FIFA World Cup 2010 – The Green Point Stadium : By gmp architekten

Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa
gmp architekten
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

The 68,000 spectators Green Point Stadium designed by gmp architekten, is one of the major stadiums to host the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. With its horizontal facade expression and the curving contours, the architectural design was intended to enhance the horizontal line of Table Mountain, and appeared as an iconic building in Cape Town.

"Together with the horizontal line of Table Mountain and the rounded top of Signal Hill, the curving contours of the stadium act as a kind of bottom note in a harmonious triad. Lightweight in concept, the circular stadium comes across as unobtrusive and respectful of its surroundings. Its appearance varies greatly with the typical lighting conditions of the area. With its translucent external skin, it reacts to different weather and daylight conditions at different times of the day or seasons, and diverse lighting effects give it a sculptural look."

gmp architekten

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

description by gmp architekten 
The skyline of Cape Town is dominated by Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Town Stadium forms a landmark at the foot of Signal Hill, and fits respectfully into its environment. The challenge was to create a standalone building in this unique location that enriches rather than mars the world-famous picture-postcard setting.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Specifically, the job was to design a stadium on part of Green Point Common, an 80ha public park in the city center that would become iconic of Cape Town. The Common also contains South Africa’s oldest golf course and oldest rugby club. It is surrounded by residential areas, and is close to Cape Town’s central business district on the old Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which is now the city’s main tourist attraction.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Green Point Common has history in Cape Town. It was a rocky wasteland until, in 1923, the government of the Union of South Africa made it over to the city as common land on which recreational areas and sports facilities would be set up. Over the past decades, the area of common land has been whittled away, most of it no longer being accessible to the public, having been leased to private sports clubs and other organizations.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

After careful political consideration, it was de-cided to locate the stadium so as to forge a link between the commercial center and Green Point Com-mon, and reorganize the existing sports facilities. Fort Wynyard artillery fort, Green Point cricket ground and the golf club were integrated into the public park.
Together with the horizontal line of Table Mountain and the rounded top of Signal Hill, the curving contours of the stadium act as a kind of bottom note in a harmonious triad. Lightweight in concept, the circular stadium comes across as unobtrusive and respectful of its surroundings. Its appearance varies greatly with the typical lighting conditions of the area. With its translucent external skin, it reacts to different weather and daylight conditions at different times of the day or seasons, and diverse lighting effects give it a sculptural look.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

This design concept was combined with the purely functional requirements. For spectators, it provides a logical but sensory structure, and inside the stadium engenders a terrific atmosphere during soccer and rugby matches and concerts alike. The stadium provides seats for 68,000 spectators, arranged on three tiers, 2,400 of them for business and a further 2,500 in boxes. Broad access promenades on Levels 2 and 6 form “lobbies” round the stadium arena, allowing visitors freedom of movement, a pleasant environment to linger in and ease of orientation round the stadium. The pitch is visible from the “lobby”. The upper “lobby” at a height of 25m offers a panoramic view over Green Point Common, the city and the ocean.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

เพิ่มคำอธิบายภาพ

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

The parabolic profile of the stands gives all spectators an optimal view of the pitch. The strongly curving outline of the top tier contrasting with the more muted curves of the roof edge is a result of their functional geometry. During the 2010 soccer World Cup, temporary rows of seating will be installed on either side on the top tier, but these are due to be replaced later by events suites and clubrooms. That will reduce seating capacity from 68,000 to 55,000 but increase the number of rentable areas, so as contribute to the commercial viability of the sta-dium post-World Cup.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

One critical objection to the politically motivated location in a small-scale setting was the height of the stadium. Due to the rocky subsoil, the pitch and bottom tier could not be sunk into the ground. To reduce the apparent height of the stadium, therefore, we provided an elevated plateau as an artificial landscape feature that mediates between the surroundings and the stadium and lessens the perceived height of the stadium. Broad ramps and steps on three sides lead up to this plateau, under which is parking space for over 1,200 cars, a goods delivery area and access for fire engines and emergency services.

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

Photo © Courtesy of Marcus Bredt

site plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 0 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 1 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 2 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 3 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 4 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 5 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 6 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

level 7 floor plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

roof plan--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

section X-X--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

section Y-Y--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

Sectional perspective--drawing Courtesy of gmp architekten

The people
Project: Green Point Stadium
Location: Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa
Consultancy: 2006 – 1. 1st prize
Architect: gmp architekten – von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects
Design: Volkwin Marg and Hubert Nienhoff with Robert Hormes
Project leader: Robert Hormes
Project leader roof: Martin Glass
Project management: Michèle Rüegg
Staff (in alphabetical order): Sophie Altrock, Holger Betz, Christian Blank, Margret Böthig, Lena Brögger, Maike Carlsen, Chris Hättasch, Patrick Hoffmann, Andrea Jobski, Martin Krebes, Helge Lezius
Cooperation with: Louis Karol architects, Point architects, Cape Town
Structural concept and design roof: Schlaich Bergermann und Partner – Knut Göppert mit with Thomas Moschner
Structural engineering: BKS (Pty) Ltd, Iliso Consulting, Henry Fagan & Partners, KFD Wilkinson, Arcus Gibb, Cape Town
Technical equipment: BKS (Pty) Ltd, WSP (Pty) Ltd, Ilsio Consulting, Goba Consulting, Cape Town
Urban design: Comrie Wilkinson architects & urban designers, Jakupa Architects and urban designers, OvP Associates Landscape Architects, Cape Town
Landscape design: OvP Associates Landscape Architects, Cape Town
Architects on site: BKS (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town
General project management: MDA Mitchell du Plessis Associates, BKS (Pty) Ltd, Ariya project managers, Cape Town
General contractor: JV Murray & Roberts, WBHO (Dach Roof), JV Pfeifer Seil- und Hebetechnik & Birdair
Client: City of Cape Town, spv 2010

Construction period: 2007–2010
Gross floor area: 110.000 m²
Tiers: 3
Seats: 68.000
VIP boxes: 134
Business seats: 2.800
Places for wheelchair users: 120
Places for press: 290
Underground parking places for cars: 1.200
Length of the stadium: 290 m
Width of the stadium: 270 m
Height of the stadium: 48 m
Roof surface area: 36.000 m²
Roof: Laminated glass and diaphanous PVC membrane

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