About Artevia

Artevia decorative concrete and Lafarge technical expertise helped to realise a unique architectural project: the 9 freedom towers of Kliptown, near Johannesburg in South Africa.  The Towers present an enlightening illustration of the power of concrete as an artistic medium.

Towers of liberty and light

A circle of 9 towers in black and white concrete illuminates the city of Kliptown with colourful lights inside and outside. Though each tower is unique, they all stand together, symbolising the 9 provinces of South Africa, each different but united as a single nation.

Working with Artevia, the French designer and light sculptor Patrick Rimoux took on a unique architectural challenge: creating a timeless and poetic open-air memorial commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.

Exceptional textures and materials

To achieve the desired aesthetic excellence, specific requirements needed to be met when choosing the materials. The artistic goal: accentuate contrast by using black and white concrete towers and coloured lights. The solution was Artevia Exposed, which added a contrast of materials thanks to the concrete's visibly gravelled surface. Lafarge technical expertise assured a flawless quality control and finish, providing seamless transitions between different materials. The result is captivating, as the nine monoliths are identical to their creator's design; poetic and timeless.

Extraordinary materials

The materials used in this project, including translucent white quartzite from Lafarge quarries in Port Elizabeth (South Africa) and white cement provided by Lafarge Spain, allowed a perfect union of creative freedom and durability