Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto

PROJECT INFORMATIOn

Client: Nike South Africa Type: Completed Project
Project Value: Confidential
Completion: July 2010
Address: Klipspruit, Soweto, Johannesburg       In Association with: Nike Design Team – Andy Walker(Nike Brand Manager); RUF Project – Sean Pearson (Design Architect); Ruben Reddy Architects   

The Football Training Centre. Soweto (FTC.S) was an existing football training ground for approximately 1200 youth clubs under the administration of Soweto Football Association. The objective for the new centre was to refurbish the centre and transform it into a state of the art high-performance and life skills centre for the development of football, particularly for the youth in Soweto. The facility has now become the most successful and utilized venue for International Youth soccer competitions in South Africa.

The concept for the building was developed as a unique, ‘high-end design’ but appropriate and well integrated into the SOWETO environment. For this reason natural materials, a combination of sandstone cladding, gabion walls and timber, were found to be appropriate. Timber screens on the facade were added to soften the robust exterior materials.

See article on Dezeen about the Nike Soweto Football Stadium here

This interior project in collaboration with Nike Architects, Ruf Projects and Umdasch Interiors, required an identifiable representation of the iconic brand, but also a sensitivity and relevance to the township context.  Graphics, finishes and artworks were selected to have high visual impact whilst also being robust and user friendly. 

The main exhibition/social space was designed to accommodate visitors and trainees at the centre, in an informal aspirational environment, where access to technology , information and football related paraphernalia are provided.  The Nike Football centre brings design excellence and world class quality to the historically disadvantaged township setting.