The 2.5-hectare Parc Saint-Jean is part of the greater Saint-Jean neighborhood development project initiated in 2017, located two kilometers from the historic center of Clermont-Ferrand.
Nature’s presence is a constant on Clermont-Ferrand’s horizon: the city functions as an inverted belvedere. One only has to look up and all-encompassing, awe-inspiring landforms are revealed: France’s Chaîne des Puys volcanic range, a UNESCO World Heritage site, punctuated by the silhouette of the Puy de Dôme. Yet, it is as if this “nature-horizon” is so intense that the city has up until now forgotten to include nature as part of its urban fabric. The Saint-Jean neighborhood masterplan established the necessary conditions for more sustainable urban development, integrating green infrastructure networks alongside conventional infrastructures. The Parc Saint-Jean is the nexus of the neighborhood’s green network, acting as a rhizome that extends seamlessly into all public spaces.
Three main themes guided the park’s design:
1. The spectacle of nature and the landscapes of Clermont-Ferrand: by prioritizing a spatial design that opens views of the horizons.
2. The resurgence of nature: by restoring soil fertility, water cycles and enabling the expansion of biodiversity.
3. The physical reconnection with nature: the design team wanted to create a sense of immersion within a woodland. The team built upon and amplified the existing vegetation through the creation of a series of groves, thereby diversifying plant species and layers.
Over decades, ruderal flora reclaimed the park’s abandoned post-industrial site, resulting in lush new woodland ecologies. Early in the design process, the decision was made to sanctify large expanses of the existing copse and park topographies, thereby preserving a landscape of evolution and intense biodiversity. The spontaneous development of vegetation within these sanctified areas is protected by limiting their access. An exploratory boardwalk leads through these previously abandoned zones.
A journey of wonder through the park is highlighted by unexpected botanical events, accentuating our awareness of our surroundings. The park’s dense spontaneous flora put into relationship with horticultural gardens and groves, including a wetland grove, an upland grove, a winter grove and tactile gardens, encourages mindful exploration while simultaneously reintegrating it into the urban landscape and highlighting its unique character. A cut-flower garden is the highlight of this curiosity-driven botanic exploration. Clermont-Ferrand, a historically industrial city, welcomed working-class immigrant populations who planted gardens with the seeds brought with them. The cut-flower garden thereby constitutes a “domestic legacy” of simple flowers to which this particular garden plot pays homage.
Data
Landscape architecture: Atelier Format Paysage
Civil, road and public utilities engineers: setec tpi
Lighting designers: Agence ON
Artistic mediation: Elise Gabriel, Les Tables des Matières
Environnemental consultants: VIZEA
Architecture office involved: Carta-Reichen et Robert et Associés
Photo credits: Romain Sarry (SPL Clermont Auvergne) and aerial photos by InAirTech for SPL Clermont Auvergne
Client / Public development authority: Société Publique Locale Clermont Auvergne + Clermont Auvergne Métropole + City of Clermont-Ferrand
Manufacturer of urban or play equipment: Europlay and Richter Spielgeräte
Year completed: 2025
