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Millions of people flock to Paris each year to experience its rich culture: the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe. Last summer, Paris hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics. And last month, the city welcomed back countryman Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio Spurs teammates as they played two NBA games against the Indiana Pacers at Accor Arena.
Paris has always been a place where good basketball can be seen. In the red light district, to the north of the city, sits a court that has become revered. It’s one of creativity, one of intrigue.
And one of colours. Lots of colours.
In a grey neighbourhood between the ninth and 18th arrondissements (as Paris’ various districts are known), a short walk from the Moulin Rouge, Pigalle Duperré not only is a place to play basketball outdoors but also a community hub, a social media sensation — a work of art. It’s a 600-square-meter space that once was a carpark, a spot that has become another of Paris’ tourist attractions.
Curated by Parisian Stéphane Ashpool, in collaboration with creative brands Pigalle and Ill-Studio, Pigalle Duperré sits between a high school and a residential building. Its court patterns, built with rubber panels from recycled soles of old shoes to withstand all weather conditions, have regularly changed colors and appearances over the years. It’s become a must-stop for visitors, regardless of if they care for basketball. Ashpool said it’s been a viral topic of discussion since 2015.
How viral? Pigalle Duperré has a 4.5-star rating from more than 550 reviews on Google Maps. One reviewer described it as an “excellent example of urban regeneration and a good use of urban voids.” Another called it the “most vibrant and colourful basketball court probably on Earth.”
Ashpool, 42, told The Athletic, “We know it is a place now that is in a lot of tourist books. People are coming from all over the globe daily.”
Since opening in 2009, Pigalle Duperré has had five iterations of its court, all designed by Ashpool. The plot now showcasing his artwork once was home to a building that was knocked down in the early 2000s. The vacant space was turned into a parking lot for a school next door.
Creating the outdoor court came with challenges, Ashpool said. It had to be durable to serve the community year-round. Its size was just a narrow strip, and the ground is not completely even.
Technical aspects include checking the paints on the walls and floor are the same tone. It takes roughly six months to make a design come to life with up to 20 people working on different elements, from design and production to flooring. Changing the court is not a simple task, even after gaining the financial backing of Nike, which has helped fund new designs.
The result has been a worldwide stamp of approval. Even actor Adam Sandler, who starred in the 2022 basketball-themed movie “Hustle,” has played in pickup basketball games on the court.
I never knew it was going to be like this, Ashpool said. We have as many people come to play as to take photos. When we work on designs, we know the visibility is going to be high, so we really work on our craft.
On a drizzly, midwinter day, with the second of two NBA Paris Games between the Spurs and Pacers hours away, Maxime Delci engaged in his usual weekend routine: shooting hoops at Pigalle Duperré. Despite the weather, Delci said the court remains playable, something Ashpool takes pride in.
It is great for the community, Delci said. Kids come by and play, and it is nice to have something nearby.
A consequence of Pigalle Duperré’s popularity is gentrification, with trendy businesses – new clubs and restaurants – finding locations in the area. This has led to an increase in housing prices, as the area becomes more popular with young professionals, Delci said.
Among the many visitors were Jessica Manohar and Antoine Legar Rouen. The two came to Pigalle Duperré to take pictures and attempt some shots. Rouen is from France, but Manohar is from New York. She’s also a Brooklyn Nets fan. Both were fascinated by the captivating visuals.
There are plenty of courts in the U.S., but I don’t think they would ever make them Instagram-friendly like this, Manohar said.
Pigalle Duperré’s Instagram page has almost 26,000 followers. Reacting to the Instagram reveal for the new design in October, former New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl XLVI champion Victor Cruz described it with one word: “Legendary.”
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