160 children from schools in Le Mesnil-Amelot and Villeneuve-sous-Dammartin took part in the greening of the “Eye of Heaven”. Work on the West Eye, named “Icare”, began in June 2022. After the earthworks, the work is completed with the planting. The schoolchildren’s visit: a high point in the project.
Schoolchildren take an active role in their region
At the top of the hill on the ECT site in Villeneuve-sous-Dammartin, schoolchildren were given a sneak preview of the “Eye in the Sky”. Now nearing completion, this work of land art was designed by architect Antoine Grumbach. It is carried out by ECT. The “Eye of Heaven” is 400 metres long, the equivalent of 4 soccer pitches.
The iris of the Eye is surrounded by 4 dials measuring 345 m². Each dial is adorned with perennials and shrubs. A great playground for the children, who donned aprons and armed with shovels planted around 2,500 ivy, lavender, sage and periwinkle on one of the dials.
This mixture of perennials has the particularity of covering the ground and not exceeding 1.50 m in height. 1103 trees planted since the end of January will outline the eye.
See Gil Fornet's planting photos
Genesis of "Les Yeux du Ciel
Antoine Grumbach’s Land Art work is a symbol of the the circular economy of excavated earth from the construction industry in the Paris region. ECT’s Villeneuve sous Dammartin site is unique. ECT’s brief was simple: an exceptional site calls for an exceptional layout! The aim is to create a new point of interest for the region.
Nearly 70 million passengers at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport will be able to see this work of art as it takes off and lands.
In 2026, the second eye will be completed, thus finalizing the “Eyes of Heaven” project.
