Monthly Archives: March 2024

Asian Paints is a leading paint and coatings company based in India that has established itself as a household name in the construction and home decor industry. In this article, we discuss the top Asian Paints Competitors and Alternatives.

Founded in 1942, the company has grown steadily over the years and has become one of the largest paint manufacturers in Asia. Asian Paints offers a wide range of decorative and industrial paints, as well as related products, catering to the needs of both residential and commercial customers.

Renowned for its innovative and high-quality products, Asian Paints has transformed the paint industry with its diverse range of colorful, textured, and finished products, enabling customers to customize their spaces creatively. The company emphasizes sustainability by offering eco-friendly paints low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them healthier and environmentally friendly. The brand, recognized for its durability and aesthetic appeal, has built a strong distribution network and customer-centric ethos, earning admiration for its dedication to transforming spaces into inspiring environments.

• Product Type: Paints, coatings, products related to home decor, bath fittings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: February 1, 1942
• Founders: Champaklal Choksey, Chimanlal Choksi, Suryakant Dani, Arvind Vakil
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Amit Syngle

The top Asian Paints competitors are

1. Berger Paints India

• Product Type: Paints
• Industry: Paints and Coatings
• Founded Date: 1923
• Founders: Lewis Berger
• Headquarters: Kolkata, India
• Area Served: India and Nepal
• Current CEO: Abhijit Roy

Berger Paints India is India’s second-largest decorative paint company, with a commendable market share and presence in India and across Asia. Its rich history traces back to 1923, symbolizing trust, reliability, and innovation. Berger’s eco-friendly, customer-centric approach distinguishes it from other competitors. It offers an exhaustive range of products addressing every painting need, including interior, exterior, metal, and wood.

2. Kansai Nerolac Paints

• Product Type: Paints
• Industry: Paints and Coatings
• Founded Date: 1920
• Founders: Katsujiro Iwai
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India and Nepal
• Current CEO: H. M. Bharuka

Kansai Nerolac Paints is a stalwart in the industrial segment, dominating market shares in automotive and powder coating paints in India. With Japanese roots, it’s renowned for advanced technology products, mainly catering to industrial clients with high-quality, durable coatings. Their product portfolio embraces decorative and performance coating, underlining innovation.

3. Akzo Nobel India (AkzoNobel)

• Product Type: Paints and Coatings
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1911
• Founders: Bofors
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: Rajiv Rajgopal

Akzo Nobel India (AkzoNobel) is a Dutch multinational company dealing with decorative, automotive, and specialty coatings. Akzo Nobel is known for its global footprint and is synonymous with high-quality products and a commitment to sustainable business practices. Their intense focus on research and development facilitates the creation of advanced, eco-friendly solutions.

4. Nippon Paint

• Product Type: Paints and Coatings
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1881
• Founders: Jujiro Moteki
• Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Tetsushi Tado

Nippon Paint is a widely acclaimed Japanese paint manufacturing company with robust automotive, industrial, marine, and decorative offerings. Renowned for their cutting-edge paint technology and eco-friendly products, they strive to provide novel, sustainable solutions to their diverse customer base.

5. PPG Industries

• Product Type: Paints and Coatings
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1883
• Founders: Captain John B. Ford and John Pitcairn Jr.
• Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Michael H. McGarry

PPG Industries is an American multinational corporation known globally for its various paints, coatings, and specialty materials. PPG has earned a reputation for its focus on research and innovation, aiming to develop sustainable solutions for the industries and consumers they serve.

6. Sherwin-Williams

• Product Type: Paints and Coatings
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1866
• Founders: Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams
• Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: John G. Morikis

Sherwin-Williams is an international leader based in the United States, known for its comprehensive array of paints, coatings, and related products. With a rich legacy surpassing 150 years, Sherwin-Williams is recognized for its commitment to quality, innovation, and service.

7. Indigo Paints

• Product Type: Decorative paints, emulsions, enamels, wood coatings, distemper, primers, putties, and cement paints.
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 2000
• Founders: Hemant Jalan (Managing Director & Chairman)
• Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra, India
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: Hemant Jalan

Indigo Paints is a relatively new entrant in the Indian market, famous for its unique product offerings and creative marketing strategies. Their products aggressively challenge the conventional decorative paint segments with innovative, differential products that address specific consumer needs.

8. Sirca Paints India

• Industry: Paints
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Area Served: India

Sirca Paints India is an Italian-based brand focusing on wood coatings. They have developed a niche in India, emphasizing superior Italian technology and luxury finishes, renowned for their high-quality, durable wood finishes.

9. Shalimar Paints

• Product Type: Decorative paints, industrial coatings, and automotive coatings
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1902
• Founders: AC Wright and AD Little
• Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: Minal Srivastava

Shalimar Paints is one of India’s oldest paint companies with over a hundred-year legacy. Renowned for its industrial and interior decorative paint products, Shalimar Paints continues to innovate and refresh its offerings to cater to the modern customer.

10. Jotun Paints India (Jotun)

• Product Type: Decorative paints, protective coatings, and marine coatings
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1926
• Founders: Odd Gleditsch Sr.
• Headquarters: Sandefjord, Norway
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: Morten Fon

Jotun Paints India (Jotun) is a renowned Norwegian multinational offering decorative, protective, marine, and powder coatings. With their rich Scandinavian heritage, they have established innovators, consistently evolving their products to meet the demands of harsh climates and unique design needs.

11. Caparol Paints India (Caparol)

• Product Type: Decorative paints and coatings
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1895
• Founders: Robert Murjahn Sr.
• Headquarters: Ober-Ramstadt, Germany
• Area Served: India

Caparol Paints India (Caparol) is an established German-based paint brand well-recognized in India for offering environmentally friendly, technologically advanced solutions. Covering a wide product range, they provide decorative and distinctive finishes. Caparol’s focus on sustainable production practices and product durability sets it apart.

12. Diamond Paints

• Product Type: Decorative paints, industrial coatings, and automotive coatings
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1955
• Headquarters: Lahore, Pakistan
• Area Served: Pakistan and Bangladesh

Diamond Paints is the oldest and largest paint manufacturing company in Pakistan. They cater to consumer and industrial needs and offer decorative paints, protective coatings, and auto finishes. Their dedication to quality, reliance on research for product development, and noteworthy customer service make them a strong competitor in their country and the Asian market.

13. Goodlass Nerolac

• Product Type: Decorative paints, industrial coatings, and automotive coatings
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1920
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: H. M. Bharuka

Goodlass Nerolac is one of the leading industrial paint manufacturing companies in India. Known for its stronghold in the automotive paints sector, it’s renowned for its high-quality, durable, and innovative products. Their commitment to eco-friendly practices also earns them significant recognition.

14. BASF Coatings

• Product Type: Automotive coatings, industrial coatings, and decorative paints
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1865
• Founders: Friedrich Engelhorn
• Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Martin Brudermüller

BASF Coatings is a division of German chemical company BASF, specializing in developing and selling coatings for various industries worldwide. Known for their sophisticated technology and durable products, they cater to the automotive, construction, and industrial sectors, providing high-performance coating solutions.

15. RPM International

• Product Type: Industrial coatings, sealants, and specialty chemicals
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1947
• Founders: Frank C. Sullivan
• Headquarters: Medina, Ohio, United States
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Frank C. Sullivan

RPM International is an American multinational company known for its high-performance coating, sealants, and specialty chemical products. Their broad product range, focus on innovation, and continuous efforts towards sustainability equip them for solid competition in the global market.

16. Axalta Coating Systems

• Product Type: Automotive coatings, industrial coatings, and refinish coatings
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1866
• Founders: Herberts family
• Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Robert W. Bryant

Axalta Coating Systems is a leading American company specializing in coatings for light and commercial vehicles and industrial and refinish applications. Committed to delivering innovative, colorful, and sustainable waterproofing solutions everywhere, they constantly remain at the forefront of the competition.

