Venice, the Procuratie Vecchie open to the public after 500 years
Palazzo delle Procuratie Vecchie in Piazza San Marco was inaugurated on the 8th of April, open to the public for the first time in 500 years, after the restoration works designed b
JAPOMA STADIUM
CLIENT
Government of Cameroon – Ministry of Sports
ARCHITECTURE
AECOM – Sports and Venues Dept.
LOCATION
Douala – Camerun
MARKET
Sports centers and stadiums
YEAR
2017 – 2019
EXPERTISE
Operational management
FEATURES
Stadium seats: 50.000
The Japoma Stadium and its attached sports complex (including 1 indoor sports hall, 1 covered Olympic swimming pool, 2 minor football fields, and 6 tennis courts) were strongly advocated for by the Government of Cameroon, along with other facilities, to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but in reality, the facility actually hosted the 2021 edition. The stadium complies with FIFA standards and represents a truly significant project within the context of Cameroon.
Built on top of a hill, the foundation casting of the stadium required significant excavation, made very difficult by the torrential equatorial rains, which occur practically every day at all hours for about 9 months a year. The pillars also support the steel structures for the roof and the grandstand slabs, all made of prefabricated elements directly on-site.
The main difficulties during construction were encountered in sourcing high-quality materials, mainly imported from Turkey (the contractor being YENIGUN, a Turkish company). The entrance area was also equipped with a series of spaces for commerce and dining. The presidential stand is equipped with bulletproof shielding and reserved access. The construction of the stadium also involved widening the road from 2 to 4 lanes, leading to Japoma (the location of the stadium construction) from Aqwa (a neighborhood in Douala from where the country’s main road, connecting Douala and the capital Yaoundé, starts). Additionally, new power lines, water supply lines, and data connection lines were installed on this occasion.
GALLERY
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