Preserving the value of our past

AkzoNobel’s paint and coatings specialists are leading the way in restoration of cultural relics across the globe

Vietnam, with 26 heritage sites ­honoured by UNESCO as well as 10,000 relics recognised by provinces and cities, has a massive responsibility in ­preserving and extending the value of these relics for future generations. However, nations across the world often struggle to ­implement the work in a way that ensures harmony between ­preserving yet maintaining the value of these structures.

With its font of experiences and enthusiasm for beauty, ­AkzoNobel has studied and ­developed numerous special paints and coatings for heritage sites and relics in Singapore, the Netherlands, and Vietnam.

Notably, the company repainted Burkill Hall, a wooden house in Singapore’s Botanical Garden, the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the city state. The renovation returned the building to its original glory as an Anglo-Malayan plantation-style house, and it is the first flagship Human Cities project to be ­announced as part of the ­company’s commitment to

the 100 Resilient Cities ­programme. Colour experts at the ­company also completed the digital recreation of a Van Gogh masterpiece. The three-year project endeavoured to get as close as possible to ­reconstructing the original colour scheme used by the artist when he first made the ­painting.

In Vietnam, several ­outstanding works have been revitalised by AkzoNobel’s products, including the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts and Dai Lanh Lighthouse – the central province of Phu Yen’s 100-year-old symbol.

According to Pamela Phua, general director of AkzoNobel Vietnam, one of company’s strongest focus is providing innovative paints and coatings solutions which are highly effective in applying on every structures. Since 2016, Dulux Professional has introduced a range of about 70 products and services in the catalogue for projects in Vietnam market. Over the years, the innovation platforms for the product range have been developed which will offer better resource and energy efficiency, longer durability and even higher safety to users.

Besides, AkzoNobel participates in events relating to the preservation and development of heritage sites to share its experience and improve awareness about this problem in Vietnam. Notably, on March 21, as a sponsor, the company will hold a speech at a technical seminar relating to the preservation of heritage sites, organised by the Hanoi People’s Committee, SCE Project Asia, and the Italian Embassy in Hanoi. On the same day, the company will organise Dulux Professional Seminar 2019 themed “Urban Heritage Preservation – A Key to Sustainable Development” to discuss solutions to preserve heritage sites in Vietnam. In the seminar, AkzoNobel will offer a number of innovative paints and coatings products as effective solutions towards help preserving the original beauty of historical heritages across nation.

“We cannot go forward without properly understanding and respecting our past. With this thinking, AkzoNobel has been co-operating with cities and experts around the world to build solutions to protect and adorn the world’s famous works. This was also the drive for AkzoNobel to organise the international seminar,” said Phua.