jellyfish and corals – massive floor art work

YEAR / PROJECT
2025 / Multisport
playground painting

JOB
Ideation+design; mockup;
Execution +Team Management

TOOLS USED
Photoshop, Illustrator
MAPEI Mapecoat SF Extreme

THE PROJECT

From September to mid-November 2025 I had the delight to design and paint a 1000sqm area (10,700sq feet approx.) at the Verduno Hospital (Piedmont, Italy). This artwork is part of a larger multisport area created for the hospital personnel as well as for the community pf people living in the nearby town. The facilities include a double-purpose 5-a-side pitch and tennis court, a volleyball court and a 3×3 basketball court. I worked under commission while also collaborating with the Alba-based construction company GB Costruzioni, which was responsible for ground preparation. I also coordinated a small team of assistants to help me execute the floor painting.

THE PROCESS
Prior to ideation, I visited the site several times and spoke to the stakeholders in order to understand the expectations about the final result. I then ideated the sketches to decorate the area surrounding the sports facilities and presented the final version design mockup of the site. After some colour palette variations, I then executed the job while coordinating three other helpers on site for about a month. The ideation process included all phases from brainstorming to sketching, mockup presentations to the clients and a suitable colour palette using the Mapei resin-based products.

THE CONCEPT
The artwork is visible from different viewpoints at the site and this influenced the design of the whole piece because the recreational nature of the area for the hospital personnel can also become a visual experience for the in-hospital patients. For this reason, I carefully studied the colour palette and chose a combination of milder colours together with bolder ones in order to draw the viewer in delicately while amusing them with the lively interaction of shapes.

It all begins with the inception of the project idea: transform a gray hospital courtyard into a colourful and inspiring multisports area. This stage was made possible by the Alba-Bra hospital Fundation’s initial plan and support together with the vision of StudioGi in Alba who pitched the idea of the floor painting around the playgrounds. Shout out to them for the project pitch initial mockup including the idea of the floor decoration!

This is where my work begins. It took me several on-site visits and conversations with the stakeholders to understand what kind of design would have been best suited for this. I wanted to use light but impacful colours and evocative but more abstract shapes. I wanted to create a compelling visual and emotional experience.

Artwork execution would not have been possible without a thoughout ground preparation to make sure it was moisture-proof and ready to be coated with MAPEI water-based epoxy resins. GBCostruzioni made all this possible so I could start painting! Their work and help was an invaluable asset. My job prior to execution was to draft a ‘painting plan’ so that I knew exactly what areas of colours were going to be painted each day, in this way I knew how much colour was to be prepped and how to coordinate my team work depending on weather forecasts and the resins drying times – it was tricky, but we managed!

Together with my small team, we managed an incredible feat – covering a 1000sqm area with an ambitious and colouful design in only 30 days! We worked really hard and managed to finish in mid-November, just before the winter harsh temperatures hit. Photographer Paolo Allasia came in for the final photos and videos. He is to be credited for most of the photos on this page, as well as for the drone video below which I have sped up a bit.