Midas Earthcote Project: Greening the Park

MIDAS PROJECT: Greening Radisson Park Inn

The new Park Inn by Radisson on Cape Town’s Foreshore is conveniently located for delegates attending events at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Given the location, guests can also walk to the V&A Waterfront and business travelers are in walking distance to a number of corporate headquarters. This contemporary hotel is as modern and luxurious as it is practical and convenient. It was important that the finishes be chosen to match the modern, innovation led approach. The project was a revamp of a period building and certain old walls needed careful finishing.

Midas Earthcote Project: Greening Radisson Park Inn

The Park Inn hotel by Radisson

As with any leisure or hospitality project, constant occupancy and guest comfort is key. The hotel needed to be guest-friendly and habitable as soon as possible after painting, so fume-free paints and finishes were called for. Midas was responsible for supplying paint – environmentally friendly Midas Earthcote DTE Matt, a Zero VOC formulation. This is known to be better for people who suffer from chemical sensitivities, better for paint crews working on the project and better for the planet.

The architect responsible was Paul Luck of Lightspace Architects. “The Park Inn hotel brand is one which incorporates bold colours in much of its branding and general hotel operating equipment, such as their logo signage, uniforms, and décor accents”, said Paul Luck. “The brief was to incorporate bold flashes of colour to reflect the brand identity. We used Midas Earthcote colour in certain areas to offset from the general tones of whites and greys.”

From an aesthetic point of view, the architects wanted to avoid sheen finishes on walls, as they tend to highlight poor plasterwork and detract from the quality of the furnishings. “The reflections on the wall surface become the feature, and when this is not even or consistent, the effect looks disturbing. We chose Midas Earthcote’s DTE Matt to give a gentle, even backdrop for our features, whilst offering an easily maintainable surface,” said Paul.

The eco formulation was the clincher. “If we do not change our thinking, this earth will stand no chance. We endeavour to specify ‘sustainable’ products and construction techniques wherever possible, as part of our commitment to the planet.”

MIDAS EARTHCOTE DTE MATT: A Zero VOC water-based ultra matt formulation that minimizes light reflection on walls, whilst limiting environmental impact. Better for air quality, Midas Earthcote Zero VOC acrylic does not contain those raw materials in paint that are potentially harmful to human health. It is also free from Glycol, Formaldehyde and APEO.

** More Midas Earthcote Special Projects **

Paint & Place makes donation to Kangaroo Mother Care Ward

DONATION: To Kangaroo Mother Care Ward

WYNEBERG Paint & Place owner, Marc Thom, made a generous donation of paint to the Kangaroo Mother Care Ward of the Karl Bremer hospital in Bellville. The ward in mention cares for premature babies but was in dire need of some maintenance care as well.

“I know Ofelia Abrahams, from Pick ‘n Pay Hyper in Brackenfell, who is in charge of community upliftment in the area”, said Thom. “She mentioned that the Kangeroo Mother Care Ward was in need of some uplifting itself and I thought I might be able to help.”

Donation to Karl Bremmer hospital.

Marc Thom went out to assess the needs of the ward and specified paint from the Midas Envirolite Range containing ZERO volatile organic compounds (the bad stuff). “It was important that environmentally friendly paints were selected for revamping the ward as it houses premature babies”, said Marc.

Marc Thom donated enough Paint & Place supplies to repaint the entire Kangaroo Mother Care Ward, including all the bathroom walls, cubicles, doors and cabinets.

The painting of the ward was done by a group of volunteers who work at the Pick n Pay Hyper in Brackenfell. Ofelia Abrahams and others were hugely grateful for Marc’s generous donation, which coincided with a donation of paint vouchers to a School Golf Day organized by Pick ‘n Pay Hyper. In thanking him, Ofelia wrote, “Wow! THANK YOU so much for your fantastic contribution at a moment’s notice towards the Paarl School Golf Day.”

The new paint job at the Karl Bremer Hospital has made a significant difference and Paint & Place wishes to thank Marc Thom for his generous donation.

• Click here to see some before and after pics
  of the Kangaroo Mother Care Ward

Midas Earthcote Pigment & Tinting Technology

ENDURING BLUES: Colourfast Pigment & Tinting Technology and Allan Gray

At a time when taupe, stone, grey and white defined the colour palette of the urban landscape, we admired how Allan Gray departed from convention in deciding to use blue when it relocated its HQ to the V&A Waterfront.

Next to the ocean, blues look fresh and confident. However, they are seldom recommended by specifiers because the blue pigments in paint tend to be unstable and can be prone to fading.

Pigment and tinting technology is an area that is constantly changing. In consultation with ICC, Midas Earthcote have developed technologically advanced blue oxides that offer a high degree of fade-resistance when exposed to UV rays. Midas Earthcote constantly upgrades its paint recipes in pace with tinting technologies to ensure that their systems offer world-leading coating solutions.

Colourfast Pigment & Tinting Technology used on Allan Gray Offices

The Cape Town offices of Allan Gray at the V&A Waterfront

“Using these special UV-resistant blue pigments in a high quality Midas 240 acrylic, our blues will last exceptionally well”, said Midas Earthcote Marketing Director, Simon Fraser. “Collaborating with ICC on the complexities of colour means we are able to produce better quality products and many technically unique colour solutions for the industry.”

Together, Midas Earthcote and ICC have developed the most internationally advanced colour tinting system, which uses specific pigments for interior and exterior application. When ordering, it is important to specify whether the product will be used internally or externally. The Midas tinting system also offers more environmentally responsible formulations containing Glycol-free pigments – available in our Envirolite range, on request.

