François Vadepied co-founded Wagon Landscaping in 2010 with Mathieu Gontier. His work, and that of the practice as a whole, is grounded in a hands-on approach that is attentive to real situations and to the gradual transformation of places.
With a background in geophysics and geographic information systems, François spent 15 years in digital cartography before shifting his career toward landscape. He graduated from the École nationale supérieure de paysage in Versailles in 2007 (where he teaches today). Since then, he has developed a practice that ranges from large-scale territorial studies to the careful cultivation of small plots.
François says that his approach is closer to that of a landscape gardener than a conventional landscape architect, in that, ‘it is based on a deep understanding of soils, plant dynamics, and long-term processes of change. Projects are not conceived as fixed forms, but as evolving frameworks capable of accommodating living systems and everyday uses. This position favours observation, adaptation, and frugality, seeking to build upon existing conditions rather than replace them. It results in restrained interventions, where design supports natural dynamics and daily practices.’