17. Benjamin Moore & Co.

• Product Type: Decorative paints
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1883
• Founders: Benjamin Moore and Robert M. Moore
• Headquarters: Montvale, New Jersey, United States
• Area Served: United States and Canada
• Current CEO: Dan Calkins

Benjamin Moore & Co. is an American paint company known for its superior-quality paints, stains, and finishes. Their dedication to innovation is evident in their unique product ranges, and their commitment to endurance and consistency has earned this brand a loyal following.

18. Sika AG

• Product Type: Construction chemicals, industrial adhesives, and sealants
• Industry: Chemicals
• Founded Date: 1910
• Founders: Kaspar Winkler
• Headquarters: Baar, Switzerland
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Paul Schuler

Sika AG is a Swiss multinational company specializing in chemical products and systems for construction and industry. Their comprehensive product lines include sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing, and protecting solutions. Known for their focus on durability and reliance on research and development, they’ve managed to maintain a dominating presence.

19. Hempel Group

• Product Type: Protective coatings and decorative paints
• Industry: Paints
• Founded Date: 1915
• Founders: Jørgen Christian Hempel
• Headquarters: Lyngby, Denmark
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Lars Petersson

Hempel Group is a worldwide company specializing in Denmark coatings and paints. Their expertise in the largest paint company ranges from protective to decorative paints, serving various industries such as marine, container, yacht, cosmetic, and infrastructure. Their reputation for quality and reliability stems from over a century of industry experience.

20. Masco Corporation

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1929
• Founders: Alex Manoogian
• Headquarters: Livonia, Michigan, United States
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Keith Allman

Masco Corporation is an American company known for its home improvement and construction products. Their paints and coating business is significant in the decorative architecture space. Committed to delivering quality, their variety of colors and finishes caters to diverse consumer requirements.

21. Valspar Corporation

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1806
• Founders: Samuel Tuck and Augustus Smith
• Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Gary Hendrickson

Valspar Corporation is a US-based company known for producing paint and coatings. The brand delivers high-quality performance product solutions for industrial, wood coatings, packaging, and coil. Their strong commitment to innovation and sustainable practices set them apart from others.

22. Tikkurila

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1862
• Founders: Anders Wilhelm Renvall
• Headquarters: Vantaa, Finland
• Area Served: Europe, Asia
• Current CEO: Elisa Markula

Tikkurila is a Finnish company that produces decorative paints and coatings for industrial applications. Famed for their sustainable solutions, Tikkurila’s products are designed to provide optimal performance while preserving the environment.

23. Beckers Group

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1865
• Founders: Carl Wilhelm Becker
• Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
• Area Served: Worldwide
• Current CEO: Boris Gorella

Beckers Group is a Swedish MNC specializing in coatings with a wide-ranging product portfolio for consumers and industrial applications. Beckers Group stands out for its innovative, eco-friendly solutions and consistent efforts towards sustainability initiatives.

24. Kwality Paints

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1993
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India

Kwality Paints is a rising Indian company producing decorative, industrial, and automotive paints. Known for its cost-effective and high-quality product range, Kwality prioritizes customer satisfaction and environmental concerns.

25. Majestic Paints

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Headquarters: Lahore, Pakistan
• Area Served: Pakistan

Majestic Paints is popular in India for its broad selection of decorative paints. With a strong focus on producing vibrant, durable colors, Majestic Paints has established itself as a reputable brand appealing to residential and commercial customers.

26. Paints & Coatings India

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing

Paints & Coatings India is a homegrown brand specializing in paints and coatings suitable for different surfaces and applications. Known for their customer-centric approach, they continue offering durable, high-quality, affordable solutions catering to individual and industrial needs.

27. Pragati Paints

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India

Pragati Paints is an Indian-based company that manufactures a variety of decorative, industrial, and automotive paint brands. Keeping the customer at the center, they focus on quality, affordability, and an extensive product range, offering compelling solutions for every paint requirement.

28. Sterling Paints

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India

Sterling Paints is an Indian paint manufacturer specializing in decorative and industrial paints. Their dedication to delivering a high-quality product line and personalized customer service make them competitive.

29. Kansai Paints India

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1918
• Founders: Katsujiro Iwai
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: Hiroshi Ishino

Kansai Paints India is a significant brand in India, tied to the Japanese entity Kansai Paint Co., known for its innovative, tech-driven range of decorative and automotive paints. They focus on delivering superior product quality and maintaining customer rapport.

30. Dulux Paints

• Product Type: Paints and coatings
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Founded Date: 1931
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India
• Area Served: India
• Current CEO: Vinay Jain

Dulux Paints is a globally renowned brand that is also part of AkzoNobel. Known for its premium quality decorative paints and coatings, Dulux emphasizes color innovation, durability, and environmental responsibility.

These were all the competitors of Asian Paints. If you know any other competitors, please do write in the comments below.

Liked this post? Check out the complete series on Competitors

DUBLIN, March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The “Automotive Paint Market, Size, Global Forecast 2024-2030, Industry Trends, Share, Growth, Insight, Impact of Inflation, Company Analysis” report has been added to  ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

Global Automotive Paint Market is expected to reach US$ 14.63 Billion by 2030 from US$ 10.96 Billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.21% during 2024-2030

UV and powder coats are the future of automotive paints due to their eco-friendly nature and low VOC coatings. They offer protection against oxidation, UV rays, and acid rain corrosion while providing vehicle scratch resistance, driving market growth.

The dynamic increase in the market is driven by numerous automobile kinds, technological advancements, and evolving paint types. Due to extreme government regulations, advanced coating solutions are manufactured and delivered to vehicle manufacturers by automotive paint companies. These innovations minimize the overall cost and time required per vehicle unit through controlled paint shop emissions, which is expected to spur the demand for basecoats in the market.

Growing demand for metallic paints is anticipated to surpass the demand for solid texture paints owing to changing buyer preferences towards metallic colors and increased sales of premium passenger cars. Also, the passenger car, being the largest segment, is expected to focus on the automotive paints market augmentation over the forecast period. 

Developing countries have witnessed increased demand and production of automobiles, which is expected to support the demand for automotive paints during the forecast period. For example, as per the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), passenger cars and commercial vehicle production increased by 3%. Thus, the surge in automobile production is projected to boost the rise of the global automotive paint industry during the forecast period. Market players in the automotive paints market are focused on expansion and developments as these companies are investing heavily in the automotive paint market, which is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific region led the automotive paints market due to its high vehicle production and growing economy. The automotive paints business has advanced habitually with the automobile. Both industries are working hard to give their consumers innovative technology and environmentally secure products. The Asia-Pacific region, notably nations like China and India, has seen a quick rise in the automotive market. This includes both domestic manufacturing and consumption of automobiles. This region’s strong automotive manufacturing sector generates significant demand for automotive paints.

Company Analysis: Business Overview, Recent Developments, Revenue Analysis

• PPG Industries
• Akzo Nobel N.V.
• Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
• The Sherwin Williams Company
• Kansai Paints Co. Ltd.
• DuPont de Nemours Inc
• Solvay S.A
• Cabot Corporation
• Covestro AG

Vehicle Types – Global Automotive Paint Market breakup in 3 viewpoints:

• Passenger cars
• Light commercial vehicles
• Heavy commercial vehicles

Technology – Global Automotive Paint Market breakup in 3 viewpoints:

• Waterborne
• Solvent-borne
• Powder coatings

Paint Types – Global Automotive Paint Market breakup in 4 viewpoints:

• Primer
• Base Coat
• Clear Coat
• Electrocoat

Countries – Global Automotive Paint Market breakup in 21 viewpoints:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Europe
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Asia Pacific
• Japan
• China
• India
• South Korea
• Indonesia
• Australia
• Latin America
• Mexico
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Middle East & Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• South Africa
• Rest of World

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zd9idw

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From her childhood dreams to entrepreneurial triumphs, Hope Allison-Oguru’s exploits in the world of architecture capture the power of dreams. Despite setbacks, she stayed true to her passion, creating spaces where artistry meets functionality, and dreams become reality, writes Vanessa Obioha

On a recent Tuesday morning, Hope Allison-Oguru, clad in a long striped blazer and jeans, entered a landmark hotel in Lagos State’s Maryland area. The venue held a special memory for her, not only due to it being a project of a colleague but also because it was here, at the hotel’s restaurant, that a senior colleague posed a thought-provoking question: “How many cakes can you bake to make One Billion Naira?”

