Marcinelle, back in the game

This site presented us with a real challenge from the start. Both the basketball and tennis courts had been left abandoned, the total surface to cover stretched to around 700 m², the existing backboards and hoops were beyond use, and the floor was far too porous to accept paint directly. We tackled it head on.

We began with the basketball court, thoroughly cleaning the surface before applying a primary coat — ten full pots for a single court alone, as you can see in the photos below. Only once that base was solid did we move on to the artwork itself. The colour palette was not chosen at random — it was directly inspired by the tones of the surrounding buildings, creating a visual dialogue between the courts and their urban environment. Scroll down to see the transformation and the energy of the event.

Despite the presence of an indoor sports centre and a mini pitch in the neighbourhood, these two outdoor courts were crying out for a revival. Located in a working-class residential area made up of apartment blocks and a handful of detached houses, it was essential to restore free, 24/7 access to quality sport infrastructure — and in particular a tennis court, a sport too often perceived as reserved for higher-income communities. Bringing it back here sends a clear message: every sport belongs to everyone.

We also hosted a stop of our official FIBA 3x3 tournament on site, bringing competition and community spirit to the newly transformed courts.

Marcinelle is one of the largest districts in Charleroi, with a rich working-class heritage that continues to shape the identity of the area today.

Location: Asie Street, 6001 Marcinelle — Belgium

Team: Mehdi Ould Kherroubi Hacine-Bey, PhD (art director, building site coordinator and artisan), Dema (art supervisor), Daouda Kouyate (logistics coordinator and artisan) and Boban Nicic (artisan in chief). Paint supplier: Victoria Paint. Photographers: Sebastien Nagy, Rayane Huart and Abraham De Cugnac. Communication agency: nonante cinq.