The outer skin of the stadium is realised with glass fibre concrete. The shape refers to the calabash, a traditional African drinking vessel. The glassfibre concrete panel's natural colour shades and surface texture reflect the colours of the calabash fruit.

The project is named "African Pot" because of its special structure and the African colour tones of the concrete facade. The construction amounting to 205 Million Euro adjacent to the city of Johannesburg symbolises tradition as well as future.

The total facade is divided in ten vertical sections. Their theoretical extension leads to the other World Cup arenas. The last section refers to the Olympic Arena in Berlin, where the final of the FIFA World Cup 2006 was hosted. It symbolises the bridge between Europe and the continent Africa.

Developer:

City of Johannesburg - Joburg
Johannesburg
eMail: joburgmarketing@joburg.co.za • web: www.joburg.co.za

Architect:

Boogertman + Partners
137 Muckleneuk Street • ZA-0181 Pretoria / South Africa
Tel.: +27(0)12 4297300 • Fax: +27(0)12 3468687
web: www.boogertman.com

General contractor:

Grinaker-LTA
Tel.: +27(0)11 5786000 • Fax: +27(0)11 5786161
eMail: enquiry@grinaker-lta.co.za • web: www.grinaker-lta.com

picture credits: Rieder Smart Elements Maishofen/Salzburg