Julien Wahart - The Skate Revolution

I N T E R V I E W

Julien Wahart - The Skate Revolution

All photos: WAYNE GRAY

The ever-expanding landscape of Dubai has seen a recent insurgence of top-notch recreational parks, catering for everything from rock climbing to basketball and skateboarding.

Adam Abdul Hakeem

Skateparks are becoming a lot more prominent to meet the demands of the rapidly growing sport in the region and communities recognising the benefit of having these parks.

‘The Block’ in Dubai Design District

Two of the most recent builds include the DSO Lake Park Skatepark and the massive facility known as ‘The Block’ in Dubai’s uber trendy Design District. Flanking the Dubai Canal with the Burj Khalifa as a backdrop, you couldn’t find a better location to build a skatepark and it’s easy to see why it has quickly become a firm favourite amongst the skate community.

3D Model of ‘The Block’

The DSO Park is the smaller of the two at around 5,000sq.ft. with a natural flow to the rails, ledges and banks. A perfect size plaza style park. The Block spans a massive 19,000sq.ft. featuring rails and ledges to a large raised deck with stair sets and banks.

My passions are construction and skateboarding; and to be honest, before that special day in 2009, I would have never thought of combinING both passions into one job!”

- Julien Wahart

Hardcore Skateparks were the company tasked with designing and building these parks, with over 20 years experience, the team consists of professional skateboarders, BMX riders, landscape architects and graphic artists that call on all their experience to build a dream location. Contracted to build over 400 parks in more than 20 countries around the world, Hardcore creates innovative, functional and site specific designs that cater to everyone from beginners to professionals alike.

We chatted with Julien Wahart, Project Manager of Hardcore to delve into his mind set and gain some insight into the creative process that goes into their builds.

Josh Bell doing a super casual Feeble

XMOTION: Hi Julien. With the latest opening being the park in D3, which others have you designed and built in and around Dubai?

Julien Wahart: Hey guys! Yes, D3 has had its opening; but this is not our latest project in Dubai! Right after completing D3, we went to the Silicon Oasis to create a small but fun and functional street plaza, which will be open to the public soon.

I have quite a few experiences in Dubai already. I built the Tashkeel Ramp in Tashkeel; designed and built the skatepark for the American University of Sharjah; and built the small concrete skatepark in Business Bay.

Now with Hardcore Skateparks, after D3 and DSO, we have recently completed the new Business Bay and Junction Skatepark right next to Zaha Hadid’s last project, which should hopefully open in July.

XM: How did you get into the industry of skatepark design/construction?

JW: I would say it was simple luck! My passions are construction and skateboarding; and to be honest, before that special day in 2009, I would have never thought of combining both passions into one job! I was skating a mini ramp, which was open to public before the Tony Hawk Show in Grand Palais, Paris when the ramp builders approached me to do demos for their company. I was stoked! After checking all the cool stuff they were building (like ramps for the X Games, Dew tour, etc), I thought that could become a bigger opportunity than only doing demos! So I took my chance and here I am! In 2011, after finishing my School of Engineering, I was sent to my first skatepark project in Germany. Since then, I’ve built skateparks around the world!

I think my biggest achievement is to be where I am right now! I can live off of my passion and I am thankful to skateboarding for that!”

- Julien Wahart

Adam Abdul Hakeem shreds the Hip

XM: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

JW: I try to find inspiration from what is around me – it can be shapes I would see on the streets or even a cool feature that misses one little detail to be perfect for skateboarding like the perfect bank with a big curb in front of it, a gap of stairs with a broken stone at the top, these kind of things. Some say, this is what skateboarding should be – not perfect, rough, and difficult. That’s a fair opinion; but when it comes to designing and building a skatepark, the goal, in my opinion, is to make what you could find in the streets more accessible so you can work on your skills and your style before going out in the real world!

Designing at Hardcore Skateparks is never the job of one individual. Before presenting a design to a client, we not only discuss our ideas with Pierre (our dedicated Designer) and with Bill (the Boss), but also with members from the skateboard community! Everyone has a different relationship with skateboarding that directly affects the path we take when it comes to design. I firmly believe that, having multiple inputs at early stages of design will benefit the designers and the client, but most importantly, the end-users.

