an astonishing rebirth in geneva
The courts now - brilliant, blue and sexy - in the before times: grey, stained and unattractive
the future is azure…
I advised the Old Zuozers of western Switzerland on the refurbishment of their courts outside Geneva.
And the first blue fives courts in the world is the result: beautiful, functional and pioneering. Many congratulations are due to Filippo Variola and his club for taking the bold and brilliant decision to go blue.
The colour was chosen to improve the visibility of the ball: the colour of the walls will contrast with fives balls whether they’re white, yellow or brown.
The courts (at the David Lloyd Club in Veigy-Foncenex) have been coloured not with paint – which would have sealed the concrete and blistered in time – but an industry-standard colourant which binds chemically with the lime in the concrete.
And the courts are beautiful: they will now be able to attract the tennis players who play at the David Lloyd club, instead of puzzle and repulse them (which I fear was the result in the olden days when the courts were weather-worn, covered in grafitti and moss.