Mpumalanga, March 2007
Owner: Department of Public Works
Engineer: Ilanga Africa Engineering
Architect: Dietrich Ungerer
Contractor: Lumkani Construction
Manufacturer: Technicrete – White River
Product: Diamond Maxi – tan – 222 X 96 – 73 MM thick
On Sunday, 19 October 1986, the Tupolev Tu 134 carrying President Samora Machel of Mozambique and his companions crashed at Mbuzini in the Lembombo Mountains while returning to Mozambique.
For the memorial museum to the late Mozambique president, Samora Machel, designers conceived an open surrounding brick-faced structure which would pay due respects to this African leader – dignified and in keeping with the history of the man without being unnecessarily somber. Thirty Five steel tubes symbolizing the numbers of lives lost in the air crash cast long shadows over the base and the wind causes permanent whisperings through incisions in the pillars.
For this structure, Technicrete’s diamond-faced Concor Maxi Brick was selected, in a tan colour, its bevelled face edges echoing the changing tones of the surrounding Mpumalanga landscape.
