The Architectural Marvel of Zeitz Museum

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, located in Cape Town, South Africa, stands as a testament to architectural ingenuity. Designed by Heatherwick Studios, the museum repurposed a historic grain silo building, originally constructed in 1921-24, into a contemporary art gallery. This transformation aimed to provide a unique space for showcasing the works of African artists from the 21st century. The towering silos, a defining feature of the Cape Town skyline at over 55 meters, posed challenges to traditional exhibition setups due to their cylindrical structure.

Architectural Solutions for Functional Adaptation

To convert the silo building into a functional gallery space, the architects implemented two key strategies. Firstly, internal partitions were removed to create 80 functional rectangular exhibition halls. Secondly, an atrium was ingeniously carved through a cluster of silo volumes, adding dynamism to the architectural design. However, this intervention necessitated a technical resolution to ensure both structural integrity and aesthetic harmony with the existing concrete silos.

Challenges and Technical Expertise

The original silo walls, merely 170mm thick, demanded reinforcement to withstand structural modifications for the atrium void. Adding 420mm to the internal surfaces, however, created uneven and challenging surfaces. Addressing these complexities required a meticulous approach. The architects turned to KEIM mineral products to rectify and enhance the concrete surfaces, ensuring they met the project’s exacting standards.

KEIM’s Contribution to Concrete Restoration

Rectifying the concrete involved leveling uneven surfaces, removing projections, filling recesses, and addressing defects. The surface texture was refined by pre-wetting the walls and applying a release agent to eliminate residues and oily stains. The crucial step involved applying KEIM Concretal-Lasur, a thin-layer mineral glaze. This preserved the open-pored structure of the concrete, aligning with the architects’ vision. KEIM worked closely with the design team to achieve the desired color match, resulting in 4,500 square meters of restored concrete appearing natural and raw.

The Role of KEIM Products

Several KEIM products played a pivotal role in this transformative process. From the Concrete cleaner (KEIM Betonschnellreiniger) to Fine filler (KEIM Concretal-Feinspachtel), Mortar (KEIM Concretal Mörtel-R), and the mineral glaze (KEIM Concretal-Lasur), each product contributed to the meticulous restoration. Dilutions such as KEIM Concretal-Base and KEIM Concretal-Fixativ played a role in achieving the desired consistency and finish.

A Symphony of Materials: Concrete’s Revitalization

In conclusion, KEIM’s mineral products not only addressed the challenges posed by the silo’s architectural intricacies but also enhanced the aesthetic qualities of the concrete surfaces. This successful collaboration between architectural vision and technical expertise resulted in the Zeitz Museum standing as a beacon of contemporary art, seamlessly blending historical significance with modern functionality. KEIM’s commitment to preserving the essence of materials through innovative solutions has left an indelible mark on this architectural masterpiece.