The disorganized fragmentation of the plots, the self-constructed huts made with eclectic materials, the balance between spontaneous vegetation and controlled vegetable gardens... were the charm of the Chemin de fer gardens. Concerned about preserving the site, residents mobilized in 2011 to stop a real estate project that would destroy everything. To strengthen the existence of the gardens, they proposed to the municipality to call upon artists through the action of the New Patrons. The challenge was to preserve the poetry of the site and work with gardeners to create sustainable shelters that respect safety standards.

The selected artists, James Bouquard (landscape gardener) and Pierre-Yves Péré (architect) from Atelier Quand Même, designed micro-architectures, made of steel and wood, in the form of generic shelters, which were customized by the gardeners during a collective workshop using recycled materials. Thus, wood and steel coexist, as in the days of the railway, with vernacular architectures reminiscent of the first constructions on the site.