Tour de France Canterbury

Challenging perception of place, the Canterbury's Tour de France event brought the Kent countryside into the urban city centre.

Our Tour de France event in Canterbury brought the countryside into the urban city centre and challenged public perceptions of ‘place’. In July 2007 the cyclists of the Tour de France returned to the UK, their route snaking through the Kent countryside and finishing in Canterbury.

The shopping precinct of Whitefriars Square was transformed into a quintessential village green with turf, bunting, hay bales and a maypole. This (extra)ordinary patch of grass took on the relaxed atmosphere of a French village fete or English family gathering. The change in design of the public space seemed to visibly relax the shoppers.Hanging the French Tricoleur and Union Jack flags side by side encouraged people to embrace the similarities between their communities, rather than the differences.

Tricoleur and Union Jack flags were worn in the children's procession of French and English where Giants and bands entertained the crowds.

Commissioned by Canterbury City Council

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