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Concrete panels display Ghandi's messages at Satyagraha House
In a project that epitomises Pretoria Portland Cement's (PPC) 'Our Strength, Your Vision' concept, a local sculptor, Sybrand Wiechers, pushed the limits of cement usage to new heights when he created massive concrete panels displaying messages by Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi for Satyagraha House in Orchards, Johannesburg.
Satyagraha House, a heritage site that was home to Gandhi from 1908 to 1909, combines a guesthouse and museum in a self-sustainable, unique accommodation concept. It was recently restored to preserve an important page in South Africa and Gandhi's history.
Wiechers was selected for his special interest in concrete. His accolade includes the PPC Young Concrete Sculptor Awards (YCSA) Technical Excellence winner in 2006, and was an exhibitor at an exhibition of works by past winners in honour of the competition's 20th anniversary held this year, with the piece, 'Concrete Growth', which he constructed with the assistance of Santie Gouws, amateur sculptor and qualified concrete technologist.
Although detailed, Wiechers says the panels reflect the simplicity and honesty of the life that Gandhi led. "Using cement as the medium to create these panels seemed appropriate and I believe the end result is both beautiful and meaningful," he says.
Technical requirements had to be considered
Gouws designed the concrete mix for the panels, which demonstrates a technical approach combined with creativity to bringing the message of Gandhi to life. "It's all about using less, but achieving the same or an even more aesthetically pleasing result," she says.
Producing the panels pushed the limits in terms of the use of cement in concrete. "There were certain technical requirements relating to the colour, thickness and depth of lettering that had to be considered. We also had to be able to transport the panels without damaging them," says Gouws.
Cement, containing fly-ash, was used to create the smooth finish on the panels, as well as super-sand from PPC's Mooiplaas Quarry in Pretoria. "We used the super-sand for its consistency as well as its colour - the sand contains a lot of dolomite, resulting in the concrete having a smooth finish and dark-grey appearance," says Gouws.
The panels now stand proud on the exterior walls of Satyagraha House. They will endure for many years to come, as has Gandhi's legacy. "They are also testimony to the incredible versatility of concrete - and that if you can imagine it, you can do it," says Gouws.
