Form beats function. At least it did here, in A/LTA Architects’ Arbre à Basket. What an eccentric, fun way of approaching the basketball hoop. Yet it does nothing for multiple users as the architects imply. Only if you organize a baby game, kid game, and adult game at once would this be functionally functional. But who cares if large-scale tournaments of set-piece basketball aren’t capable of being hosted here. Located in front of the Maison des Hommes et des Techniques in Nantes, France, it gives a lot more to its surroundings than a mere sports instrument. It is functional in that way. And individuals or groups of kids will always find a way to play with just about anything. Give ’em time and they’ll invent a game.
