Exactly a year ago, when Nantes Métropole first decided not to build the Heron Tree, they declared themselves “betrayed”, denouncing a “huge waste” and a “sham”. This Friday, it is, this time, with a brief press release, without animosity, that the authors of Machines de l’île, Pierre Orefice and François Delarozière, reacted to the definitive abandonment of the ambitious project, abandonment announced Thursday evening by Nantes Métropole and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.
“First of all, we would like to thank all the sponsors of the Heron Tree, companies and individuals, who accompanied and supported us, and of course Yann Trichard, president of the CCI, who tried everything to make it happen. The Heron Tree will not see the light of day in its completed form. This is not the end of the Machines of the Island,” assure Pierre Orefice and François Delarozière.
“Supporting the island of Nantes in its transformation”
The two men continue, projecting themselves into the future. “We, the authors of this extraordinary adventure, continue to create and invent the transformation of the city through art to make the people of Nantes dream. This is why we will soon present to you a new project to support the Ile de Nantes in its transformation and continue to adapt to the changes of our times. The story continues. » Nantes Métropole, for its part, indicated that it wanted the Great Blue Heron created to fly over the Heron Tree to be operated on the Esplanade des Nefs within a year.
Director of Machines on the Island since 2007, Pierre Orefice, 69, will officially retire at the end of September. François Delarozière, 60 years old, is director of the company La Machinewhich is housed under the Nefs de l’île de Nantes.
Legal and security obstacles
Stopped abruptly by Nantes Métropole a year ago for budgetary and legal reasons, the Heron Tree project was relaunched by the CCI which was working to raise private funds. The financial approach appears to have been successful, according to the CCI, but the project encountered legal and security obstacles, report Nantes Métropole and the Chamber of Commerce.
The atypical tree project, which aroused enthusiasm among many Nantes residents, was strongly contested within the metropolitan council, particularly by environmentalists. “Regardless of its financing, the Heron Tree remains an insane project in an overheating world where the priorities are ecology and solidarity,” the elected environmentalists, members of the metropolitan majority chaired by Johanna, rejoiced this Friday. Rolland (PS).