About Artevia

Early in 2008 Hull City Council enquired about the supply of decorative concrete to be used in a water feature in East Park Hull, the councils architect were looking for a slight exposed aggregate finish to give grip as children paddle and play in and around the water feature.

The aggregate initially sourced and chosen was from the south of England involving long distance haulage into Hull, so the Lafarge Readymix team produced various samples using 10mm Trent Valley aggregate against different integral Artevia™ colours. A mix was eventually selected to give a beach like appearance to this project.

C Spencers of Humberside laid over 400m³ of Artevia™ Exposed concrete, to various falls as an undulating feature with a natural appearance. During placing a native peacock walked across an area of the freshly placed concrete. A site meeting was called to decide on remedial action, however, the architect and council decided it was an attractive additional feature and left them in place.   Hull City Council were impressed with the Artevia™ Concrete solution and are in discussions with Lafarge Readymix about other concrete innovations.

The water feature was opened in the spring of 2009 to the delight of local adults and children in the Hull area.

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

They had a dream

The spectacular 20-metre-high sculpture, portraying the head of a girl with her eyes closed, is the artist's response to a brief developed through conversations with ex-miners and members of the wider local community. The aim was to create a piece that looked forward as well as back and created a beautiful, contemplative space for future generations. Dream is fabricated in pre-cast concrete, with a white, almost luminescent finish of white marble and concrete aggregate, in marked contrast to the black of the coal that still lies below.

Extraordinary materials

Lafarge supplied concrete to Evans with a mix, containing white cement, 0-2mm Spanish Dolomite fines, 8-12mm Spanish Dolomite Course Aggregate, Anatiase Titanium Dioxide, Strux 90/40 fibres and ADVA 560 additive. 

Pinxton Readymix plant was set up with all the correct materials and designated solely to supply the project.  Over a 10 week period over 200m of concrete was batched and supplied to Evans, with one or two pours a day, a dedicated truck and technical assistance to make sure the concrete made it in perfect condition to the bespoke disposable moulds.

The work has been shortlisted for the Marsh Sculpture Prize, an annual award for the best public sculpture of the year. The winner of the prize will be announced in November.

The Big Art Project in St.Helens is being delivered by St.Helens Council in partnership with Arts Council England and the Art Fund. It is also supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the European Regional Development Fund, the Forestry Commission, the St.Helens Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, and the Northwest Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme. No council-tax money is involved.