She vividly recalled the scene. “It was right here,” she said, gesturing to a corner of the restaurant.

That question reignited her lifelong dream, one she had set aside when life threw her some lemons.

Allison-Oguru’s journey to entrepreneurship is marked by instructive experiences. Her creative inclinations surfaced early on, as she indulged in drawing, painting, and infusing living spaces with her unique touch. It was no surprise when she eventually found herself gravitating towards the art field. A visit to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, during her secondary school days further solidified her passion for the field. Upon her return, she excitedly informed her father of her intention to study Fine and Applied Arts. Wise counsel led her to choose a path that would marry her passion with financial stability.

“He advised that I go under an umbrella that encompasses all of my creative flair and suggested architecture. I remember we had a neighbour who was studying architecture at the university and I just thought about it. I didn’t mind studying architecture because I saw him always working on his board. I really believed I could be an architect and that was it.”

Allison-Oguru dismissed the notion that engineering and related subjects are exclusively for males, rather she stressed the importance of pursuing genuine passions, regardless of societal stereotypes.

“Back in university, there were 50 boys and only six girls in our class. But I realised that most of the ladies I graduated with were very good. So I found that when women find themselves in places where society dictates to them that they are not supposed to be or that they are doing a man’s job, they are triggered to just excel and be exceptional. In fact, the best graduating student was a girl.”

Today, Allison-Oguru is the brain behind Maison Consulting Interiors, an architectural company that specialises in interior design. Armed with two degrees in architecture and a master’s in environmental design, she is a certified architect.

Before setting up shop, Allison-Oguru completed her NYSC internship with the Lagos State Government. Subsequently, she worked on several family projects before securing employment with a Chinese construction company, where she led the interior design department. Despite her competence, she was unexpectedly laid off.

“The layoff was a shock to me. The first thought was survival.”

Rather than succumbing to despair, Allison-Oguru tapped into her childhood passion for baking pastries. With the support of friends and sisters, she sold her creations, albeit temporarily setting aside her dream of owning an interior design company. It took a special conversation with a friend to reignite her aspirations.

“That somewhat became a wake-up call. I’m very thankful that I had that conversation.”

With renewed determination, Allison-Oguru diligently saved funds and procured the necessary materials to establish her interior design company. Initially, she focused on selling luxury ornaments and wallpapers online.

“I had a goal. I wanted to create a name that reckons with a luxury brand. A brand that is going to deliver premium services, nothing mediocre.”

To bolster her business acumen, she enrolled in an enterprise management course at the Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos Business School. The course proved to be transformative as it helped her to strategise and rebrand her business, conscious of the role a business presentation plays in driving referrals and sales.

Reflecting on her layoff, the interior architect underscored the importance of gaining industry experience before venturing into entrepreneurship.

“The idea of working in the first place was to understand and gain the right knowledge on how to work in an established structure. People easily assume that when one sets up a business, they do so out of passion, but passion is different from setting up a business. You need to understand how to build a structure and know the right kind of people to hire. My plan was never to work there for a long time,” she explained.

As a registered architect, Allison-Oguru explained the multifaceted nature of architecture which goes beyond mere building structures.

“Architecture is beyond the building envelope. It’s also how the layouts within the building work and how spaces lead to other spaces, and that’s where interior architecture comes in. A lot of times people will ask if I’m an interior decorator but I’m not, I’m an interior architect and designer.

“The misconceptions would be that when people immediately assume that as an architect, you are only concerned with building but there are architects who specialise in landscapes, and some in interiors like myself, and there are also architects who deal with facades in buildings. All they do is facade, evoking different emotions through their building designs.”

Elaborating on the differences between interior design and interior decoration, Allison-Oguru said “An interior designer designs, builds, fixes and decorates spaces. But interior decoration is mostly concerned with the adornment of spaces, not functionality. So you find that interior designers offer full services which is what we do in Maison Consulting Interiors. We do renovations and remodelling. We do new buildings too.”

However, she added that an architect is best suited for interior designing. Providing more insights about her work, she explained how she handles spaces.

“When you step into a space, you want to think about how your design will enhance the lifestyle of the person experiencing the space. You also have to think about the circulation of that space; and how people are going to move around. I take in details of the client such as how they live, their day-to-day activities, if they are older or younger and perhaps have children, as well as how they want to feel when they come home. All these are taken into consideration to effectively design a space that suits their lifestyles.”

She further emphasised the emotional aspect of space design, recounting a client who, despite initial frustration over project delays, was captivated by the final design.

“But immediately he came into the space, all of the anger melted. That was the best feeling for me as an interior architect,” she said.

“I’m very particular about how people experience my spaces and I’m delighted to put my touch on it. They’ve come to me because they want my touch but they don’t understand how their briefs influenced my design. Their briefs help me to explore parts of my creativity that I didn’t realise were even present.”

While Allison-Oguru caters to residential, commercial, and hospitality clients, she prides herself on creating timeless designs that transcend trends.

“I don’t like to box myself into the idea of keeping up with trends. I fix myself on delivering the brief of the client.”

Later this year, Allison-Oguru will celebrate the sixth anniversary of her business. For her, it is a testament to her unwavering belief in her dreams and the countless stories yet to unfold.

Fredy Massad el


30 mar, 2024

Colors of the City: A Century of Architecture in Doha is a dual-themed exhibition that explores the city’s architectural evolution in response to global influences. It is part of the programme of Design Doha, a new design biennale organised by Qatar Museums, and which will be a showcase for excellence and innovation in the design community of Qatar and the MENA region. The exhibition was envisioned by Glenn Adamson, artistic director of Doha Design, who wanted to supplement the exhibitions featuring contemporary talent in the region with a show devoted to the specific local history of the city and its architectural landscape. The art and architecture historian Péter Tamás Nagy has been in charge of curating this exhibition tracing the architectural history of Doha through a variety of styles including “Arabic Deco,” Doha Classicism”, and Qatari adaptations influenced by Euro-American and Indian styles, as well as the era of Brutalism. The second section of the exhibition looks at Ibrahim Al Jaidah’s projects, such as the Al Thumama stadium for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, demonstrating how his designs harmonise cosmopolitan and regional heritage elements. Through 3-D models, photos, interviews, and film, Colors of the City threads its way through Doha’s architectural fabric, revealing the remarkable architecture built before the meteoric development that transformed Doha into a paradigmatic 21^st century capital.

How did you become interested in Qatari architecture in the first place?

Qatar Museums is the state authority responsible for restoring and activating heritage architecture in the country, and about three years ago, they were looking for somebody to undertake content research on the buildings. I recently finished my PhD when they reached out to me. My education focused on the history of Islamic art and architecture, which (I must admit) did not cover anything directly related to Qatar: this was new for me. When I had my first conversations with QM as part of the recruitment process, we came up with potential research subjects, and those have been evolving and expanding ever since. What is particularly stimulating is that, in comparison with most other countries, so little work has been done in the field that one can quickly discover new information.

How did you translate this research into an exhibition?

That was indeed the crucial challenge: researching, curating, and designing had to develop hand in hand. My previous experience was chiefly in writing academic papers. Now, I needed to find a way to present the (still incomplete) content in an exhibition. The result strongly reflects my background. Some visitors have noted that Colors of the City appears like an exhibited study rather than something conceived by a curator – they are quite right.

The content research continued during the curating process while I gradually communicated my progress to the exhibition designers, namely Karl Bassil and Carla Khayat, from Mind the gap agency. We shared many exciting (and exhausting) times working closely together, often long hours into the night. They are well-accomplished and experienced exhibition designers – also blessed with stoic patience to endure my shortcomings – and thus closely assisted me in transforming the narrative into a physical display. It was a tough challenge and a steep learning curve, but their commendable expertise somehow (indeed, nearly miraculously to me) allowed us to pull it off. Additionally, the production company Interspace has done an impeccable job within an arguably world-record timeframe.

