STADIUM FOR AFRICA
12 Apr 2018
A new venue for the 2021 Africa Nations Cup is on the horizon, with a competition design for a 20,000-seater football stadium to be built on West Africa’s Ivory Coast in time for the games.
Designed by Paris-based architecture firm SCAU, the winning design, chosen from a field of 45 entries, will be constructed in Yamoussoukro and host matches at the 2021 Africa Nations Cup. The £50 million Stade de Yamoussoukro is one of six stadiums that will host games during the tournament.
The firm's proposal sinks three of the four spectator stands into the ground. The west stand, which will be raised on the brow of the hill, will house the stadium's facilities, including the changing rooms food, press facilities and offices. 
A single ring-shaped roof will cover the stands and an open-air concourse containing catering facilities for fans.
The French firm, which also designed the Stade de France in Paris and the Olympic Stadium Ataturk in Istanbul, recently added a wavy roof as part of their renovation of the Stade Vélodrome in Marseilles. The architects wanted to build a stadium that was "both monumental and minimalist" and that would give the African country a "strong image" when the games are broadcast. 
According to the architects embedding the stadium in the ground will mean the venue is low-cost to build and maintain, meaning it will have a lifespan beyond the Africa Nations Cup.
SCAU worked with construction engineering company Sogea Satom, steel structure experts Baudin Chateauneuf, seating specialists Alcor and engineering group Egis on the proposal. 
Images SCAU
