African Design Magazine August 2016 | Page 30

African project Matola Raid Monument – Mozambique Interpretive Centre The Interpretive Centre is orientated East/West. The raid is associated with the sunset to the west and the later emergence of a free South Africa symbolically represented by the sunrise to the east. Internally, a ramp slopes down into the darkened exhibition hall remembering the descent of the freedom fighters underground while the exit ramp emerges upward into the light and the new South Africa. The sun screen is “slashed” representing the effect of explosions on the houses under attack during the raid and allowing flashes of light into the building in deliberately unstructured patterns. The first floor is intended to serve the community which was affected by the raid and provides a place for internet workstations for use by learners. Rene Turck & Associates, specialists in functional aluminium and glass cladding, were responsible for the aluminium cladding and the kraal-look sun screen. Click to enlarge images