The “New National Gallery” in Berlin, Germany is a unique building – and underwent a very special renovation between 2015 and 2021. Both, the interior and exterior of this icon of classical modernism were completely renovated.
Modernizing without compromising
It was an immense challenge when the Berlin architectural firm David Chipperfield Architects was commissioned to renovate the New National Gallery from the ground up. The task was to enable modern museum operations in the building, which was constructed between 1965 and 1968. At the same time, the character of the visionary museum building designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was to be largely preserved and undergo as few visible changes as possible.
The building suffered from numerous defects: damage to the concrete, frequent glass breakage on the characteristic glass facade, deficiencies in the building services and fire protection, a leaking steel roof and cracks in the pavement of the large granite terrace.
30,000 original components removed
In order to make as few changes as possible, over 30,000 original components were removed, stored, refurbished in special workshops, and reinstalled. The removed objects included interior wall cladding, ceiling grilles, light fixtures, and facade and terrace panels.
The large outdoor terrace was also renovated at such enormous expense. The pavement had previously been laid only loosely on chippings without drainage. Damage, to be expected in such cases, such as unevenness and cracks in the pavement, did not fail to appear over time. During the refurbishment, all the natural stone slabs on the 7,000-square-meter area – most of them measuring 1200 x 1200 x 40 mm – were reconditioned and relaid in their old place.
“I have never experienced an effort of this magnitude before,” recalls expert consultant Andreas Pfeiffer from Gutjahr Systemtechnik, who was at the construction site several times. “Every stone was picked up, individually numbered, stored 40 kilometers away and then reinstalled.”
Renovating the exterior
The biggest challenge in the terrace renovation was the insufficient slope of the waterproofing layer, which was only between 0.5 and one percent. In this case, backwater in puddles is unavoidable. According to codes, at least two percent slope is common for waterproofing in outdoor areas. In order to offer the best possible solution under these special conditions, the drainage specialists from Gutjahr created special test areas. With slabs taken from the existing pavement, it was possible to test different construction variants and their load-bearing capacities.
The decision was finally made in favor of the AquaDrain T+ surface drainage system from Gutjahr – in 16 mm thickness and as a special design with a thicker wall. The AquaDrain T+ drainage system, which was specially developed for loose laying of natural and artificial stone, is capillary-passive and ensures fast and permanent drainage of the covering structure. The drainage channels form a capillary-breaking air layer which prevents damp spots on the granite slabs – even when shallow puddles remain on the waterproofing.
Once the entire area had been sealed with bitumen welding sheets, work could begin on laying the drainage system and re-laying the granite slabs on a bed of chippings: each individual granite slab in its former location, like a gigantic puzzle.
The installation went smoothly – thanks to the good cooperation of all those involved in the extensive refurbishment project. “The cooperation with the architects and Gutjahr Systemtechnik was perfect,” emphasizes site manager Manuela Figaschewsky. “At one point or another, we discussed the execution and made some changes, but always in close cooperation. And regardless of who I approached at Gutjahr, a joint solution was always developed immediately,” says the site manager.
In total, the renovation of the national gallery took six years until the striking museum building could be reopened to the public in August 2021.
On one of the most beautiful stretches of Lake Constance, the new Therme Lindau invites you to swim and relax. Spacious indoor and outdoor areas with over 20 pools – from the plunge pool and the 50-meter swimming pool to the brine pool – offer the greatest variety. Themed saunas and restaurants top off the beautiful offering.
As grand as the design of the spa and the view, so were the challenges the tile setters faced. “As with any swimming pool, first and foremost everything revolves around impermeability,” explains master tiler Christoph Reiser of Reiser GmbH in Bad Saulgau. “Then there are the many special features and details: the brine pool with its aggressive water, the stainless-steel sports pool, the water bars, the 30 x 60 cm tiles as well as the many mosaic tiles. We laid some of them in organic shapes.“
Decisions on site
Seemingly floating: If you look out over the large pool through the glass front, the water surface connects with Lake Constance. The effect is similar to that of an infinity pool. Before the elements come together in such a seemingly weightless way, the pool surround made of natural stone had to be precisely installed. “My employees measured it on site – and then had it manufactured so that the pieces interlocked like a puzzle,” Reiser continues.