Who were the first international architects involved in the process of constructing modern Doha?

This is an exciting question, one that forms the core of my research. Consider the challenge: documentary evidence from the 1950s–1960s, such as contracts or architectural drawings, is nearly nonexistent. In the absence of such sources, I adopted the simple approach of an art historian. By searching for analogies in the buildings’ structural, decorative, and technical features, I was able to formulate hypotheses about the origins of the architects or master builders who worked in Doha.

From December to January, I undertook fieldwork in India because the phenomenon of Doha Deco finds its most apparent analogies with buildings there. Art Deco became prominent in India in the 1930s and remained so all the way to the ’60s, often incorporating vernacular elements in its repertoire. This long chronology is important because, by the time it appeared in Doha in the mid-’50s, Art Deco was out of fashion in most other parts of the world. And given the similarities that one can point out between buildings in South Asia and Doha, I am convinced that most architects (or master builders) came from there. Hence, Colors of the City displays 120 pictures of Art Deco buildings from India and Pakistan. But this is only one chapter of the story.

At about the same time, architectural decoration in Doha occasionally applied Classicist motifs, especially vases and tendrils. Although Neoclassicism was very popular in various parts of the world back in the 19th century, by this time, it was chiefly outdated, except in Iran, where many buildings applied decorations following Classicist design and also incorporating local elements. Many of these features then resurfaced in Qatar. The analogies indicate that Doha Classicism can be attributed to Iranians who, just like Indians, came to the country in this period. We also have an oral history testimony by Yusuf Al Zaman, who recalls an Iranian artisan working on their house’s portal when they heard about the assassination of the American President John Kennedy (that is, late November 1963). Although this gate no longer survives, we have at least one old picture recording its colorful Classicist ornaments.

In sum, while we may not know the architects by name, we can at least trace their origin to South Asia and Iran. The State Hospital of Doha, completed in 1956 and designed by the British architect John R. Harris, stands as a notable exception to this pattern.

 

Examples of Brutalist buildings are featured at the exhibition. Aside from this style, was there any attempt to build in the “international Modern” style?

Yes, absolutely. Although we decided to call the third section of the exhibition Doha Brutalism (highlighting the Brutalist aspect of some of the buildings), Doha Modernism would have been an equally justifiable title. I hesitated for a while. The buildings exhibited in this section date to the 1970s and the 1980s, and we know the architects who designed them thanks to the surviving documentary evidence from this period. For example, the American architect William Pereira designed the Sheraton Hotel. Another example is the Gulf Cinema by an Iraqi architect, Rifaat Chadirji; then came the Ministry of Interior Affairs by the Lebanese William Sednaoui. The list could go on… What matters more is that they were all renowned architects and part of International Modernism. Our choice to label this section Brutalism resulted from an admittedly impressionistic take from some of the key landmarks.

Which are the buildings do you consider more remarkable from this period?

One of the most iconic buildings from this period is Qatar University. It is a gigantic campus, the first one in the country, completed in 1985. I find it a particularly successful work because the Egyptian architect Kamal El Kafrawi studied the region’s vernacular heritage and decided to focus on the wind tower. Most structures constitute octagonal modules amassed alongside one another, each with a wind tower on top. These are not only decorative but also functional, creating ventilation by channeling the air into the building, meaning they work as passive air-conditioning systems. Most other architects sought to incorporate vernacular elements into their design at the time, but Qatar University seems outstanding, whether aesthetically or functionally.

Being conceived by architects belonging to the Pan-Arabic world, are there any connections between the architecture being built in Qatar and the neighbouring countries and main capitals (such as Baghdad, Teheran or Beirut) or does Qatar represent a very specific case?

There are many similarities, not only because some architects came from other Arab countries but also because international trends were shared commodities. While working on the exhibition, I had the pleasure of learning from the Palestinian architect Hisham Qaddumi, who was a special advisor to the emir and head of the Technical Office of the Amiri Diwan, essentially supervising most state projects in the ‘70s and ‘80s. He recalls that the Technical Office set it as a fundamental requirement to incorporate vernacular, whether Qatari or Islamic, elements into the architectural design. For instance, as mentioned before, Qatar University reinvented the historical wind tower in a pronouncedly modern form.

Perhaps an even better example is the new wing of the Amiri Diwan, completed in 1988. Hisham told me that many architects submitted proposals for this project, but the Technical Office kept rejecting them on the grounds that they failed to convey local significance. As a result, the project was delayed until the Technical Office – a group of about seventy people – eventually came up with a concept that the emir himself found satisfactory. At first sight (and from a distance), it looks like a Brutalist building, severe and rough. Yet, moving closer, one can make out various decorative details following the configuration of gypsum carvings dating back to traditional architectural decoration in Doha. The interior design, shining in lavish marble revetment, features intricately painted and carved wooden panels of Moroccan craftsmanship specifically commissioned for the building. And this, I think, at least partially answers your question regarding links with other countries in the region.

 

Ibrahim Al Jaidah is featured as the bridge between modern architecture and contemporary architecture. Is his Al Thumama Stadium a vindication of local architecture vs. architecture produced by foreign architects?

In short, yes. Ibrahim Al Jaidah is considered both an architect and an authority on Qatari heritage. The basic concept of Colors of the City was that his career would create a bridge between the two parts. He studied many of the buildings that appear in the first part, while the second part is dedicated entirely to his accomplishments as a designer and CEO of the Arab Engineering Bureau. I am immensely grateful for his contributions, allowing access to his personal and professional archives and lending us various objects.

We also conducted an oral history interview with him, in which he described how, since childhood, he had developed an interest in traditional and early modern buildings in Doha. When he began his professional career around 1990, he took inspiration primarily from traditional architecture, which visitors can easily spot in the exhibited building models. At the same time, he began photographing early modern buildings in Doha, many of which have disappeared since. His most recent book presents invaluable documentation of those.

Regarding the Thumama Stadium, it is definitely of crucial importance not only to Ibrahim but also to Qataris in general, as it is the only stadium in the country designed by a local architect. And the shape follows that of the traditional cap, the taqiya. (Although, now that I think about it, this is not the only stadium in Qatar inspired by vernacular heritage: the Bayt (‘tent’) Stadium in Khor is another example.) I agree that Ibrahim’s accomplishment with the Thumama Stadium vindicates the significance of local design; hence, Colors of the City dedicates a place of pride to its model.

Is it possible to identify among the most contemporary generations of local architects some individuals who are interested in retrieving the legacy of Qatari architecture?

Although I’m not an architect, my general impression is that this question primarily depends on the patron. If they wish to commission a building that has nothing to do with Qatari heritage, the architect should be able to deliver just that. Conversely, I would argue that no matter where the architect came from, they have the chance to assess local heritage before starting to draft their design. There are gifted designers like Hisham Qaddumi and Ibrahim Al Jaidah, who have commendable expertise, indeed the local heritage at their fingertip, and there are also ‘outsiders’ who make an effort to understand Qatari culture. The best example that comes to mind is the National Museum, designed by Jean Nouvel, a French architect. The way he carried out background research is exemplary, in my view. It took almost a decade and a half to complete the project, closely collaborating with the commissioners (the royal family) to create a building that would be meaningful for the locals while constituting a futuristic landmark. His inspiration from the desert rose was very ambitious, seeking to elevate this form into a symbol with a new semantical layer, that of a national symbol.

As long as architects have the resources and time, they can certainly contribute to redefining the architectural language for the 21st century. This last point also means that the more research on Qatari heritage is available, the more contemporary designers can expect to be inspired by that knowledge. Without detailed and academically solid studies of the past, constructing the future would rely on shaky ground.

Doha is a paradigm of the 21st century city. Do you think that this architectural legacy will be able to stand and resist the voracity of real state and the greedy desire for outstanding icons?

