Ellis Park Sport Precinct | Johannesburg South Africa | Newtown Landscape Architects

Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Aerial view of Stadium Square

Prompted by the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) earmarked the ELLIS PARK PRECINCT for urgent need of rejuvenation. This inner-city development was to function as a Sports Hub connecting the upgraded Ellis Park Stadiums with the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system to the north and taxi rank to the south while featuring sculptural art work and including the rehabilitation of the adjacent railway embankment.


Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square sculpture which celebrates the 2010 Soccer World Cup

Focusing on durability and functionality, the landscape design utilised the two stadiums as catalysts for the development of a new inner-city network that will connect the various nodes with the newly developed Stadium Square – a ‘signature space’ between the two stadiums. A water feature was designed with three phases of water, ranging from mist to fountains which ultimately become a fast flowing ‘river’ of water that symbolises and celebrates the origin of the Jukskei River, which lies beneath Stadium Square.

Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square: View over water feature towards Ellis Park Stadium
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square: View over square towards Johannesburg Stadium
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
View of Stadium Square water feature
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square sculpture which celebrates the 2010 Soccer World Cup

From the onset of the project, it was clear that planting material would prove to be a particular challenge in this highly urbanised and harsh setting. In this regard, special attention was given to the choice of indigenous planting palette and as a result, the chosen street trees, feature material and evergreen planting successfully managed to ensure unity of the various precinct profiles, while adding value to the overall character of the precinct. More than 650 new trees were planted in the precinct and will eventually provide a shady green ‘forest’.

Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square linking Ellis Park Stadium and Johannesburg Stadium
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square linking Ellis Park Stadium and Johannesburg Stadium
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square linking Ellis Park Stadium and Johannesburg Stadium
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Stadium Square linking Ellis Park Stadium and Johannesburg Stadium
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Transport Square sculpture
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Transport Square sculpture
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Aerial view of Transport Square
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Aerial view of bus stops
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Transport Square Precint
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Link between Transport Square and Stadium Square
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Link between Transport Square and Stadium Square
Newtown Landscape Architects-Ellis Park Sport Precinct
Link between Transport Square and Stadium Square

Ellis Park Sport Precinct

Design Company: Newtown Landscape Architects cc

Chief Designer: Johan Barnard

Design Team:
Ida Breed
Christa Otto
Susannah Patrocinio
Pierre Brits

Client: Johannesburg Development Agency

Project Manager: Archway Projects
Professional Team:
Albonica Sack Mzumara Architects and Urban designers
MMA Architects
Temba Consulting
UWP Consulting
Walker Mare Quantity Surveyors
Selanya Consulting Engineers

Contractors:
Rainbow Construction
Glash Joint Venture
Earthforce Landscapes

Photography:
Christa Otto
Johann Matthysen
MMA Architects

About Damian Holmes 3253 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/