Yinka Illori Makes London’s First 3D Printed Basketball Court

Everyday life in the big city can sometimes be quite stressful, monotonous and frustrating. Especially in the past year and a half, when quality of life has had to be restricted and all social contact minimized. To give people back some joy as well as strengthen a sense of community, London’s Canary Wharf financial district commissioned local designer Yinka Ilori, known for his colorful creations, to design the first public basketball court in the district, made possible thanks to 3D printing.

As you can see, Yinka Ilori’s basketball court is a real eye-catcher. But it is not only the colors and shapes that are special here. The floor of the court is not made of hardwood or concrete, like conventional courts, but of 3D-printed tiles made of polypropylene, which were manufactured by the British company OnCourt. A major advantage of 3D printing these tiles is that the court markings have been embedded in the material itself, so the colors are more durable than painted-on markings. Ilori confirms, “The colors used on the court are very vibrant and I think they will last a long time. It’s still a sports court so there will be wear and tear but I think the colour and material will keep. People already started using it over the weekend but it’s still in good condition so I think that’s one of the key benefits.”

Designer Yinka Ilori in his custom-designed basketball court (photo credits: Matt Alexander and Sean Pollock).

In addition, OnCourt says the 3D-printed floor, called Traction², provides better traction (grip) and less stress on players’ knees and ankles. In fact, this project is the world’s first fully machine-printed sports court surface, proving once again that additive manufacturing can make the impossible possible. More detailed information about the 3D printing is not yet known.