How we help to protect UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Preserving cultural identity

Over the years, our paints and coatings have transformed and revitalized everything from single buildings to entire towns, including Kuşadası in Türkiye, Portofino in Italy and Sortland in Norway – not forgetting Komic in India, the world’s highest motorable village.

By using our expertise to protect buildings, we’re helping to preserve architectural heritage and cultural identity. We’re also underlining our commitment to painting the future for communities all over the world.

Something we’re especially proud of is the support we’ve given to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These projects highlight the vital role that paints and coatings can play in protecting a building’s distinctive character for generations to come.

Here’s a brief look at some of the UNESCO sites around the world that feature our products.

Kinderdijk, the Netherlands

In 2024, our Sikkens brand signed a six-year agreement to help preserve the iconic 18^th century windmills at Kinderdijk in the Netherlands. The partnership involves using our technical expertise and innovative coatings to help protect the 19 windmills – built around 1740 – and restore them to their original colors.

Located approximately 15 kilometers east of Rotterdam, most of the windmills are still inhabited, with one family having been resident for ten generations. The site is a long-established tourist attraction, with more than 350,000 people visiting every year.

The agreement builds on a relationship which AkzoNobel first established with the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation in 2016.

Malacca, Malaysia

Our Dulux brand first partnered with the state government in Malacca in 2014, when 26 heritage buildings and monuments were repainted. Ten years later, we carried out another project to refresh the historic city’s unique architecture.

As well as developing a special shade of red to refresh the Stadthuys (city hall) and surrounding buildings in the old town square, our Dulux products were also used to coat shophouse façades along the Malacca River.

Once a thriving center for trade and cultural exchange between East and West, Malacca developed into the most important trading port in South East Asia during the 16th century. It’s now one of Malaysia’s most alluring destinations.

Weston Tower, Westminster Abbey, London, UK

History was made at Westminster Abbey in 2018 with the first major addition to the famous church since 1745 – and our Powder Coatings business supplied products for the prestigious project. The Weston Tower features 500 leaded windows and every window frame is protected with our Interpon powder coatings.

The frames are coated with Interpon D2525 Anodic Bronze finish and BPP600 barrier primer, which provide a perfect color match and long-lasting protection.

The tower provides staircase and lift access to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, located in an area which had never been open to the public before. The exhibition space displays more than 300 precious regal and religious artefacts.

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Started by Antoni Gaudi in 1882, Barcelona’s architectural masterpiece finally reached its maximum height of 172.5 meters in February 2026, having already become the world’s tallest church just a few months earlier.

The world famous structure is protected by our Interpon powder coatings, which have been used on several parts of the building, including the enclosures and the balconies of the high conic towers. As well as providing weathering resistance, the superdurable products are also highly resistant to color change.

Visited by millions of people every year, the basilica has 18 towers, including the recently completed Jesus Christ Central Tower. Building work is expected to finish in 2026, marking 100 years since Gaudi’s death.