The Blue Square, Kortrijk
How can the visibility of the cycling and walking routes in the Blue Park of the Eurometropolis be improved? This is how we call upon creative people to help us make the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) – a 90 kilometre circuit within the park – more recognisable. This is possible in various ways: by means of a product, a service or an intervention.
About the Blue Square
The Carré Bleu (Blue Square) is a 90-km circuit along the principal watercourses of the Eurometropolis: the rivers Deûle, Lys and Scheldt as well as the Bossuit-Kortrijk, Spierekanaal and Roubaix canals. This circuit connects the three subregions of the Eurometropolis by water. The Eurometropolis and its partners wish to make the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) a gateway to the Blue Park of the Eurometropolis.
The cycling and walking circuit of the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) is specifically designed for recreational use by people from the Eurometropolis and others. The Carré Bleu (Blue Square) is aimed at reinforcing the identity of the Blue Park. This project is aimed at an intervention in the landscape along the circuit that will give this ambition form and substance. This durable signage will typify the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) and the cross-border context. The intervention should be eye- catching, but may take any form: for instance a sculpture route, a line of trees, a digital concept, a soundscape … This project is a proof of concept (POC) within the scope of Lille World Design Capital (Lille WDC2020). This should enable the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) to reach an international audience. The open call will be communicated on an international level.
The Blue Square, Call – Press Kit
Increase the visibility of the Carré Bleu (Blue Square)
The intervention is not limited to a particular form. It should be eye-catching and make the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) more recognisable. The intervention should create and highlight value. It should be surprising and relatable. We are not looking for ordinary signposts, but for a product, an idea or even a service. The intervention will contribute to the character of the Blue Park and the Carré Bleu (Blue Square). The concept of the Blue Park is to be used as a source of inspiration: a contiguous area of water and vegetation, a shared space for nature, outdoor activities and entrepreneurship.
About the Blue Park
The Blue Park of the Eurometropolis is a network of soft connections: an attractive area easily accessible on foot, by bike or by boat without any interruption, boundaries or obstacles, wherever you are located. The park brings people into contact with each other and with nature.
Water knows no borders. rivers, canals and watercourses constitute the basis of the network. Municipalities and cities are connected by means of water and green. The park is a continuous space for man and nature. It connects France, Flanders and Wallonia.
More information: www.hetblauwepark.eu
The Carré Bleu (Blue Square) is a cycling circuit connecting the three subregions of the Eurometropolis.
The Blue Square, Call – Press Kit
This 90-km route, which can be completed in one or two days, follows the towpaths along the principal navigable waterways of the Eurometropolis: the rivers Deûle, Lys and Scheldt as well as the Bossuit-Kortrijk, Spierekanaal and Roubaix canals.
Over the centuries, towns have developed on the banks of these waterways: Kortrijk, city of architecture, art and design, is completely oriented towards the water with its parks, promenades, playgrounds and cafés on the banks of the river Lys; the lively town of Menen was an important centre of the textile industry in the 14th century; Wervik boasts a tobacco museum; Comines, with its rich history, is the only Walloon city that was subsequently occupied by the German and Allied armed forces in the First World War; the artistic and historical city of Lille boasts various museums and a vibrant centre where you can relax on the banks of the Haute Deûle or the Roubaix canal; Roubaix features an art and industry museum located in one of the most beautiful art deco swimming pools from the 1930s; Tourcoing has a hydraulicbridge …
The Blue Square, Call – Press Kit
Water is an integral part of the environment of these municipalities and cities, with paths running along the quays, living and meeting spaces, bars and restaurants, harbours, locks and industrial heritage that testify to the important role water has played in the development of the Eurometropolis.
Cycle along the streams, rivers and canals and discover the blue heritage of theEurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai. Explore the Blue Park, with the Carré Bleu (Blue Square) as the principal route. This Blue Park makes a significant contribution to the strong identity of the Eurometropolis.
This identity will be reinforced by means of unique signage thanks to the collaboration between all partners of the Interreg project Tripod-II and Lille World Design Capital 2020.
The Blue Square, Call – Press Kit
TRIPOD-II
Interreg is an important tool of the European Union to provide financial support to cross-border cooperation projects. The European territorial cooperation programme Interreg France-Wallonia- Flanders is the result of the desire to promote economic and social exchange between four border regions: Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium, Hauts-de-France and Grand-Est in France.
TRIPOD-II is a French-Walloon-Flemish Interreg project for cross-border cooperation supported by twelve partners: Lille-Design (FR, lead partner), Aditec Pas-de-Calais (FR), CCI Grand Lille (FR), Métropole Européenne de Lille – MEL (FR), Designregio Kortrijk (FL), Antwerp Management School (FL), Design Innovation (WA), Progress/Maison du Design (WA), IDETA (WA), Héracles (WA), Wallonie Design (WA) and Intercommunale Leiedal (FL).
TRIPOD stands for TRansregional project for Innovation and Promotion Of Design. The project is aimed at creating a model for SMEs that wish to enter new markets by making use of design.
The TRIPOD-II partners are actively involved in economic development and/or design; they join forces and pool skills to assist and instruct companies wanting to integrate design methodology as a factor of competitiveness, differentiation and innovation.
In addition, this project is aimed at bringing the community of designers from the three regions together to create new partnerships and thus enrich corporate projects.
The project is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.
The Blue Square, Call – Press Kit
Eurometropolis Lille-Kortijk-Tournai
The Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai is a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). It consists of 152 French and Belgian municipalities. The 14 government institutions that co- created the Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai all share the same objective: strengthen all aspects of cooperation within the territory.
French, Flemish and Walloon partners thus join forces to initiate and supervise projects of common interest. These projects can be carried out in a number of areas: transport, tourism, environment, etc. The Blue Park is a project by the Eurometropolis and its partners.
The Blue Square, Call – Press Kit
Call – Procedure
- The open call is distributed in an international context, e.g. via the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
- Designers can submit an application.
a. Candidates must provide a portfolio (in digital format)
b. They must motivate their application in maximum 1 A4 document (in twolanguages)
c. They must provide a first outline of ideas (in any format)
- On the basis of the pre-established criteria, a jury will make a choice. This choice will determine which three candidates are eligible for further participation. (100p)
- Criterion 1: feasibility (30p)
- Criterion 2: cost (30p)
- Criterion 3: concept and originality (40p)
- For each of the three selected participants, there is a budget of € 1,500. A jury will evaluate the three proposals. (100p)a. Criterion 1: feasibility (30p)
b. Criterion 2: cost (20p)
c. Criterion 3: originality (25p)
d. Criterion 4: context specificity (25p)
- Afterwards, the selected designer can set to work to further develop their design in co- creation with companies falling within the scope of the Tripod-II project. Consultations will take place on a regular basis to ensure that the required milestones, deadlines and actions are taken into account.
- A proof of concept will be put forward during the Week of Design 2019.
- The final result will be presented to the general public on World Water Day, 22 March 2020.
Want to submit your application?
- You can contact project leader Kris Dekeyzer in advance for explanation, information or feedback regarding an idea.
- You must formally submit your application by June 22, 2019 at midnight.
- You can apply for the assignment via the following LINK!!!
Contact
Kris Dekeyzer, project leader
+32 056 24 16 16 | +32 0477 48 11 35
kris.dekeyzer@leiedal.be
Partners
Further Information
Download the press kit here.