This October, in honour of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 86th birthday, the Arch for Arch – a nine metre tall, architectural tribute to the beloved South African clergyman and freedom fighter – was unveiled in Cape Town.
This December, a smaller replica of the wooden structure will be installed at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
A former prison complex that bears testament to South Africa's turbulent past, the fitting of a second Arch in this poignant location brings together the aspects of the project that focus on the immense power of our Constitution.
Made up of 14 arched beams of wood, each strand represents a line from the South African Constitution’s preamble, highlighting the founding principles on which the country is built and Tutu’s consistent embodiment of its core values.
Collaboratively created by Snøhetta co-founder, Craig Dykers, and Johannesburg-based architect Thomas Chapman, The Arch for Arch project was completed with the generous help of Design Indaba sponsor Liberty.
Watch the video above to learn more about the structure's installation at Constitution Hill and be sure to watch episodes 1 and 2 of our #ArchForArch series.
