The Arch for the Arch is a collaborative architectural structure conceived of and constructed in commemoration of one of South Africa’s most beloved and revered figures: the Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Designed by Snøhetta and Johannesburg-based Local Studio, in collaboration with Design Indaba, the engineers at Hatch, and generously supported by Liberty, the Arch for Arch consists of 14 intertwined strands of bent Larch wood. A nod to the South African Constitution’s preamble – which consists of 14 lines – the work also serves as both a tribute to Tutu and to the founding principles upon which the democratic South Africa was built.
The monument will be unveiled in Cape Town on 7 October, coinciding with Tutu’s 86th birthday. A replica will be unveiled in Johannesburg in December.
Take a look at the unveiling video here.
Take a look at the build up video here.