Consider movement
The connection of the tile to the large stainless-steel basin came with its own challenges and ARDEX employees visited the construction site regularly. “We were there again and again with our specialists to discuss the requirements,” says Jochen Polonyi, Sales Representative of ARDEX Germany. “This allowed us to understand the situation and propose individual solutions in cooperation with our Technical Service and the research and development center.“
The procedure they came up with was unique and perfect for the situation: The craftsmen first degreased the stainless-steel rim and bonded the sealing membrane with the heavy-duty sealing compound ARDEX S2-K PU. The adjacent screed edge was neatly filled with ARDEX A 46 stable exterior filler so that it was flush with the stainless-steel edge. Then the recesses were further sealed with epoxy resin and covered with sealing tape.
Sealing without sanding
The brine pool is a special highlight of the spa – and at the same time another challenge for waterproofing with its minerals and salts. The tilers were able to work with the heavy-duty waterproofing ARDEX S2-K PU once again. “We are absolutely thrilled with the quality,” says master tiler Reiser. “Above all, not having to sand is a huge advantage. It saved us time and we didn’t have to dispose of any leftover sand.”
In the brine pool, as in all other wet areas, the epoxy adhesive ARDEX WA was used. It is particularly suitable for areas subject to high chemical or mechanical stresses, such as swimming pools and spas. The surge tanks were sealed with the flexible sealing slurry ARDEX S7 PLUS. The advantage: the consistency can be variably adjusted. This meant that the waterproofing could be sprayed by machine onto ceilings and walls in the surge water tanks.
Progress at Lake Constance
In total, 12,000 square meters of tiles and mosaics had to be laid. And the delicate manual work takes time. ARDEX S8 FLOW was specifically developed to level and waterproof large areas fast and can be applied with a squeegee standing up. “My employees really want to work with ARDEX S8 FLOW and always ask for it,” says tile professional Reiser. “It’s just easy to work with, and it goes on faster.” To waterproof and level the substrate for the 30 x 60 cm tiles, ARDEX S8 FLOW was applied in two coats.
Implementing new ideas
During the construction phase, there were always changes and additions. Like the bathhouse that was additionally built. “We fully trusted the architect’s vision. Any new idea he brought up, we made it happen,” says Reiser. All the enclosures around the sauna ovens were to be clad in porcelain stoneware tiles. “It was important that the tile adhesive was also heat-resistant.” That’s why ARDEX X 77 was used. The fiber reinforced MICROTEC flexible adhesive is ideal for bonding tiles made of stoneware and porcelain stoneware, concrete and natural stone slabs.
After 16 months of work with an average of 15 employees, Christoph Reiser is pleased with the result. “It was a great team effort on the construction site. Everyone did their part.” The spa has been open to visitors since the summer of 2021.
SITUATION
Rolf Benz is Germany’s best-known, design-oriented furniture brand. Worldwide, it’s known for premium furniture, a classy look and outstanding quality. The manufacturer recently decided to redesign the exhibition centre at its headquarters in Nagold, Germany.
SOLUTION
The outcome is impressive: an elegant cube houses the new, central reception along with three showrooms. A distinctive decorative floor displays a unique character, providing the Rolf Benz entrée with a prestigious feel and perfectly augmenting the sense of high-quality spaciousness. The modern cube, made of concrete and glass, was designed as a joining element linking two existing buildings. The plain cube was chosen to express restraint, in terms of its shape and material, resulting in modern, high-quality architecture.
The challenge was to produce the 400 square metres of flooring for the new entrée in the centre of the complex whose appearance corresponded to that of the two older, adjoining halls. The highly frequented floors in the reception area called for an extremely hard-wearing material that, at the same time, was very flexible in its design and would forge a link with the existing floors. PANDOMO Loft by ARDEX was chosen; an extremely durable, decorative smoothing compound with an unusual surface finish that can be installed particularly quickly.
Three layers of thinly troweled PANDOMO Loft were applied to the underlying cement screed in a light shade of gray. To achieve the required finish matching the neighboring halls, it was decided to design a smooth, calm look using a special technique to achieve the look-and-feel of the existing magnesite screeds: when it came to troweling the final layer, instead of using the usual special tools recommended for light floors, they used plain metal trowels, creating the unique metal patina – a sort of “used look”.
