When most people think of indoor or outdoor sports courts (such as Futsal, Hockey, Tennis or Basketball) they often visualise plain surfaces covered with line markings. That’s generally been the optic for all sports courts over the years, but they are now being taken to a whole new level with customised art. These contemporary surfaces still contain the necessary line markings but are visually inspiring in a way that has never been seen before.
Basketball court art
Take for example, this collection of reimagined basketball courts. The addition of art graphics and murals transforms them from simple basketball courts into geometric labyrinths consisting of bold lines and colour. These art-designed courts display powerful graphics that engage and inspire people. They can also be customised to suit an infinite number of needs within a community, as highlighted by the two examples below.
NIKE New York Basketball courts
NIKE’s commitment to New York City was launched by the opening of the Stanton Street Courts. NIKE collaborated with the New York City Parks and Recreation Department to create two back to back basketball courts inside the Sarah D. Roosevelt Park. Due to his outstanding reputation in the art world Brain Donnelly (known as KAWS), a NY based artist, was selected to design the artworks (he had previously designed cover art and merchandise for Kayne West and Pharrell Williams, as well as MTVs Moon Man Statue for the MTV Video Music Awards).
As innovators in sports and recreational surfaces, APT was asked to provide the surface for these courts. The APT acrylic surface chosen was the Laykold Masters Gel system which is specifically designed for indoor and outdoor basketball courts. This is the same surface that has been used at the Miami Open since 1984. Working directly with Donnelly, APT created 27 custom colours and all the surface material for the project in just 11 days. Once the surface was laid, Donnelly’s designs were transferred from the original drawings to CAD and onto the court surfaces using laser mapping. During the installation process nearly 8 km of tape was used to mark out the designs on the courts and the entire installation, from beginning to end. It took only 18 days!
Dandenong Sky Rail Basketball courts
Transforming Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, the Dandenong to Caulfield rail line was elevated above ground to improve the reliability of the train system, reduce congestion at crossing points and eliminate level crossing accidents. In doing so, it also freed up 22.5 hectares of land underneath the line that has been filled with dog parks, fitness stations, bike tracks and repair points, skate parks, wetland areas and gardens. There’s also one basketball/futsal court and two full-size basketball courts.
The local council decided to install APT’s Laykold Gel system in the outdoor courts, because these surfaces are designed to soften injuries, heighten performance and to be long lasting and durable. Using a variety of vibrant colours, these sports surfaces not only engage the community but are also visually appealing and fit well within the space. These same gel surface systems have already been installed in many other community funded facilities, as well as Aussie backyards.
If you have any ideas for indoor or outdoor sports courts in your home or facility, APT can assist you. Call us on 1800 652 548 or send us an email enquiry for a free quote.