Background of the Project
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, located in Cape Town, South Africa, is an architectural marvel designed by Heatherwick Studios. This museum transformed a historic grain silo building into a contemporary art gallery showcasing the talents of African artists from the 21st Century. Originally built in 1921-24, the silos stood tall at over 55m, dominating the Cape Town skyline with their 42 vertical cylinders.
Architectural Challenges and Strategies
The unique cylindrical structure of the silo building posed challenges for traditional art display requirements. To create a functional gallery space, two strategies were employed. First, internal partitions were removed to create 80 functional rectangular exhibition halls. Second, an atrium was carved out through a cluster of silo volumes, necessitating technical solutions to maintain structural and aesthetic harmony.
Technical Resolutions with KEIM Mineral Paint
The thin walls of the original silos required reinforcement with an additional 420mm of material to support the atrium void. KEIM mineral products were selected to rectify and enhance the internal surfaces. Unevenness was corrected by leveling out surfaces, removing projections, filling recesses, and rectifying defects. The application of KEIM Concretal-Lasur, a mineral glaze, preserved the concrete’s natural structure while providing a uniform appearance.
Restoration Process
The restoration process involved pre-wetting walls, applying a release agent to remove residues, and then applying KEIM Concretal-Lasur. This thin-layer glaze allowed for an exact color match, resulting in 4,500 square meters of restored concrete appearing natural and raw. The flexibility of KEIM Concretal-Lasur ensured the architects’ vision for the unique space was realized.
KEIM Products Used
- KEIM Betonschnellreiniger (Concrete cleaner)
- KEIM Concretal-MKH
- KEIM Concretal-Feinspachtel (Fine filler)
- KEIM Concretal Mörtel-R (Mortar)
- KEIM Concretal-Lasur
- KEIM Concretal-Base resp. KEIM Concretal-Fixativ (Dilutions)
Suitable Materials
The KEIM mineral paint system was particularly suited for concrete surfaces, providing not only aesthetic enhancements but also structural integrity and longevity to the renovated space at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art.
