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| Adding more colours with projects in and around Malaysia |
Over
the years, numerous research has concluded that colours do indeed affect us.
From boosting I.Q. to soothing nerves1, colours play an important
role in influencing our day-to-day lives. As experts in the craft of making
paints and coatings, AkzoNobel is eager to add colour to your world and has
embarked on multiple projects over the years in and around Malaysia. Below are
just some of the projects spearheaded by AkzoNobel, the global experts in colour
and protection.
CARCOSA SERI NEGARA
Located
in Lake Gardens, Carcosa Seri Negara consists of two colonial mansions – the
first known as Carcosa, the other Seri Negara.
Carcosa
was built in 1897 as the official residence of the first British High
Commissioner in Malaya. Designed by Arthur Benison (yes, the same person who
conceptualised the Ipoh Railway Station), this mansion has a fusion of
Neo-Gothic and Tudor Revival styles. Seri Negara, on the other hand, features a
similar design and was opened in 1913 as the official guest house of Governor
of the Straits Settlement.
In 1987,
both buildings were acquired by the Malaysian government and repurposed into a
luxurious heritage boutique hotel.
To
preserve the outlook of these buildings, Dulux – AkzoNobel’s leading decorative
paint – embarked on a journey to refurbish Carcosa Seri Negara in 2017. This is
in line with AkzoNobel’s initiative to help transform communities and creating
better lives.
STADTHUYS
Located
in Melaka, the Stadthuys (which means Town Hall in Dutch) is an iconic landmark
and is the oldest Dutch building in this part of the world. Built in 1650, the
Stadthuys served as the official residence of the Dutch Governor and was widely
used as a base of operations for administrative work.
At 368
years old, the building’s exterior would naturally have seen some wear and
tear, which is why it has been repainted several times to maintain its
distinctive red. The most recent effort is a 10-year restoration project by AkzoNobel
that began in 2009. Thanks to this, the Stadthuys – which has been converted
into a Museum of History and Ethnography – continues to stand tall today in all
its red glory.
Fun fact:
In addition to repainting the Stadthuys, AkzoNobel also sponsored the Dulux
Weathershield paint that was used to create the largest wall mural along Sg.
Melaka. The project titled “A Celebration of Our Heritage” was in collaboration
with Kiehl’s andaimed at raising awareness on 5 of UNESCO’s World Heritage
Sites in Malaysia.
CENTRAL MARKET
In 2012, Duluxtook part in an event called KUL SIGN Festival – a two-day festival in and around the Central Market area to create the
longest graffiti in Malaysia. Throughout the event, Dulux sponsored the
essential tools for the creation of the graffiti and mural using theDuluxWeathershield
paint. The graffiti later made its way into the Malaysia Book of Records as the
longest graffiti in Malaysia.
Fun fact: Approximately 200
local and foreign graffiti artists took part in this event to create the
graffiti as well as other works of art during the festival. The festival served
not only as a means to beautify the location, but as a testament to how paint
and coatings can help preserve landmarks.
PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS
AkzoNobel offers more
than just decorative paints. It is at the forefront of protective coatings and
the leading name when it comes to aerospace coatings. One of the most iconic
buildings that is protected by Interpon – a brand under AkzoNobel that
specialises in powder coating – is the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, one of the
many prides of Malaysians.
PLANE
IN THE CITY
A unique dining
experience at its core, the Plane in the City “restaurant” was created by
repurposing an actual decommissioned Boeing 737 aircraft. As the official paint
partner, AkzoNobel coated both the interior and exterior of the plane with its
aerospace coatings to ensure that it was both presentable and safe for patrons.
Additionally, Dulux
paints was used on the unique wall mural of the KL skyline which overlooks
Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur.
Fun fact: More than
300 litres of aerospace coating was used to envelope the Boeing 737. AkzoNobel
is the global leader in the manufacture, development and supply of coatings for
commercial airlines.
Malaysia is truly a
country that is rich in culture, heritage and tradition. All three elements can
be associated with buildings, landmarks and even locations. Buildings, landmarks
and locations, however, will succumb to weather. Fortunately, AkzoNobel is at
the forefront of preservation efforts, ensuring that the colours of Malaysia
continue to shine brightly.
To read up on more AkzoNobel’s offerings, feel free
to visit the AkzoNobel website page at https://www.akzonobel.com/en.
1Gruson, L.
(1982, October 19). COLOR HAS A POWERFUL EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR, RESEARCHERS
ASSERT. Retrieved August 26, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/19/science/color-has-a-powerful-effect-on-behavior-researchers-assert.html
ABOUT AKZONOBEL
AkzoNobel has a passion for paint. We’re experts in
the proud craft of making paints and coatings, setting the standard in color
and protection since 1792. Our world class portfolio of brands – including
Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the
globe. Headquartered in the Netherlands, we operate in over 80 countries and
employ around 35,000 talented people who are passionate about delivering the
high-performance products and services our customers expect. The sale of our
Specialty Chemicals business is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com.
For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com.
ABOUT
AKZONOBEL SPECIALTY CHEMICALS
Industries
worldwide rely on our essential chemistry in the manufacture of everyday
products such as paper, plastics, building materials, and personal care items.
Building on the dedication of our 9,500 employees and our shared commitment to
safety, sustainability, and open innovation, we have established a world-class
business and built strong partnerships with our customers. We operate in over
80 countries around the world and our portfolio of industry leading brands
includes Eka, Dissolvine, Trigonox, and Berol.