playgones' basketball court echoes château de versailles gardens

the french-style basketball court fuses sports, art, and history

In the heart of Versailles, Playgones’ French-Style Basketball Court sits as a fusion of sports, art, and local history. The space reflects the historic vision of André Le Nôtre, the landscape architect behind the gardens of Château de Versailles, and the essence of the city. The design team merges the practical aspects of a basketball court with the aesthetic charm drawn from the iconic gardens, including its hues of green, symmetrical lines, and regal emblems. In an additional effort to combat urban heat islands, a light-colored surface encompasses the 300 square meters of pedestrian pathways made of exposed aggregate concrete, as well as the surrounding areas of the courts featuring beige asphalt.

all images courtesy of City of Versailles / Pierrick Daul

playgones nods to the historic gardens of the city’s chateau

The design, creation, and painting of the French-style Basketball Court were realized by Playgones, a provider of leisure and sports facilities since 1975, fulfilling the city’s municipality’s visions for the space. As such, it seeks to implement a design that harmoniously combines the requirements of basketball practice, such as court dimensions and hoop positions, with aesthetics inspired by the gardens.

A collaborative effort reflecting the space’s function as a community hub, the project was conceived alongside local basketball club, ELCV 78, which boasts the highest number of registered members in France, Eurovia, WATELET TP, and Enterprise Jean Lefebvre, all coordinated by the DDAU and overseen by the city of Versailles’ sports department.

a fusion of sports, art, and local history

realized by Playgones in collaboration with ELCV 78, Eurovia, WATELET TP, and Enterprise Jean Lefebvre

recalling the hues of green, symmetrical lines, and regal emblems of the gardens of the Château

the design team merges the practical aspects of a basketball court with the historic aesthetic charm

to combat urban heat islands, a light-colored surface encompasses the 300 square meters of pedestrian pathways

project info:

name: French-Style Basketball Court
designer: Playgones
location: Versailles, France

completion: January 2024

drone photography: City of Versailles / Pierrick Daul

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom