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August 27, 2011

Brooklyn’s home for the Nets

Barkitecture

Here's a fanciful version of Nets history to help explain the architecture of the new Nets arena.

The NBA franchise Hair Nets (commonly referred to simply as “the Nets”) of New Jersey needed a home that represented the pride of the team in its new home. The Nets have a history of moving venues, back and forth between New York and New Jersey. A founding member of the ABA and originally named the New York Americans, the team was renamed to rhyme with two other New York sports franchises with histories of remarkable success, the Mets and the Jets. The new name, the Hair Nets, was also meant to represent a lower, heartier class to distinguish themselves from the Knicks, favorites of the city’s elite, who pay top dollar to sit court side. This time, the venue is being built for them.

The design is a fluid, swooping, and nearly literal adaptation of a hair net display. (Others have thought the design was inspired by other influences. These can be seen if you follow this link and scroll to the bottom.) For emphasis, the architects teamed up with German-born, and New Jersey-raised artist, Kiki Smith who created a bust with a hair net.

link

Posted by steve at August 27, 2011 11:09 PM