Moses Mabhida Stadium
The Moses Mabhida Stadium has changed the way sporting venues are viewed in South Africa. A stadium may be venerated as the scene of many an epic clash, but it need not be a monolith that only comes alive on "match day" - or when the members of the band plug in their guitars.
In addition to this internationally acclaimed engineering feat, the multi-disciplinary aspect of the stadium's design allows the stadium to host a wide range of sporting and cultural events, putting it on a par with other international venue' s such as the Stade du France and the Wembley Stadium.
Recognising this, many sporting venues have sought to become multi-functional by hosting other events, but this still means the stadium is in use only at specific times.By contrast, the Moses Mabhida Stadium with its facilities is not only a tourist attraction in its own right, it is also the centrepiece of the King's Park Sporting Precinct, which will support a wide range of sporting, commercial, cultural, retail and leisure activities seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The most amazing aspect of the stadium will be an arch that spans the entire length of the arena, reaching a height of 106 metres at its highest point. A cable car will take tourists up to the top where they will have a 360-degree, bird's-eye view of the city.
Located in Durban, South Africa, named after Moses Mabhida, a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party, the stadium is intended to be a world-class multi-use facility.The stadium has a planned capacity of 70,000 during the World Cup and 54,000 afterwards.
Design Brief
The stadium design brief called for "a state-of-the-art landmark sports facility with excellent amenities, and a sustainable recreational and multi-disciplinary sporting venue." The winning design by the ILC created the Moses Mabhida Stadium. With its beautiful styled "arch of triumph" and eye pleasing design, the stadium is an engineering feat that provides Durban with a defining landmark to match the Eifel Tower, Sydney's Opera House or The London Eye.
Importantly the multi-disciplinary aspect of the stadium's design permits it to host a wide range of sporting and cultural events. Visually inspiring - and comprising of more than a hundred columns - the facade of Moses Mabhida Stadium allows for natural ventilation and creates an incredible sense of space every bit as striking as the stadium's famous arch. The different levels of the stadium are supported by 1, 750 columns and 216 raking beams that provide the main support to the seating panels.
The easy access and spacious public area in and around the stadium allows for an enjoyable and memorable spectator experience. The wide flip-up seats and sight lines from all seats means that all supporters of all sports including football, rugby, cricket and athletics and cultural events have uninterrupted views of the "stage" to watch and cheer on their teams and artists in absolute comfort.
Stadium Specifics
Arch
Somewhat reminiscent of the famous Wembley Stadium arch, a 350m long free and 105m high span arch holds up the roof of the stadium, the top of the arch rises to 106 m above the pitch. The arch consists of a 5 x 5 m steel hollow box and weighs 2, 600 tons. A funicular (not a cable car in the strict sense of the meaning of the word) will carry visitors from the north side of the stadium to a viewing platform at the top of the arch where they can get out and enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views of the city and ocean. The south side will have a 550-step adventure walk.
Roof
The stadium roof consists of a 46,000m2, Teflon-coated, glass-fibre membrane which produces a translucent glow when the stadium is lit. These are attached to the arch by 17,000m of 95mm diameter steel cables. The roof covers 88 percent of the seats.
Bowl
Around the perimeter, 1750 columns and 216 raking beams provide the main support. Around the field, 900 m of retaining walls stretch 8m high. A total of 1,780 pre-cast concrete seating panels create the bowl form. There will be over 80,000m2 of floor space within the stadium structure.
Facade
Over 100 columns surround the stadium. The height of the columns varies around the stadium, but the highest will be 46m. In total 15,000 m² of facade surround the stadium. A total of 550 aluminum fins fit between the main columns. Perforated metal sheeting was placed between the aluminum fins, where required.
Completion and Awards.
