RSS Feed
Twitter
By Peter Pedroncelli
City: Johannesburg
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 89 000
Soccer City is 10 kilometres from the Johannesburg city centre, on the outskirts of Soweto, and it will be the major venue at the 2010 World Cup, hosting eight games altogether, including the opening ceremony and match, and the closing ceremony and final. This means that a piece of history will be made as the World Cup is won on July 11 in Africa for the first time, in Soccer City Stadium.
The most striking feature of the stadium is its calabash-shaped design, selected from a number of competing designs. The calabash was picked because it is a uniquely African object and is a recognisable symbol of the African continent. The calabash, or "melting pot of African cultures", sits on a raised podium, on top of which is located a "pit of fire", according to the designers.
The pot’s façade is made up of laminated fibre reinforced concrete panels, in a selection of 8 colours and 2 textures that make reference to the shades and textures of the calabash. The pot is punctured by open or glazed panels which create a suggestion of pattern on the façade that comes into its own when the inside volumes are illuminated.
Upon the façade 10 vertical slots can be seen, which are aligned geographically with the 9 other 2010 stadia, as well as the Berlin stadium. These are representative of the road to the final, and it is hoped that, after the World Cup, the scores of each game at each venue will be placed in pre-cast concrete panels on the podium. A visit to the stadium will thus provide one with a full history of the World Cup and all its scores.
Looking at the stadium from the outside is quite an experience, as the towering monster of a venue takes up a massive area and is very imposing indeed, but going into the stadium truly allows one to understand the magnitude of the place. Soccer City is a majestic stadium, and it will be a true gem come July 2010, when the world will be watching South Africa and the World Cup champions will be crowned on a podium in the venue. Africa can be proud of a fine stadium, which will no doubt contribute in a big way to a fine World Cup.
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 89 000
Soccer City is 10 kilometres from the Johannesburg city centre, on the outskirts of Soweto, and it will be the major venue at the 2010 World Cup, hosting eight games altogether, including the opening ceremony and match, and the closing ceremony and final. This means that a piece of history will be made as the World Cup is won on July 11 in Africa for the first time, in Soccer City Stadium.
The most striking feature of the stadium is its calabash-shaped design, selected from a number of competing designs. The calabash was picked because it is a uniquely African object and is a recognisable symbol of the African continent. The calabash, or "melting pot of African cultures", sits on a raised podium, on top of which is located a "pit of fire", according to the designers.
The pot’s façade is made up of laminated fibre reinforced concrete panels, in a selection of 8 colours and 2 textures that make reference to the shades and textures of the calabash. The pot is punctured by open or glazed panels which create a suggestion of pattern on the façade that comes into its own when the inside volumes are illuminated.
Upon the façade 10 vertical slots can be seen, which are aligned geographically with the 9 other 2010 stadia, as well as the Berlin stadium. These are representative of the road to the final, and it is hoped that, after the World Cup, the scores of each game at each venue will be placed in pre-cast concrete panels on the podium. A visit to the stadium will thus provide one with a full history of the World Cup and all its scores.
Looking at the stadium from the outside is quite an experience, as the towering monster of a venue takes up a massive area and is very imposing indeed, but going into the stadium truly allows one to understand the magnitude of the place. Soccer City is a majestic stadium, and it will be a true gem come July 2010, when the world will be watching South Africa and the World Cup champions will be crowned on a podium in the venue. Africa can be proud of a fine stadium, which will no doubt contribute in a big way to a fine World Cup.
Denmark
SouthAfrica
0 comments:
Post a Comment