The outcome delighted the planners and clients alike. The floors are one of a kind, highly individual, spacious and virtually seamless bearing their own distinctive signature.
SITUATION
In 2019, ADIDAS was looking at a new store concept for their locations all over the world. ARDEX was fortunate to work with Stadler Interior Service to adopt the concept, starting with their first store in Wertheim, Germany at the end of 2019.
SOLUTION
The product chosen for the store concept was PANDOMO K 3 FloorPlus, which is a gray, cementitious floor covering allowing for an almost unlimited range of design options. The product’s load-bearing capacity is equivalent to that of parquet floors or natural stone which makes it a durable solution for retail stores. All stores ranged from 500 and 1,200 m²
After the completion of the first store in Germany, many more facilities following, including locations in UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Most recently, the stores in Salzburg, Austria and Brussels, Belgium were realised in May / June 2021. More shops will follow this year in Spain and France.
The next projects are already in the works for China and Hong Kong – showing ADIDAS is also interested in the concept from Europe there.
To learn more about the PANDOMO line of products, visit the website here: www.pandomo.com
SITUATION:
Düsseldorf has a new landmark. The skyline is now even better thanks to the award-winning Sky Office building at Kennedydamm. Christoph Ingenhoven designed the 89 m tower in a transparent casing with 23 floors and an office area of more than 30,000 m2.
The interior is clear and light. The ceiling-high glass creates a working atmosphere that is engulfed in light. On the ground floor, the signature of the building with its impressive entrance and inviting cafeteria is further supported by an unusual choice of material and colour for the flooring. The designers purposefully chose an exclusive pure white floor with a traditional terrazzo look – over 1,300 m2. This gives the room its own character: the simple white of the floor defines the atmosphere.
CHALLENGES:
- 89m tower in a transparent casing with 23 floors and an office area of more than 30,000 m2.
- Pure floors for a one-off design.
- An unusual choice of material and colour for the flooring over 1,300m2
SOLUTION:
The result is a pure and modern look, which succeeds in not being too cold. Seamless over a large surface – a continuous and calming look. A personalised shade of special white with fine additives makes the floor unique. A new, high-quality concept was chosen to achieve this effect in the floor design.
Design quality and fast and economic application were decisive during planning. Just as important was the high durability of the material and the implementation possibilities even on raised flooring.
PANDOMO® TerrazzoMicro allows smooth and finely-sanded high-quality floors to be created with a typical terrazzo look. It consists of a shrinkage compensated binding agent and a fine decorative aggregate created from various mineral additives. The design and colour can be individually chosen. The incorporated natural stone aggregate makes the floor appear more natural and organic. In the Sky Office, a white binding agent was mixed with a light aggregate to create the standard decorative aggregate.
This monochrome colour scheme required a lot of precision when being laid to rule out any discrepancies in the colour of the surface. But the material still allowed for high quality over a large surface area. Raised flooring was used as a base on which PANDOMO® ATS floor filler followed by PANDOMO® TerrazzoMicro with a layer thickness of 14 mm was laid. The entire surface was then sanded numerous times. The result is high-quality, homogenous surfaces laid in an incredibly short.
SITUATION:
The new ThyssenKrupp headquarters is the workplace for more than 2,000 employees in Essen and represents the new centerpiece of the company. In this building the client wanted an unusual place for employees and visitors to reflex and find their inner balance.
The architect designed an ambitious room with a seven meter tall foyer and an adjacent main room with a free floating cube in the center. The architect wanted a homogeneous design for all the surfaces in the room.
CHALLENGES:
- Seven meter tall walls
- Cube focal point that is suspended from the ceiling
- Seamless floor
- Homogeneous floor, walls and ceiling
SOLUTION:
ARDEX Germany offered PANDOMO® by ARDEX as a solution. The PANDOMO® System is a solution where one style of material can be applied on all surfaces. On the walls and ceiling they used PANDOMO® Wall in a light crème color. On the floor PANDOMO® Floor and PANDOMO® Loft was utilized. These products give the impression of a room cut from stone without any joints. All surfaces have a silky noble gloss which gives the room a simple, high quality elegance.
