The region of Fumay is in a difficult economic situation. One of the ways to reverse this tendency is by developping the tourism industry in the region, with emphasis on the landscapes and the rich industrial inheritance.

The site of the Saint-Joseph slate mine, nested in a meander of the Meuse, has kept the traces of its industrialization: ruins of the buildings and the verdeau, a faery-like landscape of slate leftovers. In the past, the site embodied the image of the industrial revolution; today nature has taken over.

We approached the project as a "ready made": the site was interesting not only because of its rich history, but also its current state of abandonment; the contrast of the ruins and birchs give it a romantic quality. The cohabitation of these two factors make the site particularly interesting as a teaching aid for the area, making it possible to become aware of the importance of the industry of slate for the economic development, as well as regeneration of the landscape through colonizing species (birches, poplars…).

The park hosts two adventure activities. The main building serves as a reception area, first aid room, and equipment storage. It's located between two small slate ridges, and it's open both to the forest and the mine. It consists of a big roof of slate, like a cavern, that acts as an interface between the mine (cultural activities) and the forest (adventure activities).