La Grande boucle bragarde
Context
Saint-Dizier is a former stronghold built around a 13th-century castle, located in Haute-Marne, nestled between the Marne River and its canal. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, some local foundries took part in the production of decorative cast iron pieces designed by Guimard, notably for the famous Paris Métro entrances. Water played a fundamental role in the city’s economy over the centuries, but little by little, this connection to water diminished.
Concept
The idea for the "Grande Boucle" of Saint-Dizier was born from co-design workshops about the town center revival. The Grande Boucle is a large-scale active design trail, 8 km long, laid out along the water. It was designed to encourage physical activity that is accessible to everyone, thanks to "fitness stations" distributed along the route. Areas for rest and contemplation by the water help to enhance the appeal of the loop and promote its use by all. The visual identity is reflected throughout the signage and directional totems to make the loop clearly visible.
0km
The large circular seating at "Kilometer 0" was designed as a symbolic starting point to highlight and showcase the loop. Located in the heart of an existing sports park, it has become a natural gathering place. At the center of the seating, a large map of the city allows visitors to visualize the route.
River belvedere
Three belvederes overlooking the Marne, each about 5 meters wide and built on two tiers of amphitheater-style seating, were designed to reconnect people with the water. Each belvedere features signage about the memory of the site and the role of the Marne River in the town’s history.
The Loop Counter
The loop counter is the main innovation of the Grande Boucle, designed as a "nudge" to encourage physical activity. Connected to an app, each time a user completes the loop, a +1 is added to the counter, visible to everyone. A true collective challenge: together, let’s make the loop counter rise!
The Great obstacle course
"Le grand parcours du combattant" is a 100-meter obstacle course, co-designed with the city military base – a challenging station along the Grande Boucle of Saint-Dizier reflecting the city image. 10 obstacles designed to be challenging for teenagers and young adults, with a chronometer at the start.
