; 780,000 young people;
28,000 professional clients; 23,700 associations and 2,200 companies.
www.societaires-ceidf.fr
CEIDF : 19, rue du Louvre – 75001 Paris – Contact : Céline Claverie
Mail : celine.claverie@ceidf.caisse-epargne.ft – Call: +33 1 40 41 43 20
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From the start of its activity in the environmental sector as a specialist for recycling
and treating waste, Séché Environnement has been convinced that the preservation
of biodiversity is, and will remain for a long time, an important issue, both for its intrinsic
interest to the collection service and for establishing the social acceptability of these
vocations. This has been integrated in its business strategy right from the start. Identifying
and analysing the value of an environment by the expertise of its biodiversity has also
allowed Séché Environnement to balance managing natural spaces with their industrial
use more efficiently. Aware and closely involved, the employees of the Group show a symbiosis
between their economical activity and the ecosystems.
The nature services on the Séché Environnement sites
1
2
3
4
1. Ecosystemic: Hoverflies on water catchment zones - 2. Economic: Pastoral farming with
highland cattle - 3. Cultural: Guided moth tours - 4. Heritage: Salamander on an industrial site
Along the grain of scientific collaborations that the group has enjoyed for several years with
the MNHN, particularly in relation to counting avifauna, Séché Environnement is pleased to
assist the Museum in its renovation of the great glasshouses, most notably for the important
educational aspect of this project.
Contact:Séché Environnement – Daniel Baumgarten – d.baumgarten@groupe-seche.com
Preserving our environment and acting to promote biodiversity, a commitment for the
Fondation du Groupe GDF SUEZ
GDF SUEZ, one of the first thermiciens on a global scale, is present throughout the entire
electricity and natural gas energy chain - from the top to the bottom.
By placing responsible growth at the heart of their activities (energy, energy and environmental
services), it sets itself great challenges: fulfilling energy needs, assuring provisions, fighting
against climatic change and optimising utilisation of resources.
Because these activities are at the heart of environmental challenges and global social
problems, sustainable development is a true strategic issue. The ambition of the Fondation
can be seen in this Group policy. One of its key aspects is supporting measures intended
to preserve biodiversity, most notably by the creation and development of gardens and
symbolic places and raising awareness of the importance of respecting the environment
among as many people as possible. As part of the International Year of Biodiversity, it
is natural that the Fondation du Groupe GDF SUE Z has joined forces with the Muséum
national d’Histoire naturelle, a major protagonist committed to this global cause. It is,
therefore, very proud to support the restoration of the glasshouses, particularly those related to the evolution of plants.
32
UNIVERS NATURBIS: Nature and urbanism!
Naturbis programme on France 3
Naturbis portal can be found at France 3.fr
How can we live in our cities today without forgetting the nature that surrounds us?
The answers can be found in the Naturbis universe, the virtual city where all sorts of questions
related to town planning, architecture, nature, energy, transport and habitats are answered!
The idea is very simple: through an internet portal and a weekly television programme, the
focus is on imagining and building together – the television viewers and the internet users
– the city of tomorrow. To do this, you have all the keys to furrow the roads of your virtual
city and to access its areas and buildings.
Naturbis offers a wealth of videos and subjects filmed by the entire France 3 network,
recorded in France and abroad. These reports can be watched on Naturbis.com as well
as on the Naturbis programmes broadcasted every Saturday at 4.15pm on France 3 in
Burgundy and Franche-Comté, Sunday at 11.05am on France 3 Sat. After it has been broadcast, the
programme is then uploaded online at Naturbis.com so it can be seen by a wider audience.
Naturbis is both an active and interactive virtual city because anyone who wishes to make
their own personal contribution - whether it be written messages, photos or videos - can
do so in the space intended for this. The forum also enables Naturbis’ virtual inhabitants
to discuss the reports and the articles featured in the programmes or on the portal. And
to make sure you keep up to date with any new environmental or town planning developments,
Naturbis.com offers an “information thread” which is updated on a daily basis… to keep
you informed about almost anything!
See you soon in the Naturbis universe!
www.france3.fr
www.naturbis.com
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