Soccer City makes us proud

WORDS: Alma Viviers

A big pat on the back to local architects Boogertman, Urban Edge and Partners, who seems to have no end to their winning streak with the exceptional design that is Soccer City National Stadium in Soweto.

At the recent World Architecture Festival held in Barcelona, Spain, Soccer City was awarded top honours as the World’s Best Sport Building for 2010.

This is the second year in a row that South African architects have featured on this prestigious winners’ roll.

Last year, architect Peter Rich, who was also the 2010 Absolut VISI Designer of the Year, won Building of the Year with his design of the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre.

Best of the best

The much-lauded Soccer City designed by Boogertman, Urban Edge and Partners in association with Populous has already earned the Fulton Award for the Best Building Project – Concrete in Architecture, the Fulton Award for Commendation for Unique Design Aspects, and the SA Institute for Steel Construction Award.

It was also voted as the best designed and developed 2010 Soccer Stadium at the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Innovative Excellence in Property Development Awards 2010.

In addition, the stadium also received the Grand Prix award in the category Communication Design: Three-dimensional & Environmental Design – Architecture and Interior Design at the 2010 Loeries. It also scooped the Best Public Building category and overall winner at the Leading European Architects Forum or Leaf Awards.

Boogertman + Partners: www.boogertman.com