Situated in a waterfront park on the coast of southeastern China, Blue Court is a basketball court enclosed in an exposed steel structure. A canopy supported by diagonal steel cables on the north side marks the entrance to the court. Three of the four sides remain open with columns on the ground level, with a curtain-like net wrapping the structure approximately eight feet above the ground. The alternating density of the net system creates a diagonal stripe pattern while providing various levels of screening and transparency. On either side of the court, canopies angled inwards shade a seating area, providing a comfortable perimeter zone for visitors to view the sport and unobstructed ocean views.

Blue Court doubles as a landscape element —  greenery suspends from and integrates with the structure, much like an intricate trellis. Blue Court explores the tectonic contradiction between material lightness and strength. The use of transparency, thin netting, and tension cables suggest a lightness that suits its atmospheric seaside setting, while providing ample structural reinforcement to mitigate coastal winds.

In collaboration with Atelier Noirs