This question is relevant anywhere in the world. Is there a common benefit of preserving heritage? My answer is affirmative, but if so, can we succumb to the commodification of heritage for commercial investments? In some cases, this seems to be the only viable solution.

Our mission, as Qatar Museums, is to protect local heritage as authentic as possible, and my standpoint is that everything presented in Colors of the City is worthy of that protection. The old-fashioned perspective maintains that ‘heritage’ equals ‘old’ (essentially pre-1950), and only recently has early modern architecture started to be recognized as well, which is something we are striving to achieve and expand. The general view is now on the brink of changing, and I hope the exhibition might constitute an impetus in that direction. We’ve wished to show people how exciting these buildings are and why they deserve to be safeguarded, restored, and listed as cultural heritage. Yet, I’m painfully aware that some of the exhibited buildings standing today will not exist by the time we celebrate the next Design Doha Biennial in two years.

Images: (c) Julián Velásquez, Courtesy Qatar Museums

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Fredy Massad el


30 mar, 2024

SHELDON—CMBA Architects in Sioux City has some bright ideas for the exterior of the soon-to-be renovated Sheldon High School.

The company is in charge of the design of the high school, and while the layout of the building was shown before the $19 million bond vote on Nov. 7, CMBA did not start work on the exterior plans until the renovations were officially green lighted by the vote, allowing the company to move forward with more designs for the $33 million renovation project.

The Sioux City firm showed off the designs for the exterior during Sheldon School District Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, March 13, which featured designs of the front, the northeast corner and the east entrance.

CMBA principal architect Lee Beukelman reminded the board the designs were still preliminary and “it’s still your project.”

Superintendent Cory Myer said he is not aware of a desire of any major changes by the board as of Monday evening but “that could change at any time.”

The two biggest parts of the renovation included the front entrance and the northeast corner of the building.

The front entrance would feature five slabs that spell out ORABS and would be illuminated at night.

“The goal was to try and be big, to make a statement,” said CMBA architect David Brockshus. “Provide signage out to the highway out there, something large enough you can see it and say, ‘Hey, there’s the school over there.’”

The front entrance would keep the bell that is displayed by the building and would have a sign for Sheldon High School in front.

“The idea here is really trying to play up that front entrance for people coming in for a basketball game or whatever,” Beukelman said. “Really making that stand out from the street at night. You’re driving by and making a statement for the school with your front signage and your entire site.”

The northeast corner would feature the weight room addition and would have windows around the room similar to the current library at the high school.

Brockshus said windows were key when designing the building. Besides the library, there are few windows in the current high school.

The northeast corner would feature the largest windows.

“Our goal is to bring as many kinds of larger windows as we can into the building,” Brockshus said. “This is kind of our statement corner; this is where we’re trying to spend most of our effort in terms of ‘Let’s make a statement here.’ The cool thing is you will have a lovely opportunity for some graphics on the wall there for inside your weight room to kind of make that a signature piece for the school.”

The east entrance to the school also was featured in the design since that will become a secure entrance in the renovation. While the design was not as flashy as the proposed front entrance, the east entrance still would get some signage on a canopy.

“We realize due to the functionality of where the parking lot sits in relation to other activities happening, it’s still going to be one of your essential main doors into the building,” Brockshus said. “We wanted to try and identify that on the facades, so people don’t accidentally end up at the north door when they need to go the east entrance. So, we tried to take the same design care at that entrance as we have at this north entrance.”

The designs feature a building that is part brick and part metal facade. The current building is brick, and Brockshus said CMBA wanted to incorporate that into the future design.

“We still want to use a little bit of that, but with some of the budget constraints that we had, we’re just using some of it, and we’re fairly selective in the areas which we’re using it,” Brockshus said. “Along the front, we’re using it as kind of a protection piece for the windows and then for the metal panels, so it’s going to be used primarily below the metal panels.”

Above the some of the brick are metal panels and some of the panels will be silver-colored perforating panels.

“We have a lot of kind of flatter facades; there’s nothing that really sticks out. We wanted to use that profile shape to bring some texture to the building, so it’s not kind of one flat mass,” Brockshus said. “We thought that if we had a solid metal panel across that whole run, it would start to feel heavy and big. By taking the same color, we’re putting little holes in it, and that starts to kind of lighten up that facade and make it not feel like as extreme of a barrier.

“It also gives us some opportunities for some lighting and some kind of different, fun textures to put on the building.”

The west side of the building, which will have the choir and band rooms along with the art room, will feature a more brick along with some large bay windows.

“There will be a good amount of daylight into each one of those, and there will probably be shades in there if they need to control that,” Beukelman said. “Just the desire to have windows, they’re going to definitely have their fair share on that side.”

Once CMBA is finished with the full designs, the project can go out to bid in the spring. The hope is to start construction on the renovation and expansion in the summer. The project will renovate 70,000 square feet in the high school and add 35,000 square feet to the building.

It is planned to be a two-year project.

Other items on the board’s agenda last Wednesday included:

• An educational program by middle school art teacher Marci Cabrera.
• Building Leadership Team representatives sharing suggestions for consideration regarding future school year calendars.
• Approving an open enrollment application for a student enrolling into the Rock Valley School District.
• The resignations of Brittany Maassen as the district’s communication director; Sami Reinking as a fourth-grade teacher and middle school volleyball and softball coach; Jared Reinking as the middle school math interventionist; Emily Kruse as the middle school volleyball coach; Lori Roder in food service; and Levi Letsche as a high school instructional coach, the head football coach and assistant boys track coach.
• Offering contracts to Austin Kavanagh as an elementary physical education teacher for $44,900; Justin Kahl as an elementary English as a second language teacher for $51,500; Brandon Frick as a middle school math interventionist for $53,150; Terry Dolislager as an assistant baseball coach for $4,800; Shelley Hoogers as an executive assistant to the superintendent for $18 per hour for 40 hours per week; and Eli Ackles as an elementary special education paraeducator for $14.50 per hour for 6.75 hours per day.
• Approving Steve De Kok as volunteer speech coach.
• A board policy review second reading and a first reading for a revised board policy review.
• Accepting $222.76 from St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Sanborn for student lunch account assistance.
• Approving an Iowa Association for Educational Purchasing agreement.
• Setting a budget hearing and school calendar hearing for 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the high school library.
• Directing the advertisement for sale, approving electronic bidding procedures and approving an official statement for $10 million in general obligation bonds.
• Approving a school bus purchase of $130,499.
• Approving band uniform purchases in the amount of $41,162.10.
• Going into a closed session to discuss collective bargaining strategy.

Celebrating the launch of the POWERSHIFT equipment system into the concrete industry, the invited NASCAR driver Christopher Bell (Toyota Camry TRD) during World of Concrete 2024.They can increase efficiency. They can integrate some of most innovative ideas this side of green concrete. They can redesign systems to be safer, more user-friendly, decrease the working noise, etc. For me, all I see when walking the halls and endless aisles of World of Concrete 2024 (January 23-25) was productivity. Productivity not only for the contractor but from the manufacturers and exhibitors.

True, one would have been able to find new tools and equipment to help the construction professional be more productive every show, but the industry has been slowly pulling away from the pandemic years.  Allow me a bit to walk through my week and attempt to explain why I think a “productive” World of Concrete is important for the construction industry.

World of Concrete 2024 marked the show’s 50-year anniversary. Join us in celebrating year 51, World of Concrete 2025 is scheduled for January 21-23 in the Las Vegas Convention Center with educational sessions starting on January 20.

A Brief History
Comparing numbers from 1975 to today, the number of registered attendees has increased roughly 3,770%. 

