Modelling mortar from MC

Whether artificial rock landscapes, antique-looking temple façades or natural-looking tree structures – designed surfaces play a central role in today's leisure and experience architecture. They create atmosphere and bring spaces to life. The focus is not only on creative ideas, but also on choosing the right materials that combine design freedom with technical durability. 

One example of this is MC-RockMortar modelling mortar from MC-Bauchemie. It enables detailed, durable modelling – from zoo facilities to hotel and wellness areas to theme parks. At the same time, they also offer decisive advantages in the field of old building restoration: thanks to their malleability, workability and resistance, damaged facades and a wide variety of surfaces such as masonry, half-timbered or wooden structures can not only be restored true to the original, but also creatively reprofiled.

Whether in amusement parks, hotel complexes, thermal baths, wellness areas or zoos – impressively designed landscapes with rock formations, walls, trees, sculptures or architectural elements such as temple complexes or grottos shape the experience for many visitors. These backdrops often look so realistic that it is difficult to tell that they are not natural or historical structures. A key design element in such projects is mouldable special mortars such as MC-RockMortar sculpting mortars from MC-Bauchemie. They enable the creation of freely mouldable surfaces with a high level of detail – from lifelike rock imitations and organic shapes to stylised architectural elements. The mortar systems are not only flexible in terms of design, but also meet high technical requirements in terms of durability, weather resistance and workability.

This opens up a wide range of possibilities for planners, architects, artists and designers – both in creative staging and in the functional implementation of complex construction and design concepts. The combination of technical precision and artistic freedom makes these materials a central component of modern themed and experiential architecture.

The product family comprises three microsilica-modified modelling mortars: MC-RockMortar H, HS and L. All can be applied by hand or using wet spraying techniques and are ideal for delicate design work, such as modelling artificial rock formations, tree bark, animal enclosure boundaries, grottos, temple facades or decorative wall reliefs. MC-RockMortar H is particularly suitable for creating mechanically and statically resilient structures such as climbing and playground rocks. Its impermeability and frost resistance make it suitable for a wide range of applications. Thanks to its high carbonation resistance and low effective alkali content, MC-RockMortar HS is suitable for sculpting work on mechanically stressed and sulphate-stressed artificial rock surfaces, e.g. in seawater areas – an important property for use in open or weather-exposed areas. MC-RockMortar L is ideal for less demanding applications, such as large-scale backdrops or free-form, non-load-bearing sculptures and cosmetic work. Both HS and L are also highly sulphate-resistant, making them ideal for use in demanding environments such as wellness areas, sauna landscapes or animal enclosures with high humidity.

All three sculpting mortars impress with their weather resistance: they are resistant to high temperatures, frost and de-icing salts. At the same time, they are available in a range of colours, which makes it much easier to create detailed replicas of rock formations, stalactite caves, walls, trees, sculptures or temple complexes. The combination of texture and colour replication not only achieves realistic results, but also allows the ageing process to proceed naturally: as the sculpture mortars contain calcium carbonate, among other things, they develop similar weathering marks to sandstone over time. Algae growth, colour changes and surface changes contribute to the structures often looking even more authentic after a few years than they did immediately after completion.

Thanks to their malleability, workability and durability, MC-RockMortar modelling mortars are not only suitable for restoring damaged old building façades, but also for creative re-profiling indoors and outdoors. With the so-called matrix technique, almost all structures and textures can be recreated – from classic masonry to half-timbered looks to wood structures. MC-RockMortar thus offers maximum design freedom and technical reliability, especially for the renovation of listed buildings or the stylish redesign of historic buildings.