Host City Cape Town’s environmental programme for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™,  “Green Goal 2010”, is showcased at the FIFA Fan Fest™ on the Grand Parade, in an architecturally iconic structure specifically designed to demonstrate the use of materials that are either recycled, reused, reclaimed, or newly purchased, but earmarked for reuse afterwards.Visitors to the FIFA Fan Fest™ are encouraged to visit this unique expo and participate in the daily programme of activities aimed to increase awareness of environmental issues and profile the positive steps taken by Host City Cape Town to leave a positive environmental legacy after the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Commenting on the Green Goal 2010 Expo at the Fan Fest, Lorraine Gerrans, City of Cape Town Manager: Green Goal 2010 FIFA World Cup™, said the City required something unique and memorable that would convey the Green Goal 2010 message, which is about hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ responsibly and reducing the environmental impact of the Soccer World Cup.

“We wanted to create an exhibition structure that would look different from all the other tented structures on the Grand Parade. It was to be a temporary exhibition stand, operational for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to showcase the projects and initiatives of the Green Goal programme in Host City Cape Town.  The proposal that we received from Stephen Lamb of Touching the Earth Lightly in association with ST&AR Architects responded to our needs in that it was to be made entirely from recycled and reusable materials so as to produce zero waste after deconstruction. In addition, all construction materials were to be sourced within the tightest possible radius of the site to minimize the carbon footprint”, she said.

Andre Rademeyer of ST&AR Architects said “The concept was to clad a scaffold cube using multi-coloured re-usable plastic milk crates filled with empty milk bottles, all tied to the scaffolding frame. Low energy lighting behind the crates would illuminate the entire structure at night turning it into a glowing ‘jewel box’ promoting sustainability. The interior would contrast with the exterior waste world, being clad entirely in timber from trees pruned and felled during the construction of the Cape Town Stadium, fixed with twine to allow later re-use. The interior is lit from above with translucent roof panels and is filled with fragrant Fynbos from the Cape Floral Kingdom. At roof level the organic interior metaphorically ‘grows’ out of the crates in the form of a forest of wooden poles which wave in the breeze giving the structure a kinetic and sculptural presence,” he said.

Stephen Lamb of Touching the Earth Lightly, said that the team was appointed with a very tight time frame and budget to make the project a reality. The site is located on Darling Street just in front of the City Hall, prohibiting any fixing into the road surface. “The scaffold structure needed a double ‘skin’ which created a void just under a metre wide between the plastic crates and the internal cladding. This void provided accommodation for low energy lighting; ballast in the form of water tanks; a reflective damp proof membrane fixed to the inner skin as well as for access to fix the crates and for maintenance. A system was devised to fix 1 450 crates to the scaffold by a grid of webbing straps with tension ratchets and further held together in a grid on the exterior face with cable ties. 17 400 HDPE (#2 plastic) milk bottles were used as recyclable waste inside the crates to provide the best light diffusion. These are held in place with a simple rubber band tensioning web, providing just enough friction for the bottles to remain seated in the crates. The roof is an IBR profile sheet with flashing dressing up behind the top line of crates, which effectively becomes a parapet,” he said.

Design development was completed and temporary building approval achieved within two weeks of the consultants’ appointment. Construction detail was prepared and construction started a week later. The structure was completed and commissioned with full interior fit out within five days.

The designers and project team will be at the Expo on Friday 25 June 2010 between 11:30 and 12:30 to answer questions on the Expo and the Host City Cape Town Green Goal programme.

Image Credit: Action is Key

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2. Green Goal Initiative 2010
3. City Hosts ‘Green Living’ Stand at Homemakers Expo
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