• 1975 – Houston, 1,550 registered attendees, 71 exhibitors
• 1984 – Washington DC, 16,523 registered attendees, 481 exhibitors
• 1994 – New Orleans, 26,670 registered attendees, 862 exhibitors
• 2004 – Orlando, 56,106 registered attendees, 1,559 exhibitors

Husqvarna’s massive booth area launched its battery-powered K540i (pictured) on its 36V system. It features a 10-in blade providing an impressive 4-in. cut and 50% more power than its 9-in. sibling. The company also displayed its new LF60i electric forward compactor as well as the re-organization (of sorts) on the diamond tooling lines – streamlining the three ranges into one easy-change system.This year hosted nearly 60,000 registered construction professionals. According to the show runners, that’s a 23% increase in attendance from the year prior. Anecdotally, people were saying that the numbers felt like “pre-COVID.” Economically, this points to a good sign. I sat down with Dodge Construction Network, chief economist Richard Branch. On top of their forecast, it seems to allude that not only are contractors like yourself out there eager to reconnect with fellow pros, but very interested in looking at more products and equipment to increase efficiency – or be as productive as they can. 

Noteable Happenings from the Floor

A team from Wisconsin won the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Championship for the second year in a row. Michael Schlund and tender Aaron Kowalski laid 752 bricks in one hour. They took home a trophy, cash, and a brand-new Chevrolet Truck.

Known for quality tractors, KIOTI officially released their compact construction machine line to dealers in August 2023 (their CTL pictured, a skid steer sat behind me). These were designed to be as straight-forward as possible without a lot of the high-tech solutions from other machines. Impressively, a ton of the machinery can be accessed by an easy-to-open swing door at the back for maintenance and repair.The ever-increasingly successful Concrete Industry Management auction raised $1.8 million for their program providing funding for concrete industry management programs in Chico State, Middle Tennessee, New Jersey’s Science and Technology, Texas State, and South Dakota State. Donated auction items included a concrete mixer truck from Mack Trucks Inc. and Revolution Concrete Mixers, a Peterbilt & ConTech mixer truck, a concrete pumper donated by Alliance concrete Pumps & Pape Kenworth, and many others.

If lucky enough to walk by during the ceremony, World of Concrete 2024 attendees were even able to see a marriage in front of the WOC logo installation in the grand entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center. A celebrity minister from Las Vegas officiated the wedding of Patricia and James Estrada on January 24 at noon. Quoted in the official announcement, James says, “I’ve been married to concrete for 30 years, so it was finally time I married Patricia. It felt like the right moment and right place to share the blessings my career has provided.”

The Steel Edge Women of the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association had a demo of their talent and skill throughout World of Concrete. Here a finisher puts the last few touches to their slab.Commenting on the connections made every year at the show, Jackie James, Vice President of World of Concrete says, “The year’s festivities are a true testament of what World of Concrete means to this community. It is inspiring to witness first-hand the connections that are made year after year at the show. Touching lives, fostering meaningful impact, creating memories is what we strive for. Our mission is to always serve the hard-working members of this global industry as we find new ways to unite to share experiences and learnings.”

International contractors seemed to have dominated the Golden Trowel Awards, presented on January 24 by The Face Companies. Golden Trowels were awarded to Chengdu Keyixin Technology Co Ltd. (China) and The Nutcon Corporation (Thailand) both earned two, The George J. Shaw Construction Company (Kansas City), Ciclo Engengharia (Brazil), Alphapiso Tec. Em Pisos (Brazil) and Colasanti South Inc. (Florida). The Face Companies also presented Silver Trowels and one Golden Trowel Asia – an award open to only contractors in Asia.

Productivity

Celebrating its 60-year anniversary, Allen Engineering featured their ROP150-B fully-electric ride-on polisher. It uses 48V lithium ion batteries, providing a 68-in. polishing width, 150 rpn max rotor speed, and weighs 1,000 lbs.Inside and out, happenings all have the potential to affect the concrete industry’s productivity. Tool and light equipment manufacturers added to the concrete contractor’s toolbox. DeWalt, for one, launched its POWERSHIFT equipment system putting out a new line of light equipment for the concrete jobsite from surface preparation, consolidation, to core drilling. Allowing customers with a collection of FlexVolt batteries continue utilizing their investment, they also developed an adaptor – users can pop in a FlexVolt and keep working their POWERSHIFT equipment.

Milwaukee Tool increased their MX FUEL line with a submersible pump, high cycle concrete vibrator, rammer, tower light, battery extension, saw cart, rotary hammer, dust extractor, power supply, circular saw, and a duplex nailer.

Hilti also grew the Nuron line by adding efficiency and simplicity. They announced a few items on the woodworking side, a backpack-like “tool balancer” for heavy demo work, concrete finishing grinder, impact wrench, combi hammer, and a drill driver.

The battery-powered concrete equipment continued inside. The electric Somero S-94Oe produces no emissions, provides 8 hours of run time or 35,000 sq. ft. on a single charge. The company calls it “the future of laser screed technology.”A crowd of people was practically always in the Diablo booth as they demoed their AMPED Rebar Demon dust extraction hammer drill bits and Steel Demon blades. The dust extraction hammer system features a sleeve over the drill bit – which, according to the company, can effectively provide up to 97% dust reduction compared to a convention drilling application. Allowing contractors to cut down on the amount of times you need to clean dust. Following up on their ability to cut down on time for the concrete contractor, Diablo’s carbide reciprocating saw blades was able to stand up to competition in dramatic demos. One situation placed the same tool attached to a 5-lb. weight in an attempt to display a fair test. The Diablo blade was able to cut through and continue with time to spare.

Diablo also showed us their AMPED Demo Demon Starlock and Universal carbide teeth, hole saw Snap-Lock mandrel system, as well as circular saw blades for framing/demo, wood, steel, JamesHardie and fiber cement, finish and plywood, as well as laminate.

GOMACO’s new GT-3600 Hybrid curb and gutter machine provides an estimated 10-15% fuel savings. Its powered by a 74 hp diesel engine and a 48 volt generator/motor and four 7 kWh lithium-ion batteries to provide supplemental power when needed.Already we’ve cut down on changing batteries, decreased emissions by providing a battery-powered options, and keep the work going.

The show had only just begun; I’d barely even made it inside. 

The Marketing mix of Asian Paints analyses the 4Ps of Asian Paints, including the Product, Price, Place, and Promotions. Asian Paints is an Indian public Ltd company headquartered in Mumbai, India. The company manufactures paints that are used for decorative purposes and industrial usage.

This chemical company is India’s largest paints manufacturer and the third largest in Asia. Besides India, Asian Paints also serves as paint and focuses on a global market with the help of its subsidiary companies like Berger International Ltd and SCIB Paints.

The company was founded in 1942, and its MD is K.B.S Anand. Asian Paints faces stiff competition in the market from its competitors. They are as follows.

• Kansai Nerolac
• Berger Paints
• Jenson and Nicholson
• Shalimar Paints

About Asian Paints

• Type: Multinational paint company
• Industry: Paints and coatings
• Founded: 1942, India
• Founders: Champaklal Choksey, Chimanlal Choksi, Suryakant Dani and Arvind Vakil
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Area served: India and other parts of the world
• Current CEO: Abhay Ambani
• Number of employees: Over 17,500
• Major Products: Decorative paints, industrial coatings, and allied products

Asian Paints Product Strategy

Asian Paints manufactures and markets decorative and industrial coatings and provides solutions and services for home and interior wall paintings. All the products of Asian Paints are of the acrylic type with properties such as washability, long-lasting, leakproof, and sunlight protection.

Asian Paints, one of the leading paint companies in Asia, offers a diverse range of products catering to various consumer needs.

The new Product Mix of Asian Paints in 2023 is as follows (Source).

