The Parc de la Courneuve lies North-West of Paris and streches over five cities: La Courneuve, Saint-Denis, Stains, Dugny, Garges-les-Gonesse (Val d'Oise). In the thirties the Département de la Seine bought 800 hectares in order to create a forest after the example of Boulogne and Vinciennes. In 1972 the Conseil Général organised a competition for landscape designers. The programme of the competition was clear. Firstly, the competitors had to find their inspriation in the informal German design of the sixties: a succession of wavy lines, lakes, meadows and woods. Furthermore the participants had create differences in level, in which different Parisian building sites could get rid of millions of cubic metres of waste. Allain Provost won the competition and was asked to work together with Gilbert Samel, whose project resembled that of Provost greatly. Together they've created a true green lung in the Parision region. The millions of enthousiastic people who visit the parc every year are the best proof of the accomplishment of the architects. In this book author Allain Provost tells the story of the developement of this beautiful parc, illustrated with beautiful colour photography, drawings and plans.