The Statue of Freedom finalists
8 June 2005
Washington has its Lincoln Memorial, Paris its Arc de Triomphe, Rio its Christ the Redeemer, Delhi its Gandhi Memorial.
Now the Statue of Freedom for Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape is one step closer to completion, with two finalists selected for a structure that will express the spirit of freedom and celebrate the life and work of Nelson Mandela.
The two designs, selected out of 107 entries, are by the Aloeides Clarki Consortium and Equilibrium Studio Architects. A third finalist, Mashabane Rose Architects, had to withdraw from the competion because they had submitted a similar design for the Freedom Park in Tshwane.
The Mandela Bay Development Agency launched the competition for the statue in January. Designs had to be for a structure up to 100 metres high that would cost no more than R50-million to build and be complete no later than 27 April 2009 - the 15th anniversary of South Africa's first democratic elections.
The
finalists were chosen by a panel headed by Constitutional Court Judge Albie Sachs. The winner will be announced on 18 July, Mandela's 87th birthday.
According to its designers, Equilibrium Architect's statue is to be "a tower-like habitable structure, the base depicting the start of Nelson Mandela's journey, leading up to a Freedom platform representing the first democratic elections, where visitors can pause for a view in all directions.
"It will also be a distinctive landmark, visible at long distance from sea and land."
The Aloeides Clarki Consortium design is in a butterfly shape, stretching out to sea, topped with a statue of Mandela, arms raised. "The butterfly," the consortium explains in its motivation, "is a
symbol for the concept of freedom.
"The vertical structures and buildings will consist of roughened grey concrete walls outside and inside, with concrete floors, stone stairways and minimal windows portraying a minimalist construction building aligning to the effect that apartheid structures were born of incarceration."
The Statue of Freedom is intended as a catalyst for the revitalisation of Port Elizabeth, which is part of the Nelson Mandela Metro. The structure will form a focus for the redevelopment of the harbour area, and will link the port to the city.
The statue will stand where the harbour meets the beach at its most seaward point, where it will be visible from aircraft, ships and the main land routes in and around the shore-front. It will form part of a planned Freedom Precinct that will include a Museum of Freedom,
restaurants, shops and a children's centre.
History of an idea
The idea of an iconic monument to freedom in South Africa originated with a 1997 proposal by a group of Port Elizabeth businessmen to erect a 55-metre-high statue of Nelson Mandela in Port Elizabeth.
This idea was since developed, subjected to a rigorous feasibility study, incorporated into the city's planning, and finally adopted as a key early project of the recently formed Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA).
"While the concept of a giant statue of [Mandela] has helped bring the project this far, we decided to challenge all creative South Africans to present their designs for the Statue of Freedom in order to create something really special," MBDA head Pierre Voges Voges said at the launch of the competition in January.
Judge Sachs added: "What
we are looking for is a structure that reflects the spirit of freedom and celebrates the life, work and stature of Nelson Mandela." Sachs was responsible for the collection of South African art at the Constitutional Court.
According to Freedom Enterprises CEO Mandla Madwara, an independent feasibility study by a consortium led by Atos KPMG Consulting "showed that a bold tribute to freedom would attract between one and two thousand visitors a day, with the creation of over a thousand jobs and additional revenues for the metro of around R366-million".
The Long Walk to Freedom
According to Equilibrium, the Long Walk to Freedom statue tower would "depict Nelson Mandela's journey as an experience for the visitor.
"At all points in Mandela's journey, his experiences would be portrayed in relation to historical South
African and international events, with each level depicting a historical milestone to the top viewing level," the consortium says in its concept report.
"The tower is simply constructed from spirally laid hollow blocks, stacked in a regular off-set pattern, to create the route up to the Freedom platform. Pedestrians will have stairs, with a lift-shaft up the core axis.
"The structure should have the appearance of a crafted object, with relevance to indigenous handwork, examples being baskets, woven screens, dry-packed stone walls, Zulu huts and the like. The components should be uncomplicated."
According to the competition judges, Equilibrium's tower "would have a strong iconic presence and would actively engage visitors.
"The ascent from darkness to light would be immediately understandable," the judges found. "The layered progression of the freedom struggle would be strongly represented in the structure.
"The potential exists for beautiful and changing
vistas of the sea and surrounding areas. The volumes would also lend themselves to incorporating historical, artistic and craft materials."
The Butterfly
"From the very essence of the structure, the consortium conceptualised the very nature of what freedom stands for - the opening of opportunities, the spreading of wings - in a coherent nature where all the elements of the earth will be portrayed," the Aloeides Clarki Consortium says in its concept report.
"The utilisation of two separate wing structures emanating from the ground up to the sky, in total cohesion with one another, centered on the Ibhabhathane [butterfly].
"Everything arcs from the centre, where there are contemplation areas creating a spiritual and soul-filled environment where mankind can reflect.
"It will be significant in stature, in design,
in its politics, its symbolism, and for the reason it is to be built."
In assessing the Butterfly, the judges found that it would have a "striking, accessible, expressive and understandable presence". They liked the idea of the 27-stage walk up to a viewing platform overlooking the sea with a statue of freedom marking the end-point of the journey.
"Supporters also liked the butterfly concept, which balanced out the projecting curved wall with a curved building (liberation wing) which would provide a gateway entrance. Together with that, they appreciated the centerpiece and the platform jutting out to the sea."
At the same time, the judges raised the question of whether the statue "could not be made more prominent."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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