Nike Builds Playground & Basketball Court Using 20,000 Upcycled Sneakers
Image via Accept & Proceed
Even your most worn-out Air Jordans have a second shot at life, as proven in this hopeful project between Nike and London design agency Accept & Proceed.
The duo revamped a basketball court and playground in New Belgrade, Serbia, using 20,000 repurposed sneakers donated by the public as part of Nike’s ‘Move to Zero’ pact to attain a zero-waste and zero-carbon future. Instead of letting unwanted shoes go straight to landfills, Nike turned them into materials that partially make up this community hub.
Image via Accept & Proceed
The designers had to be especially careful with its work on the neighborhood gem, called Block 70. Per Yanko Design, the area was an early playing field for several basketball pros. It was also important to build a place that would encourage a sense of community and play for all ages.
Bespoke Serbian lettering deck the basketball court to “create a fun and unexpected space, whilst retaining legibility and playability,” said Accept & Proceed’s principal designer Nigel Cottier.
Image via Accept & Proceed
“It was fascinating to come up with the different elements of lettering that can inform another function, like a free throw or half-court line, and even more exciting to think that the design will not only inform the players’ movements but influence the community spirit and energy of Block 70,” Cottier continued.
This aesthetic was extended to other features of the area, like a children’s playground, bleacher benches, an outdoor gym, the chain link fence, and even in-store campaigns.
Image via Accept & Proceed
Image via Accept & Proceed
[via Yanko Design, images via Accept & Proceed]
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