1. Decorative Paints: This category includes interior and exterior wall paints, available in various colors and finishes like matte, glossy, and satin. They offer products for different durability needs and aesthetic preferences.
2. Wall Coverings and Stickers: Asian Paints provides a variety of wall coverings, wallpapers, and decorative stickers, offering customers an alternative to traditional painting.
3. Wood Finishes: The company offers a range of products for wood care, including stains, finishes, and sealers, to protect and enhance the natural beauty of wood surfaces.
4. Metal Finishes: This includes paints and finishes designed specifically for metal surfaces, protecting against rust and corrosion while offering aesthetic appeal.
5. Waterproofing Solutions: Asian Paints supplies various waterproofing products to protect homes from water damage. These include solutions for roofs, walls, and other critical areas prone to water exposure.
6. Adhesives and Sealants: The brand also offers a variety of adhesives and sealants for different construction and repair needs.
7. Primers and Undercoats: These products prepare surfaces before painting, ensuring better paint adhesion and longevity.
8. Professional and Industrial Paints: Asian Paints caters to the industrial segment with high-performance coatings, industrial paints, and solutions for professional use in large-scale projects.
9. Ancillary Products: This includes various painting tools and cleaning agents to aid the painting process and maintain the painted surfaces.
10. Color and Décor Consultation Services: Asian Paints also offers expert color consultation and home décor services to assist customers in choosing the right products and color schemes for their spaces.

Asian Paints’ product mix is designed to cater to various customer needs, from basic home painting to specialized industrial solutions. It is a comprehensive provider in the paints and coatings market.

Asian Paints Place Strategy

Asian Paints has spread its operations globally in at least seventeen countries. In every country, it has set up manufacturing facilities; in eleven out of seventeen, it has become the number one paint manufacturer.

The operations of Asian Paints are held through a network of five regions worldwide via the Caribbean, Middle East, South Pacific, South East, and South Asia. A massive research and development center has been opened in India.

The company has a dedicated and well-organized workforce, which enables it to harness all the available information and technology solutions to increase the efficiency of its operations. Asian Paints Asian paint marketing has sidestepped the segment of bulk buyers and has gone directly to the individual customer.

At first, it concentrated on the semi-urban and rural areas and later on the urban areas. After entering the retail market, it initiated an open-door policy for the dealers and started nationwide marketing and a distribution strategy. It has six manufacturing locations, 70 sales branches, 15,000 dealers, and numerous warehouses. This intricate network, along with sales managers, executives, and the sales team, handles all manufacturing and distribution steps.

Here’s the place strategy of Asian Paints.

1. Extensive Dealer Network: Asian Paints has established a vast dealer network across various regions, ensuring its products are readily available in numerous retail paint stores. This widespread distribution network makes it convenient for customers to access their products regardless of location.
2. Company-Owned Stores and Experience Centers: Asian Paints operates company-owned stores and experience centers in key urban locations. These centers sell products and provide customers with an immersive experience, offering expert consultations and showcasing different paint applications and techniques.
3. Online Presence and E-commerce Platforms: Understanding the importance of digital accessibility, Asian Paints offers its products online on its own website and through various e-commerce platforms. This online presence caters to the convenience of digital-savvy customers and expands their market reach.
4. Partnerships with Home Improvement and Hardware Stores: Asian Paints collaborates with home improvement stores and hardware chains to place their products in locations where consumers are likely to seek painting and renovation materials, enhancing visibility and accessibility.
5. Strategic Placement in Industrial and Professional Markets: For its industrial and professional range, Asian Paints strategically places its products in specialized industrial supply stores and through direct sales to large clients. This targeted approach effectively allows them to reach professional and industrial customers with specific needs.

Asian Paints Pricing Strategy

To implement a balanced pricing policy for Asian paint products, Asian Paints has been closely monitoring the markets. The pricing decisions lean heavily on raw materials, petro-products, taxes, excise duty, and other factors. Even the increase or decrease in the competitor’s prices affects a brand heavily. That is why constant watch and periodic evaluation of its pricing strategy has become necessary for a high-profile company like Asian Paints.

Asian Paints has kept a very flexible pricing policy. It has created various sub-brands for the various sections of the society. The price range is kept according to the properties of every brand. All the products are of excellent quality with some add-on features. The marketing strategy of the Asian part has maintained a value-based pricing policy, with prices going up and down as per the market situation.

Asian Paints employs a dynamic pricing strategy that balances market competitiveness with brand value. The critical facets of their pricing approach:

1. Value-Based Pricing: Asian Paints sets prices based on the perceived value of its products. High-quality finishes, durability, and brand reputation justify a premium price point for specific product lines, appealing to customers who seek top-tier quality and are willing to pay for it.
2. Competitive Pricing: In highly competitive segments, particularly for basic and essential paint products, Asian Paints adopts a competitive pricing strategy. This ensures their offerings are more attractive than competitors, catering to cost-conscious consumers.
3. Product Line Pricing: The company employs a product line pricing strategy, with a wide range of products priced at different levels. From economical options for budget-conscious customers to premium products for those seeking luxury finishes, this approach allows them to cater to a broad spectrum of customers.
4. Dynamic Pricing for Raw Material Fluctuations: Given the dependence on raw materials whose prices may fluctuate (like titanium dioxide), Asian Paints adjusts its prices in response to these changes. This dynamic pricing helps in maintaining profitability while dealing with cost variations.
5. Psychological Pricing: Implementing psychological pricing tactics, such as pricing products just below a round number (e.g., ?499 instead of ?500), is a common strategy to make prices appear more attractive and improve sales.
6. Promotional and Seasonal Discounts: Asian Paints often introduces promotional pricing during festive seasons or through discounts and offers. This strategy boosts sales during peak periods and encourages the trial and adoption of new products.
7. Segmented Pricing for Services: For their value-added services like color consultation and home décor, Asian Paints might use segmented pricing, offering these premium services at different prices to cater to diverse customer needs and willingness to pay.
8. Geographical Pricing Variations: Considering the vast market that Asian Paints caters to, they may also adopt geographical pricing strategies, where prices vary based on regional economic factors, competition, and distribution costs.

Through this multifaceted pricing and marketing strategy, however, Asian Paints effectively addresses the diverse needs of its customers, ensuring market relevance and appeal across different segments while maintaining its stance as a paint and coatings industry leader.

Asian Paints Promotion Strategy

The mascot for Asian Paints is Gattu, and the cartoonist R.K Laxman created it in 1954. Gattu, who had an endearing appearance with his hair locks dangling over his right eye, became a trendy figure. After reigning Asian paint marketing strategy for over four decades, it was phased out in a rebranding initiative in 2002.

Even the logo was changed to display an upmarket and contemporary look that denoted technology and sophistication. All the promotional activities of Asian Paints are based on the fact that the company is all about the family and its members, along with their homes, which are reflections of each other.

The slogan “Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai” is a prime example of the brand trying to connect with people’s emotions. The famous actor pair of brother and sister Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan have endorsed its brand Royale. Actor Akshay Khanna has also been a part of the promotional activities. Currently, Deepika Padukone has taken over the brand endorsement. The promotions also include incentives to the painters, distribution of t-shirts and caps, and added privileges to its members.

Finally, the best brand elements for the brand are its wide distribution network, the quality of its products, and its repeated marketing communications, reminding the end customer that Asian Paints is the best paint brand out there.

Some Recent Video ads and Print ads for Asian Paints are:

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Home Skills Painting

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Dark Walls

Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, says that “in general, darker, moodier colors are becoming popular for both the interior and exterior of the home.

Specifically, we are seeing lots of deep greens and navy hues gain popularity.” Her favorite? The timeless, versatile Naval SW 6244. Use it in the bedroom for the ultimate sleep space or in the kitchen for a farmhouse-chic cooking space.

But doesn’t dark paint make a room look small? To avoid a stuffy home, Teris Pantazes, CEO and co-founder of Settle Rite Home Repairs, recommends “keeping the darker colors to rooms that have higher ceilings and natural light and keeping the ceiling white.”

Written by: Amy R. Remo

Everything moves at an unprecedented pace nowadays.

Thanks to emerging technologies, tools, and platforms, consumers today are better equipped to match the rapid pace of contemporary living, while enjoying greater convenience, comfort, and access to resources. Businesses are meanwhile able to capitalize on these breakthroughs to further bolster operational efficiencies and optimize their processes.

As these advancements continue to reshape businesses and redefine consumer expectations however, a growing demand for new and sophisticated solutions is compelling companies to deliver products and services that do not only meet, but also exceed these evolving needs.

Clearly, innovation is no longer a choice, but a necessity for companies to remain relevant in a fiercely competitive market.

