Marina One in Singapore opened in 2018 and leads the way in addressing issues such as overpopulation and climate change. The complex for working and living consists of four skyscrapers framing a central three-dimensional garden. It is constructed of glass, steel and certified green concrete. Guaranteeing the durability of the concrete in the humid tropical climate is a challenge for large-scale projects of this kind.
Facade Materials
The exterior façade is distinguished by a combination of highly transparent glass and horizontal louvers. The certified green concrete was used for the design of the courtyard and the green center which is shown off in large, striking columns in the interior and various green terraces. Concrete is a trending building material and the special aesthetics of exposed concrete are especially appreciated by planners, designers, and building owners.
Concrete Protection
Exposed concrete is a mineral product that can dry out differently over a single façade leaving it stained and patchy. Over time the weather attacks the concrete surface, penetrating it with water and pollutants. Moss and algae growth lead to further visual defects. KEIM mineral paints were brought in to protect the concrete.
Unlike synthetic-based coatings, silicate materials do not form a film on the concrete surface. The binding agent potassium water glass reacts chemically with the surface and bonds inseparably with it through a process called silicification. This strengthens the concrete surface and provides increased protection against weathering and wear. In addition, mineral coatings emphasize rather than cover the natural concrete structure. This is particularly true when the coating is applied as a semi-transparent finish. Mineral paints and glazes retain the character of the material even in the case of color design and offer considerably more flexibility than coloring the concrete.
Use of Mineral Paint
On the large columns and walls inside the building and all visible concrete surfaces in the inner courtyard, KEIMConcretal-Lasur (also called mineral stain) a sol-silicate based, thin layer coating for concrete emphasizes the natural character of the concrete and at the same time provides additional weathering protection. KEIMmineral paints can be tweaked to produce different design options from highly translucent to covering finishes.
The Concretal-Lasur glaze provides a color shade that was diluted with Concretal-Fixativ at a ratio of one to eight. The right mixing ratio was imperative to achieve concrete that looks much more uniform, but still natural. The final finish is transparent but a little cloudy so that the concrete does not look painted. Due to the high humidity in Singapore, processors also applied KEIMSilan 100, a hydrophobic coating under the grey-black mixture of Concretal-Lasur and dilution.
Challenges
A good two years were spent only painting sections. The craftsmen applied a total of 2,000 liters of Silan 100 as a hydrophobing agent and 12,000 liters of Concretal-Lasur with small rollers and in some cases even worked with a natural sponge. This was done floor by floor and on small scaffolds.
Consistency Over Time
The area in Singapore will continue to develop, in ten, twenty, maybe even 25 years the Marina One project may have been pushed into the middle of an expanded Central Business District. Only then, in about twenty years time, may it be necessary to repeat the concrete coating because the KEIMmineral paints are very durable and don't require maintenance.
Project Data
| Building owner | M+S Pte Ltd., Singapore, a company of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Temasek Holdings, Singapore |
| Architect | Ingenhoven architects Gmbh, Düsseldorf |
| Provider | KEIMFARBEN GmbH, Diedorf |
| Products | |
