‘Les Machines de l’Ile’ by François Delarozière & Pierre Orefice

‘Les Machines de l’île’ which means in English the machine of island, is an unprecedented artistic project born from the imaginations of François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, it is a blend of the invented worlds of Jules Verne, the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and the industrial history of Nantes, on the exceptional site of the former shipyards.

From the inside, the passengers are able to see the moving gears that power the legs. The machinist tells stories about the elephant and makes it trumpet. On the back of the Elephant, it’s like being on the 4th floor of a moving house, with a breathtaking view of the banks of the Loire River. In this time-travelling carriage, the passengers can voyage to the imaginary world of Jules Verne in the city where he was born.
Characteristics:
12 m high, 8 m wide and 21 m long
48,4 tons of steel
Wood: American Tulip
Metal structure lubricated with 2,000 litres of hydraulic oil
450 HP motor
An indoor lounge with French doors and balconies
A terrace accessible via stairways
Duration : approximately 35 minutes
Speed 1 to 3 km/h
Set in motion using 54 cylinders, of which 38 are hydraulic, 6 are pneumatic and 10 are gas.