Paris Is Home To The Most Spectacular Basketball Court You'll Ever See

In 2015 one particular Parisian basketball court gained notoriety for its incredible design. Now, two years later, the art direction bureau Ill-Studio and fashion label Pigalle have got together again to redesign the court and the result is a visual feast.

The court itself is situated between two apartments on Rue Duperré, offering a burst of colour between the grey of buildings. Pigalle, run by basketball fan Stéphane Ashpool, teamed up with Ill-Studio to coincide with its latest clothing release – a collaboration with NIKELab.

In its new guise, the ground beneath the playing area and surrounding walls are awash with vivid purple, pink, blue and yellow.

Ill-Studio, founded ten years ago in 2007 by Thomas Subreville and Léonard Vernhet, is a creative direction outfit based in the French capital.

The studio covers a range of different creative genres, including photography, design, fashion and film. Besides Nike, it’s worked with the likes of Supreme, Chanel, The New York Times and Hermès.

The court was actually first revamped by Pigalle and Nike in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2015 that it got its first proper injection of colour. Whereas the recent redevelopment honours the 90s, the 2015 edition was inspired by a piece of art from the 1930s, titled Sportsmen, by the Russian artist Kazimir Malevich.

The court is a beautiful example of the relationship that is possible between sport and art.

Follow those responsible for this incredible court: @ill-studio, @pigalle_ashpool, @sebastienmichelini

About the author

Luke Bradshaw

Sports Editor

Luke was born and raised in various parts of south London, before studying Politics and Social Psychology at Loughborough University. His time in the midlands was limited to his study and upon his return to the capital (via the obligatory travelling in between), wrote for a number of different local and national publications, before moving into the editorial side of things. Aside from the obvious interest in sport, he loves food, travel, reading and film, but if any can somehow incorporate sport in the process, then all the better.