Parc Jean-Perdrix, Public park in Valence, France.
Parc Jean-Perdrix is a 26-hectare public park in north-east Valence, between the Plan and Fontbarlettes districts, laid out in the mid-1960s by landscape architects Michel and Ingrid Bourne. It holds more than 4,000 trees, including 400 cedars, a large pond with water lilies and ducks, an amphitheatre and tennis courts. Its two leaning concrete water towers, 52 and 57 metres tall, were made by Greek sculptor Philolaos Tloupas with engineer assistance in 1969.
In 1962 Valence, under mayor Jean Perdrix, planned a priority urbanisation zone (ZUP) for its growing population, designed by urban planner André Gomis. The scheme split the district in two around a large central park, with a water tower meant as a landmark. Work ran from 1969 to May 1971; Gomis died in 1971 and the tower's surroundings were never built. In 1981 the tower won the "quartier de l'horloge" prize for the best French urban art work of the 1970s.
The two water towers were made by Greek sculptor Philolaos Tloupas on the initiative of urban planner André Gomis, with engineers handling the technical side. Built in 1969, they are 52 and 57 metres tall, and the artist deliberately broke with symmetry. In 1981 the work won the "quartier de l'horloge" prize for the best urban art of the 1970s in France, and it carries the "Patrimoine du XXe siècle" label.
The park lies between the Plan and Fontbarlettes districts in north-east Valence, bounded by the route de Montélier to the north and rue Mozart to the south. The boules ground sits at the south entrance near the flower planters, and a fitness trail runs through the grounds. The 14 July fireworks were held here until 2015.
The two water towers, 52 and 57 metres tall, were made by Greek sculptor Philolaos Tloupas with engineers, working from a design by urban planner André Gomis. In 1981 they won the "quartier de l'horloge" prize for the best urban art work of the 1970s in France, and the towers carry the "Patrimoine du XXe siècle" label.
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