PARTICIPANTS:
Installers:
- Heinz Vorwerk GmbH – Warendorf, Germany
- Otto – Aman GmbH – Beelen, Germany
Architects:
- JSWD Architects – Köln, Germany
- Chaix & Morel and Associates – Paris, France
SITUATION:
The Iserlohn Roosters have a lot planned for this season. The Sauerland team wants to score not only in the German ice hockey league, but also with its fans and sponsors. As a result the ice rink at Seilersee was recently converted and expanded. The new and exclusive VIP area in the gallery in the northern side of the hall has become the trademark of the team. The individually designed flooring with its traditional terrazzo look has been seamlessly laid over 350 m2 to striking effect. Quality with a unique character.
Terrazzo flooring has become a rare sight. The designer was challenged to counteract the stylish and formal entrance to the VIP Lounge with an artistic and individual floor design. A stylish, natural, homogenous and generous effect was chosen which was tough, fast to install and yet still tough.
SOLUTION:
The new flooring with its decorative mineral aggregate and fast drying cement was developed as a quality alternative to a traditional terrazzo floor. The option of creating a unique design and the quick and cost-efficient installation process made the decision easy. Building delays by other trades meant that the contractor had less than 2 weeks to complete the installation work. The floor in the VIP Lounge has a light grey tone, created by the colour of the binding agent. This is how a large-scale, clear vision was created.The decorative mineral aggregate ensures an eye-catching feature with its small or large aggregates decorated in black white or red.Perfectly in line with the theme of the room.
The brass rails used to form the casting bays further emphasized the features with their form and black undertone. Even the team logo for the Iserlohn Roosters was carefully prepared with templates and incorporated directly in the middle of the surface.
This is how the floor with its own look and individual form was seamlessly created over 350 m2. A unique piece, in following with the century-old tradition of terrazzo flooring, was completed in just 11 days – from preparation to the finishing touches – and completely satisfied with its look and practical efficiency.
SITUATION:
Another attraction has recently made its impression on the German capital’s skyline: the spectacular new multifunctional arena “O2 World”. This massive, oval events arena is one of the most modern architecture in Europe. In just a few hours it can be transformed from ice hockey stadium to splendid concert hall. A glimpse of the interior indicates its huge scale: It can accommodate up to 17,000 people. The building extends over a length of 165 m, is 130 m wide and rises to a height of 35 m. According to the operator’s plans, over 300 sporting and entertainment spectacles are expected to be staged here in the first three years alone, bringing in over three million visitors and making the arena the perfect platform for top-notch events.
CHALLENGES:
- The construction has to be completed in just 24 months
- Around 7,000 m2 of flooring and 2,000 m2 of wall coverings had to be installed on two levels in the arena’s public concourses
- Laying the large areas of flooring accurately in the oval posed a special challenge for the craftsmen involved.
SOLUTION:
In preparation for laying the floor, the floor screed was first shot blasted, cleaned and then primed with ARDEX P 51. All surfaces were then precisely levelled using the highly durable ARDEX K13 and ARDEX K70 floor levelling compounds, the choice depending on the required thickness. These were pumped in efficiently at a rate of up to 1,000 m2 per day. The extensive floor areas were ready to accept foot traffic again after roughly 2 hours.
Now the 30 x 60 cm tiles selected had to be laid throughout the oval with absolute accuracy from start to finish, without any misalignment or joints straying from the correct line. The right choice of adhesive was crucially important in these high-traffic areas where thousands of people walk and goods are also transported. The flooring contractor decided in favour of quick, reliable ARDEX X 78 MICROTEC premium pourable thin set mortar. Thanks to its special raw materials and coated fibres, this adhesive sets new standards in reliability for laying floor tiles. To finish off, the surfaces were grouted with the rapid-hardening grouting compound ARDEX FK. The experienced tilers stuck with the ARDEX system to tile the 2,000 m2 of wall surfaces in the public concourse areas of the arena, opting for ARDEX X 7 G Flex.
