MOSES MABHIDA S TA D I U M
The Moses Mabhida Stadium, designed by Gerhard le Roux is a multifunctional world class stadium that was built to host soccer matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is located in Durban, South Africa, named after Moses Mabhida, a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party. The 85,000 capacity stadium sits on an elevated platform in the central sports park on the shore of the Indian Ocean and is accessible from the city and station via a broad flight of steps. The iconic arch which rises high over the stadium has become one of the world’s first tourist attraction featuring a high-tech cable car.
MAT E R IA L IT Y
Roof : Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated fiberglass The roof is made of Teflon-coated glass fibre membranes and is attached to the arch by 95mm diameter steel cables. The membrane admits 50% of sunlight into the arena while shades against glare and rain. It also produces a translucent glow when the stadium is lit up.
CO N S TRU C TIO N PRO CESS
Foundation
Arch
Compression Ring and Facade
The stadium sits on saturated swamp-land blanketed with sea-sand. Thus, foundations were piled down to the bedrock 20m below ground level. Diaphragm walls were chosen due to its practicality and least time consuming. Foundations are elongated rectangular boxes with 800mm thick reinforced concrete walls. A reinforced concrete plinth is used to connect the arch to its foundation.
The arch consists of 56 elements, each having 8 reference points bolted into the arch. The first 4 elements on each side were adjusted using hydraulic jacking systems before grouted onto the foundation. Each stage had a set of coordinated points to define the arch geometry. Before placing an element, the arch was lifted to a position, after the element was installed, re-measured to check that all criterias were achieved.
The compression ring and facade are carried on steel columns connected to precast columns by welding a steel lug to the cast-in plate on the columns. The columns were adjusted using a temporary push-pull system. This also adjusted the compression ring once placed onto the columns. Measurements were done at night as heat affected the steel structure and adjustments were made prior in the morning.
Facade : Perforated metal sheeting The facade membrane of perforated metal sheeting rises to the outer edge of the roof, providing protection against rain, wind and direct sunlight. The facade forms a lively pattern of light and shadow, offering glimpses of the interior thus creating a light and airy feel.
Pre-stressing Cables
PTFE coated roof membrane
The cable net links the compression ring to the arch and suspends an inner ring made up of six cables. The network was laid out on the ground and connected to the compression ring before being lifted by hydraulic jacks to connect to the arch. The cables are connected by a steel cast item. The positions was carefully monitored during the lift to ensure the cable net was lifted evenly and none had been installed wrongly.
After the cable net was installed and prestressed, the membrane installation started by pulling the large PTFE panels off a roll supported at the horizontal arch. The roof consists of a 46000 sqm of PTFE membranes. After securing the panels in position, the membrane is tensioned towards the ridge and valley cable.
O RTH O G R A PHIC DRAWINGS
The Bowl : Precast concrete Precast concrete is chosen as the main material for the structures of stadium’s bowl, such as the seating panels, columns, ranking beams and also the retaining walls.
Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Elevation
Section
Scale 1:5000
Scale 1:5000
Arch : Steel hollow boxes The expansive 350m steel arch, consisting of a 5x5m steel hollow box rises 105 meter and carries the weight of the roof ’s inner membrane. The arch is connected by cable system to the external edges of the roof.
Scale 1:5000
Scale 1:5000