More Midas Earthcote Special Projects

• The Cape Sands paint job
• Midas Fresco Old World Style
• The Triplon 2000S CTICC paint job
• The CTICC, Triplon, and the years to come
• The historic Domaine Des Anges farmhouse
• A Midas Makeover of The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay
• Midas Earthcote, Steracon and Hidden Valley Winery
• The Department of Foreign Affairs paint job brought to you by Boere Baroque, Boet se Moet and Baked Beans on Toast

Tiziana Giardini & the Cape Grace hotel

DESIGN: Cape Grace and the art of Tiziana Giardini’s walls

MIDAS Earthcote was proud to have been chosen as a coatings supplier in the refashioning of Cape Town’s grandest five star hotel at the edge of the ocean – the Cape Grace hotel.

The Cape Grace combines modern luxury with traditional Cape culture. Every room was custom-designed using eclectic, handcrafted décor to reflect the tradition and elegance of the Cape.

The refashioning project, led by interior design company Weixelbaumer Design, represents an amalgamation of the best artisan talent in the Cape. Extreme care was invested in creating beautiful, tactile finishes, from the Giardini coloured walls to the hand-painted silk window dressings and soft furnishings to artisan-made leather and glass items.

Tiziana Giardini and the Cape Grace Hotel

For the exterior of the Cape Grace Hotel, Tiziana Giardini custom mixed a warm, earthy shade of ochre in Midas Fresco. This statement colour gives real personality to the classic architecture and it somehow also harks back to the flamboyance of the Huguenots.

The Cape Grace Challenge

Kathi Weixelbaumer is known for her skill in juxtaposing the modern with the period and the rare with the humble – tying it all together with spontaneity.

The challenge was to provide finishes that added to the layering of texture, in a look that is both contemporary and reminiscent of the elegance and history of the Cape. All wall finishes needed to be low maintenance and, from an aesthetic perspective, needed to “pull the elements together.”

The exterior required a finish that would wear well next to the ocean, offer weather resistance and, like the interior, deliver an aesthetic that straddles the historic and the contemporary.

The Art of Tiziana Giardini’s Walls

For the interior, Weixelbaumer Design commissioned paint artist and colourist Tiziana Giardini to recommend a restful, unobtrusive palette of textured colour.

“Kathi Weixelbaumer has a great eye for colour and it was a privilege to work alongside her, providing interpretations to her interior approach”, said Tiziana Giardini. “It was an organic creative process. I was given fabrics and other interior pieces as inspiration and from those I developed a customised paint colour palette for each room.”

“Nothing came straight out of a tin. I used special pigments and made up my own recipes, using Midas 240 acrylics as a base, and my own special tinted ageing scumble glaze to take the edge off. This gave the walls a broken, lived-in look that is subtle and visually restful, as it has a lot of movement”
– Tiziana Giardini.

Cape Grace Hotel interior.

The use of a washable ageing glaze over Midas 240 acrylic delivers durability. The slightly worn, broken look creates a seamlessness between the walls and other interior elements, like washed timber and hand-painted fabrics.

For the exterior, Tiziana custom mixed a warm, earthy shade of ochre in Midas Fresco. This statement colour gives real personality to the classic architecture and it somehow also harks back to the flamboyance of the Huguenots.

“We used Midas Fresco for practical and aesthetic reasons,” said Giardini. “Fresco is a robust, gritty coating that very efficiently conceals hairline cracks and will last well in all-weather conditions at the coast. The ultra-matt graded texture adds a softness to the look, which gives the building elegance.”

The work of Kathi Weixelbaumer and Tiziana Giardini on the Cape Grace hotel is still representative of modern luxury mixed with traditional Cape culture.

** More Midas Earthcote Special Projects **

A Midas Makeover of The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay

The Bay Hotel’s Midas makeover with Matt acrylic Midas 240 and Midaroof

A Midas Earthcote makeover of The Bay Hotel transformed this well-trodden Camps Bay landmark into a well-grounded, elegant building, with shades of Coney Island. There were several challenges with this special project, the primary issue being that a pure white building by the seaside results in uncomfortably high glare. Environmental pollution on the roof (caused by seagull droppings) was also a reality that needed a practical resolve.

Midas Makeover of The Bay Hotel

The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, Cape Town.

The solution was Matt acrylic Midas 240. A shade of light grey was used which helps to absorb light – making the building feel more sympathetic to its environment. The effect is simple, clean and fresh – enhanced by the addition of natural timber exterior elements like Balau balustrades and pergolas. To minimise the visual impact of seagull droppings, the roof was redecorated in custom-tinted grey Midaroof.

The Bay Hotel interior.

The exterior changes were so effective that hotel owner Maree Brinks decided to update the interior as well. The result is interesting, individual and eclectic. Each room was treated individually, with unique one-off elements creating a boutique hotel feel.

Matt acrylic Midas 240 was used extensively in restful tones of complementary greens, greys and blues. Pandomo, with its cloudy, veined, highly polished stucco-like look, was used on accent walls to create ambiance and to inject a contemporary feel into The Bay Hotel.

“The inside needed to be a seamless extension of the natural elements outside”, said interior decorator, Arina Cilliers. “The colors and textures were therefore chosen from the neutral and soothing side of the spectrum. Beige and driftwood grey were combined with soft aqua and green, to represent both the sea and the surrounding fynbos . This was to be the backdrop for solid wood, hand-woven wicker and nautical stainless steel.”

More Midas Earthcote Special Projects:

• The Cape Sands paint job
• Midas Fresco Old World Style
• The Triplon 2000S CTICC paint job
• The CTICC, Triplon, and the years to come
• The historic Domaine Des Anges farmhouse
• Midas Earthcote, Steracon and Hidden Valley Winery
• The Department of Foreign Affairs paint job brought to you by Boere Baroque, Boet se Moet and Baked Beans on Toast