Against The Elements
To those who are regular users of the M6 around Birmingham, Fort Dunlop is a very familiar landmark. This huge building was the main warehouse for the world renowned Dunlop motorcar tyres and employed around 15,000 people in its hay-day in the 1950’s.
Since the decline of the British tyre industry, production ceased and the building has stood idle for many years, except as an occasional larger than life poster site.
Fort Dunlop has undergone a major redevelopment programme which has now been completed as a mixed use scheme comprising retail units at ground floor, offices on floors 1-6 and a 100 bedroom hotel extension.
Developers Urban Splash with architects shedkm returned the building to its original grand façade, removing later extensions and repairing brickwork and render. They have created an urban promenade above the sixth floor introducing a central spine to incorporate the services which runs over the whole existing building and the new hotel extension.
As a key element to the new look, shedkm proposed that the lower two storey’s at retail shop level were to retain the natural concrete appearance.
After thorough testing of samples, Keim Mineral Paints were specified to unify the appearance of the concrete render and to provide a natural ‘as struck’ finish. The Keim Concretal system also met the need for enhanced carbonation protection and for longlife, cost efficient protective and decorative finish.
The Concretal system offers a radically different solution to conventional paints. Mineral paints work differently they comprise a waterborne potassium silicate binder with inorganic earth oxide colour pigments and mineral thinners. When applied to a mineral substrate they penetrate into it to form a chemical microcrystalline bond which maintains vapour permeability and also prevents the ingress of driven rain. They create a highly stable silicate structure which resists acid and alkaline attack and is inherently non-combustible ensuring extreme longlife performance. They are also environmentally friendly being VOC free, water-based, give off no unpleasant or toxic odours and use only natural earth oxide colour pigments.
They also provide anti-carbonation treatment by preventing water penetration even in the most severe exposed locations but also allowing the free passage of vapour out of the substrate, thereby helping to prevent the passage of carbon dioxide into the concrete and ensuring longlife protection for the material.
A common problem for larger buildings with significant concrete elements is the potential for visual or colour disparity. This can result from varying rates of pour, inconsistence of materials, different rates of hydration or different types of shuttering. Keim Concretal Lasur is a low pigmentation colourwash system which can overcome the problem whilst retaining the natural look and feel of the concrete. It acts as a stain which penetrates the concrete surface and forms a chemical crystalline bond to provide a longlife ‘invisible’ solution. The colour and degree of opacity can be specified to achieve the precise effect required.
Fort Dunlop will once again now be a new landmark to those using the M6 and throughout the Midlands area. It will be a significant development enhancing the area with a longlife treatment which will ensure it retains its looks for many years to come.