Durban ICC

1998
Durban, KwaZulu Natal

Stauch Vorster Architects - Durban, in assoc. Johnson Murray & Hallen Custers Smith
Team: Ivor Daniel, Cedric Richards, John Ferendinos, Andrew Murray, Lance Smith

The Durban International Convention Centre was conceived as a flexible multi-purpose venue capable of hosting international, national and local events within a single integrated facility. Designed to accommodate conferences of up to 1,800 delegates and multi-purpose gatherings of up to 3,500 people, the project established a major civic and economic catalyst for Durban’s growing role as a global conference destination.

The challenge lay in creating a building of substantial scale and technical complexity while maintaining a strong public presence and a human-scaled experience for delegates and visitors. Large-span auditoria, exhibition halls, extensive servicing infrastructure and significant parking requirements needed to be carefully integrated within a cohesive architectural form.

The design organised the centre as a series of large-volume spaces concealed beneath an undulating roof scape that reduces the apparent scale of the building at its edges. Aluminium roof sheeting spanning steel trusses shelters the major halls, while a sweeping verandah element wraps the public circulation spaces, creating shaded transitional zones between interior and exterior. Extensive glazing encloses foyers and public areas, encouraging visual connection and interaction with the surrounding urban environment.

The completed convention centre delivers a highly adaptable civic venue that combines large-scale event infrastructure with openness, accessibility and strong public engagement. Its distinctive roof form and transparent circulation spaces have established the building as a landmark within Durban’s urban and cultural landscape.