COLORAMA

La Condition Publique is a public creative lab that champions art, collaboration, urbanism and sustainability. In 2019 La Condition Publique started the second renovation of a 10,000m2 former industrial wasteland creating a place for exhibitions, concerts, debates, workshops, games and a fablab.

Designed by mutli-disciplinary London based artist Yinka Ilori, COLORAMA is a unique place of practice that mixes sports and street art to engage the ever growing riders and skaters community in Lilles, France. Formed in Hall B of La Condition Publique, the 1550m2 indoor skatepark features bold colour and playful street art inspired modules that extend use beyond skateboarding and BMX into a space for parkour, dance and basketball.

The collaborative construction, led by the Technical Director Sebastien Clavette and the build team from La Condition Publique, used help from a local high school to assemble one of the sections of the skate park. The project was supported by the Association North Skateboarding Movement who engaged skateboard professionals to share their expertise. Yinka Ilori worked closely with skateboarders, The Decathalon Foundation and Decathalon Skateboarding to plan the layout of COLORAMA, agreeing the best use and final formation of two corner ramps, grind boxes and a volcano ramp.

Sponsored by Skatelite, the park uses the premium ramp surface made from old corrugated cardboard. Painted Skatelite Pro R50 has been used on all of the skate park's features because of its grippy riding surface and ability to withstand daily use from skaters and BMXers. The Institut Français has also appointed La Condition Publique as a headquarter for Next Generation(s) AFRICA2020, inviting artists from Ghana to collaborate and connect with the neighbourhood through installations, painting, sculpture and performance.

COLORAMA officially opens 18 September 2020 to host events and classes, offering educational and employment opportunities for the local community, like the summer course dubbed 'Un été extraordinaire' - an extraordinary summer - as an initiation to youth skateboarding.