Join our
LinkedIn Group
Soccer City wins at World Architecture Festival Awards
Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa has won the ‘World’s Best Sport Building’ award at the World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF Awards) 2010. The architecture of Soccer City, designed by Boogertman+Partners, represents a regional approach aimed at integrating the urban context of Jonhannesburg, its society and the historical mining industry, along with African culture as a whole. The main form is inspired by the traditional African calabash – meaning the stadium is immediately recognisable as being African.
The venue was chosen by some of the world’s most distinguished architects and renowned industry experts, beating-off competition from a shortlist of seven entries. The judges commented how each of the shortlisted projects had to satisfy the immense technical requirements demanded by world sporting bodies to hold international, regional and local events.
The judges said: “The Soccer City National Stadium makes a strong and memorable connection with its place in history, the game and the future of this area. The imagery of the calabash, or pot design, which recalls the centre of life in the family is taken on as a strong encircling imagery. It is a genuine example of a building forming deep and lasting roots in its culture and giving a new exciting future to an otherwise rundown area, becoming instantly recognisable as the face of the South African Wold Cup.”
Speaking at the awards, Paul Finch, WAF programme director, said: “Yet again we received a huge response to the fiercely contested WAF Awards, with more than 500 entries from 61different countries. The geographical range and quality of this year’s designs were exceptionally high, with a great deal of entries from ‘new’ economies, both by local architects and international practices. Our congratulations go to the winners for a project that is truly exceptional.”
Brazil's Morumbi stadium is undergoing an extensive modernisation project that will increase the venue's flexibility, improve safety and increase spectator comfort.
Click here to read more
Despite widespread acknowledgement that fans want the at-home benefits of connectivity in stadia, there are surprisingly few owners investing in the requisite infrastructure
Click here to read more
The new national stadium in Tokyo, Japan will be an environmentally-conscious 'urban connector' that has been designed to be iconic while integrating into the city landscape
Click here to read more
RheinEnergieStadion Köln has invested in advanced video surveillance technology to ensure the safety of fans and players
Click here to read more
The stadia headed for the limelight in 2013...
Click here to read more
We are building a list of leading suppliers covering all aspects of the stadia industry. Want to see your company included? Contact damien@ukipme.com for more details.
Do you have an opinion you'd like to share with the stadia community? We'd like to hear your views and opinions on the leading issues shaping the industry. Share your comments by sending up to 500 words to nickbradley@ukipme.com
To send us your recruitment advertising or to receive information on placing a banner please email damien@ukipme.com
Wembley Stadium upgrades to Daktronics display system