KEIM Projects That Shape Public Life Around the World
- Jun 24
- 6 min read
Some buildings are more than buildings.
They become meeting places. Landmarks. Cultural symbols. Places people travel to, work in, learn in, heal in and remember. They sit in the public eye, exposed not only to weather, pollution and time, but also to the expectations of the communities who use them.
This is where material choice matters.
Across the world, KEIM mineral paints and coating systems have been used on projects where architecture needs to do more than look good on opening day. These are buildings designed to last, to hold their colour, to protect their surfaces and to contribute to places of enduring architectural value.
From Singapore’s skyline to Cape Town’s cultural waterfront, from Madrid’s historic squares to major transport hubs in the Middle East, KEIM’s project references show the same idea repeated in very different ways: when a surface becomes part of a building’s identity, it deserves a finish with permanence.
Landmark architecture under pressure
Few projects demonstrate architectural visibility quite like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Designed by Moshe Safdie Architects, the resort has become one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the world. Three 55-storey towers, an expansive rooftop garden, theatres, restaurants, retail, conference spaces and the iconic infinity pool all combine to create a landmark that attracts millions of visitors each year.
In a project of this scale, the surface is not secondary. It is part of the experience. The building exists in a tropical, humid climate and is photographed constantly from every angle. For landmark architecture like this, durability, colour stability and long-term visual quality become essential to the life of the building.
The same can be said for Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. More than a racetrack, it is a full architectural environment designed for the international stage. Grandstands, VIP areas, media centres, paddock facilities and surrounding infrastructure all sit within one of the most demanding climates in the world. Here, architecture must perform under heat, light, movement and spectacle. The result is a project where the finish needs to support both design intent and long-term exposure.
At Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, the architectural challenge is different again. The terminal’s sweeping roof form references sand dunes and geometric patterns, creating a building that is both highly functional and deeply connected to its cultural and natural context. Airports are among the most heavily used public buildings in the world. Their surfaces need to withstand constant movement, changing light and intense environmental conditions while still contributing to a calm, memorable passenger experience.
Adaptive reuse with architectural ambition
Some of the world’s most impressive KEIM projects are not new buildings at all, but transformations of existing ones.
In Cape Town, Zeitz MOCAA turned a historic grain silo into a museum for contemporary African art. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the building’s concrete structure was carved open to create a dramatic atrium with an almost cathedral-like quality. The project is a powerful example of adaptive reuse: retaining the memory of the industrial structure while giving it a completely new cultural purpose.
For a building like this, the surface treatment has to respect the original material while supporting the new architectural vision. KEIM Concretal was used to treat the new concrete so it met the planners’ requirements, helping old and new elements sit together with clarity and strength.
In London, Battersea Power Station tells another story of transformation. Once a coal-fired power station supplying a significant share of the city’s electricity, the building has been reimagined as a residential, retail and commercial precinct. Its four chimneys and monumental brick form remain one of London’s great industrial landmarks.
The scale of the redevelopment is enormous, but its success depends on something more delicate: preserving the building’s original character while adapting it for contemporary use. Projects like Battersea demonstrate how restoration and reinvention can work together when the right materials are chosen.
In Madrid, Plaza Mayor shows the value of longevity in a very different setting. The square dates back to the 16th century, and the Casa de la Panadería has long been known for its decorative façade. During restoration, KEIM decorative paints were used on the mural by artist Carlos Franco, while surrounding façades were later finished with KEIM Soldalit. The result is a public space where colour, history and daily city life continue to sit together beautifully.
Cultural places that carry meaning
Cultural architecture carries a particular responsibility. It is often asked to protect memory, support public gathering and create a strong emotional experience.
The Czech National Museum in Prague is one such example. Built between 1885 and 1891, the neo-Renaissance building underwent a significant restoration in which KEIM technical experts tested samples, colours, opacity, appearance and material behaviour. The project was not simply about repainting a façade. It was about returning one of Prague’s most important buildings to its former presence on Wenceslas Square.
In Poland, the Jahrhunderthalle in Wrocław represents another kind of architectural significance. Completed in 1913 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hall was a major achievement in modern engineering, with a vast dome that was groundbreaking for its time. Buildings of this calibre remind us that preservation is not only about age. It is about protecting ideas, construction methods and cultural achievements that continue to influence architecture today.
Then there is Hunters Point Library in Queens, New York, designed by Steven Holl Architects. Smaller in scale than many global landmarks, it still holds immense public presence. Set on the banks of the East River, the building stands apart from the surrounding high-rise landscape through its sculptural form and silvery façade. It is a reminder that civic architecture does not need to be massive to be memorable. Sometimes, the most powerful public buildings are those that bring beauty and usefulness into everyday life.
Places designed for people
KEIM’s most impressive projects are not only defined by size, fame or location. Many are impressive because of the way they support human experience.
At the French International School in Hong Kong, designed by Henning Larsen Architects, a colourful façade of 627 tiles filters sunlight through the campus. The result is an educational environment that feels innovative, expressive and connected to the needs of future learning. Colour is not decoration here. It plays a role in atmosphere, orientation and identity.
In Australia, Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Melbourne uses colour and façade design to support a new approach to healthcare architecture. The building was designed to provide orientation, increase wellbeing and help reduce stress for patients and visitors. This is where the role of architecture becomes deeply human. A façade can influence how people feel before they even enter a building.
The Royal Hobart Hospital follows a similar principle. Completed in 2020, the project forms part of a new generation of Australian hospital design, with architecture that considers patients, families and staff. Its surfaces, colours, artwork and connection to place all contribute to an environment designed around wellbeing.
These projects show that material performance is not only technical. It is emotional, too. A long-lasting colour, a breathable coating system and a carefully considered surface can all contribute to a building that feels calmer, clearer and more enduring.
Sustainability made visible
Many of KEIM’s standout global projects also reflect the growing importance of sustainable construction.
Marina One in Singapore brings together four towers around a central three-dimensional garden, creating a “Green Heart” in the middle of a dense urban environment. The project combines working, living and recreation, with glass, steel and certified green concrete used throughout the development. In humid tropical conditions, protecting the longevity of concrete is a major consideration. It is a project that demonstrates how sustainability, density and architecture can work together in a major city.
The Weleda Cradle Campus in Germany takes sustainability in another direction. The project uses rammed earth, clay plaster and timber, with wooden façades treated using KEIM Lignosil-Verano pre-greying glaze. It is a strong example of how natural materials and contemporary performance standards can align. Rather than hiding sustainability behind the scenes, the building expresses it through its materiality.
At Franklin Village in Mannheim, designed by Sauerbruch Hutton, KEIM Lignosil-Color was used on colourful timber pergolas that give the residential development a distinct identity. The project shows how colour can support social quality, atmosphere and belonging within a larger urban housing context.
Why these projects matter
What connects these projects is not a single style, country or building type.
It is the level of expectation placed on the architecture.
These are buildings that need to withstand demanding climates. Buildings that need to retain their design integrity over time. Buildings that form part of civic identity, cultural memory, tourism, education, healthcare and everyday public life.
KEIM’s global project references show that mineral paints are not only chosen for restoration or heritage work. They are used across contemporary architecture, infrastructure, cultural buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools, housing and high-performance public spaces.
The common thread is longevity.
When a building is designed to be seen, remembered and used by thousands or even millions of people, its surface matters. Colour matters. Breathability matters. Durability matters. The finish is not the final layer of the project. It is part of the architecture’s future.
That is what makes KEIM’s most impressive projects so compelling. They are not simply beautiful buildings. They are places with pressure on them — from climate, history, public use and time.
And they show what is possible when architecture is finished with materials made to endure.
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