Part of the Project
The #ArchForArch is Design Indaba’s tribute to the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a struggle stalwart who still gives hope to the people of South Africa and around the world.
In the first episode the Design Indaba team visited Archbishop Desmond Tutu's hometown in Klerksdorp. In this episode the team went to Vilakazi Street, a historic street in Soweto, to get a sense of the Archbishop’s enduring legacy ahead of the launch of the physical monument in his honour in the famus street where he once lived.
The project celebrates its namesake Tutu (lovingly nicknamed “the Arch”), and its design is meant to be a physical representation of his strength and resilient humanity.
I’s creators Snøhetta co-founder Craig Dykers who was supported by Johannesburg-based architect Thomas Chapman, presented a model on stage at the finale of the Design Indaba Conference 2016.
The structure consists of 14 individual arched beams of wood, together forming a dome. Each strand of wood represents a line from the South African Constitution’s preamble, signifying the founding principles on which the country is built.
A version of the Arch for Arch structure has been installed near St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town and launched on 7 October 2017 to coincide with Tutu’s 86th birthday.
Another will be installed at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 10 December 2017 to coincide with the 21st anniversary of the South African Constitution.
The Arch for Arch project was completed with the generous help of Design Indaba sponsor Liberty.