XM: What is the biggest challenge when it comes to designing and creating skateparks?

JW: Skateboarding has become a trend that’s progressing really quickly; and I think the most difficult part when it comes to design is, to look beyond the trend. It’s easy to say but that’s also why designing a skatepark is a really sensitive subject.

When it comes to building a skatepark, I think what comes into play most of the time is the end-user’s feedback and the builder’s experience. A skatepark doesn’t need to be big or full of features as long as the park is well designed for the space and the community who will be using the park. Everything in the building process is important because at the end, what you see is what you get! Hardcore Skateparks tries to pay attention to every detail: edges, concrete finish, heights, reveal of copings, cold joints, etc… Of course, we are not perfect but we tend to get better day after day!

Josh Bell

XM: What would you say is the signature characteristic of a Hardcore designed park?

JW: Creative design is what distinguishes us! We want the users to express their creativity freely and imagine things they would never had thought possible somewhere else.

XM: What do you think are the key elements to a park build? Are there any different aspects for different communities? Street, bowls etc.

I think the most difficult part when it comes to design is, to look beyond the trend.”

- Julien Wahart

JW: Most of the time, a skatepark is a complex combination of street elements, transitions, bowls and unique features but it should also fit all kinds of users: skateboards, rollers, scooters and BMX. In addition to that, you have to consider the users’ skills. All these conditions define what kind of a skatepark we will design and build for the client. It is not an easy task as our challenge is to adjust all these parameters in a way to satisfy everyone, from the client to the users. But let’s face it, it is almost impossible as the needs of each community is quite different, the client will push for maximum safety and fun, while the user will need challenge and progression…

I think at the end, if you don’t have possibility to make a park for each community, the best is to give to everyone a bit of what they need and play a lot with heights and possible transfers to bring along options for everyone.

And each type of user has different challenge and progression levels! For example, if you create a curb or a ledge for skateboarding, it won’t fit the needs of BMX riders and vice versa. For the street sections, this is problematic as your space and budget is limited. When it comes to transitions, it kind of works for everyone, but still, depending on the heights and radiuses of the curves. The best solution to this is to dedicate parks that cater every type of users. That would be more radical and easier!

But this is what is always amazing with extreme sports; the riders always find new ways to skate with what they have. Is the curb too low for your daily crooked grind? No problem! I will do more tech tricks! Why not add a flip to my trick or land in a different way than usual? Why not make a line with multiple tricks? The possibilities are infinite. Give them a concrete slab, they will skate it!

XM: Since skateboarding became an Olympic sport, do you feel there is more acceptance of skating and parks? Are authorities / communities more willing to create skateparks?

JW: Skateboarding is definitely trendier now than it was a couple of years ago and it is possible that the Olympics announcement has something to do with it. It makes skateboarding an official sport, promoting all its good sides and wiping off all the negative clichés that could go with it. So at the end, I think it’s appropriate to say that skateboarding is more accepted, thanks to Olympics.

With its better image, authorities and communities are keener to create skateparks and give more trust into designers and builders to make better projects. As skateboarding has become a real sport, it needs quality installations.

XM: What has been your biggest achievement/ proudest moment?

JW: I think my biggest achievement is to be where I am right now! I can live off of my passion and I am thankful to skateboarding for that! We go to many countries, discover new cultures, meet and greet people, and at the end what we do is design and build skateparks to entertain the kids! I want to believe that we are participating in the development of our youth, helping them gain new skills in their everyday lives.

XM: Do you have a favorite build? JW: D3 is my favorite! Until the next one… Can’t wait!

XM: Thanks so much for taking the time with chat to us and we look forward to seeing more of your work in the future right here in the UAE.

DSO Lake Park Skatepark Silicon Park, Silicon Oasis Dubai, UAE - Size: 5,000sq.ft.

The Block Dubai Design District, Downtown Dubai, UAE - Size: 19,000sq.ft.

Business Bay Skatepark Al Amal Street, Business Bay Dubai, UAE - Size: 5,000sq.ft. (approx).

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Facebook: @Hardcoreparks www.hardcoreskateparks.com