1The Church of Santa Barbara (Spain)
Designed by Asturian architect Manuel del Busto in 1912, the church of Santa Barbara in Llanera, Asturias, Spain was abandoned and crumbling from years of neglect. A group of enterprising individuals led by a collective called the “Church Brigade” (with help from an online fundraiser and Red Bull), salvaged the building and turned it into a public skate park dubbed Kaos Temple. Artist Okuda San Miguel was commissioned to cover the walls and vaulted ceilings with his unique brand of geometric figures. Nearly every flat surface is covered with an array of colors, and the ramp is illuminated from every side by tall windows, making this a truly special place to skate.
2Andre Senizergues' Private Residence (U.S.)
Former world champion skateboarder Pierre Andre Senizergues is the owner of Sole Technology, an apparel company that produces brands such as Etnies. The entrepreneur has commissioned Francois Perrin, of the L.A.-based architecture firm Air Architecture, to build him a California home that doubles as a skate park.
Senizergues’ Malibu dream house is shaped like a flattened tube, with walls that curve into the ceiling, making every surface fully skateable or grindable. Even the furniture is fair game. Perrin says, “Closets and drawers could be integrated into the curve, too.” Did we mention that he’s really into skateboarding?
3Evertro (England)
Korean artist Koo Jeong A has created the UK’s first glow-in-the-dark skatepark.
Evertro is a permanent public artwork integrated into the landscape. It combines elements for skating and BMXing with Jeong A’s minimalist aesthetic. The design was a collaboration with Wheelscape Skateparks, who specialize in using sprayed concrete and a freeform construction technique, which they say, “allows architects the freedom to create progressive designs.” The best part of Evertro? The section around the central bowl has been painted with phosphorescent paint, so it glows in the dark.
“I devised extremely steep, sharp angles, which would be a challenge to the most courageous and skilled skaters,” Jeong A said. “It was as if they would be the great mountaineers that the rest of us would admire. And with its glow-in-the-dark surface, I hoped the Wheels Park would offer an experience of contemplation.”
4Pinball Machine Skate Park (New Zealand)
It was here for a short time, but now it’s gone. In 2011, soft drink giant Mountain Dew built this fully functioning pinball machine skate park in Henderson, West Aukland, New Zealand to promote its new flavors. The skate park was a 600 square foot machine rigged with sensors, sounds and lights that scored your run just like pinball. It cost $500k and took over 17 days to build. It, unfortunately, was dismantled after the promotion was over.
5House of Vans/Old Vic Tunnels (London)
In 2014, clothing and footwear brand Vans transformed the Old Vic Tunnels at London, Waterloo into a skate park and arts venue. The cavernous 30,000 square foot space has been cleverly redesigned with Vans branding, artwork and memorabilia throughout.
House of Vans is now home to London’s only indoor skate park, an 850-capacity music venue, a 160-seat cinema and a gallery, as well as two bars and an industrial-looking cafe serving American-style food. For the next three years, and possibly longer, it will host art exhibitions, creative workshops, concerts and film screenings and is open to eat, drink and hang out in five days a week.The skate park is free to use and includes mini ramps for novice skaters as well as a half pipe and skate bowl for the more advanced.
6Dimjalla Skate Park (Australia)
A skate bowl in Mount Gambier, South Australia was given a “fruity” makeover for the summer of 2015-2016. Dimjalla Skate Park was painted by local skaters and BMX riders who were tired of the bowl’s old graffiti and paint, which hadn’t been touched in years.
22-year-old Brad Wright, who spearheaded the effort to paint the bowl, said, “The only negativity I’ve read online are concerns over slipperiness, which, as anyone who has ever skated or ridden this rough, old bowl would know, is not a big issue. If anyone really does have any concerns I encourage them to come down and have a skate with us.”
7Joven Skatepark (Spain)
In 2011, Spain-based Selgascano Studio completed construction of Factoría Joven — a colorful skate park and outdoor playground set on the outskirts of Mérida. Inspired by Chinese dragons and built to last, the boldly colored structure shines with a beautiful white glow.
The outdoor skate and amusement park is elevated upon a base about 1.5 meters off the ground to protect the archeological remains beneath it. It’s a place where kids can meet, practice sports, dance, play music and even access the Internet through public computers.
8Floating Mini Ramp (Finland)
In 2014, Finnish snowboarding superstar Roope Tonteri wanted to ride in the summer and somehow managed to persuade his sponsor, Red Bull, to build him this badass mini ramp!
With the help of a handy friend, Jaakko Tossavainen, he turned his dream idea into a reality. They built the ramp on a barge on the lake near his hometown — it was even equipped with a sauna to use after jumping into the cold lake.