When it came to providing an external finish to Madinat Jumeirah, Mirage Mille, DSA Architects, Al Habtoor Murray and Roberts and Bu Haleeba/Alec turned to RMC Topmix to create an external appearance, which would reflect the construction heritage, traditional textures and colours of the UAE.

“The exteriors of buildings in Madinat Al Jumeirah are a testimony of how well RMC Topmix can meet the demands of clients, consultants and contractors,” says a spokesman for Topmix. “The final finish achieved reflects the random texture of traditional buildings and the colours of the local environment.”
“Architects, landscape architects, interior designers and engineers all agree that the exterior finish is one of the most important design elements of any construction project,” he says. “It is rare to find a product that can satisfy the needs of the client, consultant and contractor. However, RMC Topmix provides such a solution.
RMC Topmix’s Ready Spread Colour Plaster and Ready Colour Concrete offer a classic appearance, enhance the aesthetic appeal and structural strength and are user-friendly. They are available in a wide range of fade-resistant colours and textures.
“It is a unique product line developed by batching readymixed retarded mortars, plasters and screeds, under factory conditions to meet the most stringent quality control demands,” explains the spokesman. “RMC Topmix has formulated these products using the RMC Group’s worldwide experience and research and development programme. Besides being extremely low on maintenance, they are easy to use and are economical when compared to paints and traditional renders.”
Chromix admixtures for Colour Conditioned Concrete and Plasters by L M Scofield Company of the US were incorporated in both the Ready Spread Colour Plaster and Ready Colour Concrete and were used by RMC’s application division, RMC Turath, on the pool decks at the Mina A’ Salam Hotel. Here the specification called for a finish that was both attractive and appealing and yet would help keep the area cool for bare feet.
The solution offered and ultimately applied by RMC Turath, was Ready Colour Concrete with a ‘rock salt finish’, used widely in the hot climates of southern US.
“By creating many small voids in the surface of the concrete, RMC Turath provided pockets for trapping splashed water and reduced the surface area in contact with bare feet, thus helping to reduce the effects of heat,” the spokesman says.
RMC Topmix is part of RMC Group – an international establishment that operates in 29 countries across the globe – and has been in operation in the UAE for almost a decade now. The company has successfully completed prestigious projects such as the Royal Mirage Hotel Resort, the children’s museum and the Grand Hyatt Hotel, all in Dubai, and Al Hamra Fort in Ras Al Khaimah, using Ready Spread Colour Plaster and Ready Colour Concrete.
These two products are just a part of the extensive range of products and systems developed by RMC Topmix for the UAE market, says the spokesman. The company offers materials including Ready Spread Mortar, Ready Spread Grey Plaster, Ready Screed K-screed, stamped textured concrete, exposed colour glass and concrete and Ready Mortar for artificial rockwork finish, the spokesman concludes.