The Imprint - South Korea
- lumodesignstudios
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
PROJECT SUMMARY:
KEIM Products: | KEIM Royalan |
Location: | Paradise City, Incheon, South Korea |
Architects: | |
Photography: | Ossip Architectuur Fotografie |
Client: | Paradise Segasammy Co., Ltd. |
A Golden Welcome to South Korea.
Visible even from the sky, The Imprint in Incheon is a work of bold theatricality, a pair of radiant cubes that greet every arriving passenger as they descend into Seoul’s international gateway. Designed by acclaimed Dutch architects MVRDV, the project forms part of Paradise City, a sprawling resort complex that brings together entertainment, art, and hospitality.
"The design’s most eye-catching feature, is its golden spot, a vast, circular section of the nightclub’s façade finished in KEIM Royalan Gold."
Originally intended to be white, the decision to coat the surface in gold transformed the building into a landmark. From above, the golden circle forms a radiant disc visible to aircraft approaching Incheon International Airport, a contemporary sunbeam welcoming visitors to South Korea.
At night, the illusion intensifies. While the white façades are lit from below to emphasise their sculptural relief, the golden façade glows from above, shimmering like morning light breaking through darkness.
The façade’s transformation was a feat of craftsmanship. More than 3,800 unique panels were fabricated and installed by Korean façade specialists Tec-Wall. The complex geometry, full of folds, joints, and reliefs, demanded a coating system that could deliver uniform colour, durability, and depth of tone.
Why KEIM Royalan:
KEIM Royalan was selected for its proven performance in tropical and coastal climates.
Key Product Benefits:
100% mineral-based formulation
Vapour-permeable and water-repellent
Lightfast and colour-stable for decades
Free from solvents and plasticisers
Provides a mineral matte finish that enhances architectural relief
Application:
Applied directly onto concrete panels using rollers and joint brushes
Detail work ensured seamless coverage across folds and projections
Painters worked without scaffolding, suspended by ropes from the eaves
Sustainability
The Imprint embodies the enduring sustainability at the heart of KEIM. KEIM Royalan is not just mineral-based and long-lasting; it is part of a Cradle to Cradle Certified® system. This means that its materials and production processes meet the highest global standards for circularity, environmental safety, and social responsibility.
Unlike synthetic paints, KEIM’s mineral silicate coatings bond chemically with the substrate, forming a rock-like layer that resists fading, peeling, and weathering for decades. The result is colour that remains vibrant and façades that stay clean and breathable, perfectly aligned with KEIM’s philosophy of creating surfaces that are as sustainable as they are spectacular.
Through durability, ecological integrity, and timeless design, KEIM helps ensure that this golden symbol of South Korea’s creative spirit will shine for decades to come.
