The world’s most unusual courts
For the first time ever, the Women’s Basketball World Cup will be held in Spain, from 22 to 30 September. Tenerife was the place chosen to host the competition, which brings together the world’s top 16 teams. The Spanish team – in the same group as Japan, Belgium and Puerto Rico – is counting on their excellent current form to see them snatch the title from the USA, the current world champions.
Here is our roundup of some of the most surprising basketball courts on Iberia’s map:
The ‘La Perla Paints Its Future’ project was initiated with the aim of revitalising the community of La Perla in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dallas Mavericks player JJ Barea joined forces with the Master Paint company to give a new look to this court in the northern part of the city. For the residents of La Perla, the court is now much more than just a place to shoot hoops, play volleyball or do some boxing; it’s a hub for the whole neighbourhood.
This court, occupying a space across from the Pigalle fashion store in the heart of District 9 in Paris, has been converted into a genuine work of art. First renovated in 2009 by Pigalle founder Stéphane Ashpool, he used it to get kids started in the sport. In 2014, he decided to restore it and enlisted the help of sports brand Nike and designers the III-Studio. Last year, the court was given a further upgrade, inspired by the new Nike and Pigalle collections, and is now painted in bold shades of blue, pink, purple and orange.
Truly – a group of urban artists – has transformed the clay basketball court in this northern Italian city into a genuine optical illusion. An anamorphic painting style changes the perception of the playing field depending on where the players are positioned. Its creation was part of the Architettura in Cittá 2017 architecture and art festival, and its aim was to put a spin on the players’ sense of space. Today, it’s the city’s most famous court.
As part of its most recent ‘New York Made’ campaign, Nike became involved in updating these courts, located in south Manhattan’s Sara D Roosevelt Park in New York. Iconic street artist Brian Donnelly – aka Kaws – was put in charge of designing the two basketball courts. Inspired by Elmo – his favourite character from childhood – he created a work of art comprising mostly curved and dark-coloured abstract shapes.
Another court that plays with players’ minds is located in the German city of Munich and is made up of mounds that create a sense of three-dimensional space. With a reddish tartan surface layer, the court actually seems flat if viewed from a particular position, although the volume is revealed as you get closer. It was designed by the Inges Idee art collective, which specialises in software-designed outdoor creations.
This has to be one of the world’s most extraordinary courts. Located within the Dubrovnik wall, the site boasts incredible views and is steeped in Croatian history. The wall’s fortified towers date back to the early 14th century when the area was under attack by invaders. It was converted into a foundry in the 16th century, but an earthquake in 1667 destroyed most of the city, burying the foundry, and children began to use the area for games.
At the behest of Nike, the AKQA digital agency has designed the world’s first LED basketball court. It was built specifically for Nike Rise 2.0, a competition to find the best players in China. This interactive court makes it possible to track each player’s movements and even incorporates coaching tips from basketball legend Kobe Bryant. This new technology is a game-changer.
The ‘La Perla Paints Its Future’ project was initiated with the aim of revitalising the community of La Perla in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dallas Mavericks player JJ Barea joined forces with the Master Paint company to give a new look to this court in the northern part of the city. For the residents of La Perla, the court is now much more than just a place to shoot hoops, play volleyball or do some boxing; it’s a hub for the whole neighbourhood.
