Bristol Fashion From Keim

Cabot Circus in the heart of Bristol opened in September 2008 and creates a spectacular gateway to Britain's fastest growing cities. The £500 million development introduces new build with a diverse mix of architectural styles that seamlessly connects with the existing city centre, whilst retaining important historical buildings.

The scheme incorporates a European style piazza of Quakers Friars which contains a Quakers meeting house a built in 1747, now a Grade I Listed Building and two Dominical friary medieval halls.  The structure and framework is mainly original and intact.  This particular part of the Cabot Circus renovation is situated alongside the new main retail centre and has been sympathetically renovated as befits a historically important link to Bristol's heritage.

The Quakers Friars regeneration has been designed by architect Alec French and comprises five separate buildings, of which two are scheduled medieval ancient monuments including the original meeting house.

Restoration has been carried out under the watchful eye of English Heritage and Keim Mineral Paints have been used to provide the most compatible appearance to the limewash which was the original 18^th Century finish.  In addition, the high opacity of the Keim Granital system has effectively unified the various renders and repairs to the exterior façade.  Specified by specialist historic buildings conservation consultants Philip Hughes Associates, Keim Mineral Paints overcome the difficulties of the old limewashes as they do not rub off and are suited to a wide variety of substrates.

Keim paints are also truly sustainable and offer environmental properties not available with petrol chemical based products.  They are breathable, allowing any moisture in the substrate to pass out without blowing off the paint itself.  They are waterbased, solvent and VOC free and non-allergenic as well as being resistant to pollution and to attack by acid and alkaline.

Keim Granital is a high performance coating system with proven durability delivering whole life savings compared to conventional masonry paints.  It comprises a potassium silicate binder with inorganic mineral fillers and natural earth oxide colour pigments.  The paint forms a chemical microcrystalline bond with the substrate becoming an integral part of the surface to ensure an extremely longlife protective finish.  It eliminates the need for regular redecoration and allows moisture vapour to pass through it whilst preventing the ingress of driven rain.

In its latest reincarnation, the Quakers Friars redevelopment is now home to Brassiere Blanc and offers a Brassiere, two kitchens and three function rooms, one of which features a timber roof which is reputed to be the oldest in Bristol.  It is now protected by a longlife paint treatment which replicates the original look and proudly takes its place as one side of a new square offering a congenial oasis alongside the main centre.

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