Blue Court / Found Projects + Atelier Noirs

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Like many rural villages, this community has seen its younger generation migrate to larger cities for work. The Blue Court functions as both a sports venue and a communal gathering plaza. Designed to cater to daily village life, it provides a welcoming environment for children and the elderly to gather, play, and connect to each other and the coastal landscape.Text description provided by the architects.Located in a seaside park on the southeastern coast of China, Blue Court is a blue concrete basketball court framed by an exposed steel structure. A canopy supported by diagonal steel cables marks the main entrance on the north side.The basketball court is composed of three layers: the primary steel structural frame, secondary diagonal tension cables, and steel wire net. The alternating density of the cable system creates a diagonal stripe pattern while providing different levels of screening and transparency. The use of transparency, wire mesh, and tension cables suggests a lightness that suits its atmospheric seaside setting while providing ample structural reinforcement to mitigate coastal winds.The entry canopy along with two inward-hanging canopies form a U-shaped arcade and provide shaded space for spectators. Concrete benches along the east and west columns offer villagers a place to rest, socialize, and observe the ocean view.