Pioneering solutions

There are, however, companies like Ayala Land Inc. where innovation has long been a cornerstone of their operations.

From the initial stages of conceptualization to the delivery of developments, Ayala Land has consistently sought for innovative ideas that would allow it to pioneer solutions that can better address needs, create better value for all stakeholders, and raise benchmarks in the industry.

Beyond its core operations, this commitment extends to Ayala Land subsidiaries Makati Development Corp. (MDC) and Ayala Property Management Corp. (APMC), where the property giant has introduced groundbreaking initiatives that enhance efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.

Data-driven approach 

MDC, for example, takes a data-driven approach to construction using integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology. These have since helped simplify and optimize facade inspections as well as revolutionize various aspects of the construction lifecycle.

In particular, MDC uses AI for quality control inspection before handover; a more optimized construction scheduling to avoid delays and generate cost savings; expansion of coverage to projects beyond the defects and liability period; extension of services to the Ayala Group and other non-Ayala Land projects; and for the upskilling of workers who are being trained to use AI-driven technologies, among others.

With this approach, MDC can reduce risk of fall incidents, ensure 100 percent coverage of inspection with 92 percent accuracy of identified defects, cut unnecessary costs, and speed up turnaround time (TAT) from inspection to report generation, without sacrificing on quality.

Based on the result of MDC’s pilot projects, the TAT using AI and drones was reduced to only five working days from the minimum 35 days it took using conventional inspection processes.

At the same time, the use of AI will further support Ayala Land’s lofty goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), specifically on providing decent work, promoting industry and innovation, and ensuring the sustainability of cities and communities.

“AI has opened new doors for ALI and MDC in its constant pursuit of execution excellence. We are now beginning to see how AI can improve day-to-day operations across different functions in the ALI-MDC product timeline from pre-construction, construction, and post-construction stages,” said MDC president and CEO Dante M. Abando.

Personalized experiences

APMC, the property management arm of Ayala Land, meanwhile has introduced the mobile app called “@Home by APMC”. This updated app offers Ayala Land residents a swift and personalized experience, enabling them to efficiently manage property-related tasks and access essential services with ease.

“At APMC, we prioritize enhancing our customers’ living experience, with unwavering dedication to their satisfaction,” shared APMC president and CEO Laurent Lamasuta. “Through the @Home app, residents gain access to a centralized platform for instant community updates, direct communication with our property management team, instantaneous service requests, and hassle-free amenity bookings—all from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, they enjoy convenient access to viewing real time statements of account and making online payments, seamlessly integrated at their fingertips.”

@Home by APMC is set to revolutionize property management, raising the bar for customer service excellence within the real estate industry. Its innovative features and seamless functionality will undoubtedly redefine standards, ensuring an unparalleled experience for residents.

These are just some of the many initiatives that exemplify how Ayala Land continuously pushes the boundaries of innovation and excellence to drive positive change, to better serve its stakeholders, and to reshape the future of urban living.

ADVT. 

Holiday Inn Express Southwark hotel building, South London accommodation news

30 March 2024

Location: Southwark, south London, south east England, UK

Design: Studio Moren architects

Studio Moren wins permission for third extension at Holiday Inn Express Southwark

Image created by Rockhunter

Holiday Inn Express Southwark hotel news

Studio Moren has won planning permission for a seven-storey extension to the Holiday Inn Express Southwark.

The extension will be the third undertaken at the property by Studio Moren and will add accommodation for hotel guests and create an additional F&B offering.

The project will add a further 35 rooms to the hotel, 11 more than the initial feasibility study indicated was possible, taking the room count to 184.

Studio Moren previously extended the site in 2011 and 2015, the former prior to the London 2012 Paralympics, with the intention of innovating in accessible and inclusive design. In addition, the group introduced a number of systems to reduce the building’s carbon footprint, including a rainwater harvesting system and irrigation to the green/living wall on the rear external elevation.

The new extension has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent rating, through the use of solar panels, an extensive green roof and ground-level planters, which will also serve to enhance the hotel’s surroundings.

Paul Wells, Partner, Studio Moren said: “The growth of the Holiday Inn Express Southwark over the years is a testimony to the success of our clients, RBH Management, and a matter of pride to us, given our involvement during the different stages of its lifecycle.

“The latest – and final – phase, will see us meet the challenge of adding rooms to satisfy growing demand for this popular location, which we achieved by employing the existing rear under-used parking area.

“We have carefully designed the extension to maximise room count, foot print and create a secondary F&B space for use at key pressure times throughout the day. We also have revisited the refuse storage, servicing layout and kitchen provision to better serve both the existing and proposed guest rooms and introducing new active frontage to improve the hotel’s appearance in the neighbourhood.”

RBH’s Chief Technical Officer, Gregor MacNaughton, commented: “It has been a pleasure to work with the Studio Moren team again to help further develop our initial design and to finally obtain formal consent. Capital projects is a significant part of our business so it’s great to be able to work with our established partners to deliver for our hotel owners.”

The design completes the urban block, creating a homogeneous building. Studio Moren has set the sixth floor back with a contemporary dark grey tiled mansard to respond to the neighbouring period building, soften the corner and acknowledge the rear sites location as secondary to Southwark Street.

It has also extended the grid pattern across the fourth side of the central courtyard, over the car park entry, completing the urban block to create a more visually pleasing aesthetic.

The elevation that wraps the corner between Bear Lane and Prices Street features a distinct, curved façade above a two-storey glazed plinth, and has been carefully designed to sympathetically join with the period, brick warehouse elevation of the existing hotel wing along Price’s Street.

Image created by Rockhunter

Studio Moren

Studio Moren is an award-winning practice of 70 architecture and interior design specialists, working right across the hospitality spectrum. Over the past 32 years in business we have established a world-renowned reputation as leaders in hospitality design, based on our ability to deliver intelligent, creative and bespoke solutions which meld both developer and operator requirements.

With a design-led ethos of ‘creating places people want to stay’, we have taken our hospitality experience into other sectors including resorts, serviced apartments, build-to-rent, co-living and co-working. We are passionate, commercially astute and committed to producing beautiful buildings and interiors that respond to location and context.
www.studiomoren.co.uk

Holiday Inn Express Southwark hotel building images / information received March 2024 from Studio Moren architects

Location: Southwark, South London, England, United Kingdom

Another South London building design by Dexter Moren Associates on e-architect:

New Southwark Hotel Building, New Marlborough Yard, Waterloo

image courtesy of Dexter Moren Associates, architects
Southwark Hotel Building

Southwark Building Designs

Contemporary Southwark Architecture Designs – recent architectural selection from e-architect below:

New student residence, Tiverton Street, Elephant & Castle
Design: Maccreanor Lavington architects

image courtesy of architects practice
Elephant & Castle student residence, Southwark

Canada Water Dockside, Canada Water, London SE16
Design: HWKN

image : Art-Invest Real Estate
Art-Invest Real Estate’s Canada Water Dockside

LB Southwark SILS3, Peckham
Design: Tim Ronalds Architects

photo : Jim Stephenson
LB Southwark SILS3 Peckham

Trafalgar Place, former Heygate Estate
Design: dRMM, Architects

image © Alex de Rijke
Trafalgar Place Elephant & Castle

University of the Arts and LCC HQ
Architects: Penoyre & Prasad

image courtesy of architects studio
University of the Arts and LCC HQ in Elephant & Castle

Elephant & Castle Allies & Morrison Masterplan Design
Design: Allies & Morrison, architects

image courtesy of architecture studio
Elephant & Castle Allies & Morrison Masterplan

The Old Vic Building, The Cut
Architect: Bennetts Associates
The Old Vic Building

London Building Designs

Contemporary London Architecture Designs

London Architecture Designs – chronological list

London Architecture Tours – tailored UK capital city walks by e-architect

London Architecture News

London Architects Offices

Buildings / photos for the Holiday Inn Express Southwark hotel building accommodation design by Studio Moren architects UK page welcome