Pays, Paysan, Paysage addresses the acute farming crisis in France and the entrenched urban-rural dichotomy, which exacerbates social, economic, environmental, and political challenges. With 200 farms vanishing each week, rural areas face profound pressures. Through walking, local narratives, and a board game that mirrors real-life conditions, my research explores the interconnectedness of ‘pays’ (land), ‘paysan’ (farmer), and ‘paysage’ (landscape). This inquiry inspired two initiatives to envision rural futures. The first is a series of follies at significant sites, engaging with landscapes, their histories, and the practices that shape them. The second situates an Archive and Land Use Interpretation Centre within a productive cereal field, challenging zoning laws and redefining the ‘culture’ in ‘agri-culture.’ By proposing new spatial typologies and programs, this project seeks to ignite a renewed and resilient rural culture.