Construction of the stadium was officially completed on the 24th of November 2009. Even before completion the stadium had already accumulated a number of coveted awards, to list a few:
Organisation: The South African Institution of Civil Engineering
Awards title: SAICE Branch Award for Technical Excellence (Durban) 2008
Category: Foundations for the Moses Mabhida Stadium arch (winner)
Organisation: The Concrete Society of Southern Africa
Awards title: Fulton Awards 2009
Category: Unique Design Aspects (winner)
Organisation: The Concrete Society of Southern Africa
Awards title: Fulton Awards 2009
Category: Construction techniques (commendation)
Organisation: Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC)
Awards title: Steel Awards 2009
Category: Overall winner
The King’s Parl Precinct
The King's Park Precinct has been designed to provide parks, walks, exercise areas, shops and restaurants that will appeal to all Durbanites, not just the "sporty", and ensure the stadium is the centre of activity 365 days a year. It also allows for the safe and unimpeded movement of pedestrians and vehicles on major match days.
Persons with disabilities:
The Moses Mabhida Stadium provides seating for 180 wheelchair-users and all hospitality suites are accessible for people with physical disabilities.
People's Park:
In addition to providing pedestrian access to the stadium for those coming from the city centre, this green space to the south of the stadium offers a haven of trees, lawns and picnic spots.
Imbizo Place:
Situated to the north of the stadium, this will offer a collection of shops and restaurants, as well as an outdoor amphitheatre. Visitors will also be able to board the SkyCar here.
The Pitch:
The Moses Mabhida pitch has been designed to meet the requirements of major sporting bodies such as FIFA, IRB, SAFA and SARFU. It is a "premier playing field" comprising an upper layer of high-draining, non-compacting sand growing medium over a gravel layer with subsoil drains. This type of pitch allows for better drainage - at a rate in excess of 100mm an hour - while still allowing for excellent grass growth. It can also be used in wet conditions that would render other grounds unplayable.
Player's Facilities:
These include four state-of-the-art change-rooms each with a jacuzzi, as well as a fully equipped medical suite.
Skycar
A tourist attraction in its own right, the SkyCar will ferry up to 20 visitors to the stadium arch’s highest point, where they can enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city. The SkyCar consists of a single cabin mounted on an undercarriage that runs along steel tracks fixed to the top of the North arch.
System
The funicular runs along the length of the north arch from the lower station to the upper station at the Sky Platform. The gradient of the arch varies substantially; therefore the funicular is fitted with a hydraulic self leveling floor. The cabin is framed by glass windows with entrance and exit doors at either end. The roof consists of glass louvers that can be opened electronically by the driver for ventilation. The passengers travel up the arch in a standing position holding onto the handrail around the perimeter.
The SkyCar is operated by a single driver who drives the SkyCar from the inside of the cabin. The ascent and descent are started by the press of a button. The opening and closing of the automated doors is controlled by the driver. The braking of the SkyCar at the lower and upper station is automated. The release of the emergency brake system is also automated, but can also be manually applied by the driver.
The emergency brake system is activated automatically if the SkyCar accelerates to a speed outside normal working parameters (defined in the technical operations manual). A trip with the SkyCar runs along the top of the north arch to the SkyPlatform. The SkyCar returns by the same way.
The SkyCar is pulled up the arch by a wire rope. The rope is wound around a drum situated in the engine room below the lower station. The drum is driven by a motor. The cable runs from the drum along the centre of the tracks to the top of the arch, where it is returned to run back down the arch by a return wheel. The lower end is fixed to the SkyCar. In this manner the SkyCar is pulled up the arch by the winding the rope around the motorized drum in the engine
room. During descent the SkyCar essentially rolls down the arch in a controlled manner under its own gravity. For this reason the SkyCar can be returned to the lower station in the event of a power failure. The cable drum and motor are fitted with two brakes, a service brake and an emergency brake. The SkyCar is also fitted with an emergency brake. The iconic Moses Mabidha Stadium has succeeded in adding one more reason to visit Durban both as a world class sporting and tourist destination
Project Team
Architect:
Mthulusi Msimang Architects
NSM Design
Osmond Lange Architects
Landcsape architects :
Ibhola Lethu Architects
Iver Rothaug Collaborative
Structural Engineering
BKS(Pty)Ltd
PD Naidoo & Associates
