Sturdy surfaces at the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe
Involving areas of high footfall, sensitive animal and plant environments, and strict demands for maintaining healthy, durable conditions, renovating the vivarium at the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe was anything but an everyday project. In this interview, master painter and restorer Ignaz Pitz talks about why he chose SÜDWEST paints for the job – and what made this project site so unusual.

Ignaz Pitz, what exactly was involved in this project?
The State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe was in urgent need of renovation – particularly in the areas around the large aquarium in the vivarium, which attract a lot of visitors. Specifically, our task was to repaint the counters and exteriors of the aquariums. There were six of us working on the project in total, and it took around two and a half weeks to complete.

What requirements did the coating build-up have to meet?
They were very strict – partly because of the large number of visitors and the strain they put on the area, and partly because of the animals and plants there. The museum is home to Germany’s largest living coral reef, and coral is sensitive to even the tiniest changes in odour, temperature, or air quality. That meant the paint had to be water-based and completely odour-free, and had to have no impact on the environment.

Which SÜDWEST products did you use?
We used AquaVision All-Grund for the priming coat and AquaVision 2K-Seidenmattlack as a finishing lacquer. They made an ideal combination for the project because of their technical properties and their compatibility with the sensitive conditions.

What did you find particularly impressive when applying them?
Quite simply, they were easy to apply and showed good adhesion. The time for application – around six hours – was perfect, especially because the areas were quite warm and there had to be a constant source of ventilation. That made things at the site reliable and allowed us to work flexibly.

Were there any specific challenges you had to deal with?
Yes, the edges of the counters: these are exposed to perspiration, saliva, and significant mechanical stress on a daily basis. AquaVision All-Grund and AquaVision 2K-Seidenmattlack allowed us to build up an excellent layer thickness on them. What’s more, the two-component silk matt paint is resistant to saliva and perspiration in accordance with DIN 53160 – a huge benefit.

How important was it to consider standards and certificates when choosing the products?
It was very important. AquaVision 2K-Seidenmattlack complies with the requirements that toy safety standard EN 71-3 sets for the migration of heavy metals, and is entirely free from isocyanates. That’s a huge advantage in an environment with such sensitive living organisms, of course.

You’ve been working with SÜDWEST products for many years. How did this come about?
I’ve been working as an independent restorer since 1990 and have built up my business with my wife and son over many years. I’ve used SÜDWEST paints since day one – for me, it all started with the All-Grund products. The quality has never let me down.