SITUATION:
Bad Füssing in Lower Bavaria is Europe’s most popular spa. The “Kurhaus” (spa centre) with its large “Kursaal” hall is the hub of the town’s annual events. Bad Füssing’s secret can be found in the therapeutic effects of its healing waters, bubbling up from a depth of 1,000 m, in alleviating joint complaints, rheumatism and back problems. Some 10,000 health tourists enjoy Europe’s most extensive range of spa facilities each day. A diverse selection of entertainment and leisure options assures variety; these also include the central Kurhaus and the Kursaal. In a multi-million euro project, the building was extensively renovated and modernised in time for the town’s fortieth anniversary of being officially recognised as a spa resort. For the interior, the client selected luxurious but durable flooring systems: A total of 327.15 m² of parquet adorn the in-house cinema, the new Internet café and the three meeting rooms, with no less than 502.46 m2 of specially made carpeting laid out in the conference hall and reading room.
SOLUTION:
Before actual flooring work was started, it was necessary to prepare the substrate thoroughly. Removal of the existing flooring was followed by the labour-intensive task of grinding off remnants of adhesive – a process which revealed serious unevenness and well-advanced pitting in the screed underneath. After priming with ARDEX P 52, the entire surface was precisely levelled using highly durable ARDEX K 15 self-levelling subfloor smoothing compound, as much as 8 kg per square metre being required in certain areas. This product’s ease of application and fast, crack-free drying, even in thick layers, proved a particular advantage for this work.
Low-maintenance wenge double-layer parquet was selected for installation in the Kurhaus’s cinema auditorium. The flooring craftsmen chose solvent-free, extra-low-emissions ARDEX P 400 parquet adhesive for this operation. This product’s rapidly developed strength assures bonding of the parquet to the substrate within only a few minutes. No health hazards or odour nuisance occurred at any time during this work.
ARDEX P 400 was also used in the Internet café, for which oak parquet flooring of a bright and enlivening hue had been selected. The contractor again remained true to the ARDEX system for installation of the carpeting in the conference hall and the reading room, using equally low-emissions and (after curing) odourless ARDEX PREMIUM T 2250 textile-flooring adhesive to lay the fitted carpets created specially for the Kurhaus on the levelled surfaces.
SITUATION:
The Wirtschaftsschule Alpenland (WISS) college of commerce in Bad Aiblingen is a showpiece educational facility in the Bavarian district of Rosenheim. In the recently completed extension, the aim of the planners commissioned was to bond together the concepts of “commerce” and “learning” in their design; the skills acquired at the college ultimately lay the cornerstone for future career success. Correspondingly, modern working life was to be reflected in the transparency and flexibility of the architecture.
CHALLENGES:
In planning the interior of the new building featuring, among other amenities, six classrooms, a music room and a school hall, the architects attached special importance to high flexibility of use as well as to a sweeping sensation of openness, with bright, light-flooded rooms intended to radiate calm and clarity in the busy everyday life of the college. The architects’ vision is particularly prominent in the new students’ break area linking the original building and the new extension. A split-level design incorporating ramps to ensure unobstructed access for disabled persons and extending across two storeys, it creates an open, light-spangled transparency with its large 270 m2 glass façade. The planners achieved the characteristic expansive overall effect of the foyer by means of a monolithic floor installed with virtually no joints and boasting a luxurious surface appearance as well as a colour concept perfectly matching the specified spatial design. A particularly high-quality material concept was selected, meeting exceptionally well the client’s requirements with regard to elegance, good workability and cost-efficiency even under the exceptional burdens imposed by daily college loads: ARDEX PANDOMO FloorPlus.
SOLUTION:
This hard-wearing material was a compelling choice not only for reasons of its expansive visual effect resulting from its jointless installation, but also thanks to its multifaceted creative potential for unique individualisation via variegated colour nuances, shades, graining, techniques etc. In the college of commerce, the material was first individually tinted in a light grey hue and then, after adding a 6 to 10 mm deep layer of a special hard-grain sand to increase its pressure and scratch resistance, installed onto a calcium sulphate heating screed on three storeys, largely without joints, covering a total of 850 m2. The surfaces were then sanded and oiled twice. Application to the various ramps between the storeys presented a particular challenge to the craftsmen performing the work due to the consistency of the material. The result? Tranquil, expansive floors striking a pure note and shaping the room’s character with homogenous semi-gloss surfaces. Their unadorned elegance conjures a sense of space exquisite in its intensity.
