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.

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

As an Australian first for the automotive powerhouse, Mercedes Benz opened a new flagship store in Newstead, Queensland. The five-story, 32,000 sqm Mercedes Benz Autohaus dealership includes a 539 sqm museum, garden pavilion, staff training centre, 45 vehicle maintenance bays, a rooftop restaurant and a function area and is the car dealer’s largest development of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

CHALLENGES

The sheer size of the project posed challenges for the general contractor. The five-story building required 15,000sqm of wall and floor tiling of various sizes and areas ranging from showrooms, workshops and amenities.

The tiles themselves were chosen specifically by principal and as such, a system was required that could work in conjunction with what was provided. The project also required a fast turnaround, so a product system was needed that could allow the builders and contractors to proceed at a faster than normal rate to meet the expectations of everyone involved.

SOLUTION

ARDEX tiling products were specified and chosen for this large project. The tiling contractor was an approved and trained installer of ARDEX products, helping to ensure that the ARDEX system was installed to the recommended specifications and eliminating the risk of product failure.

ARDEX K 15 MICROTEC self-levelling compound is rapid-drying and contains Microfibre reinforcement. Being rapid-dry the compound achieves high early strength and is walkable after 2 hours with most floor coverings able to be installed 16 hours later, allowing a fast turnaround of work.

ARDEX X 18 Non-Slump wall and floor tile adhesive is fibre-reinforced which provides added strength to the tiled areas – ideal for the intended use of the Autohaus. Being non-slump, the adhesive is also ideal for large format and heavy tiles.

Beyond the performance of the specified ARDEX products, the level of Customer Service and Technical Support provided also proved to be a determining factor in the success of the job. The Mercedes Benz Autohaus became one of the biggest tiling jobs outside of retail shops completed in Brisbane in modern times.

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

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK’s most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable the world over. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world’s leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage. This shared experience of the very best of live performance is now enjoyed by well over a million people each year.

The main ground floor atrium area required a flat, durable and smooth floor, which would receive final floorcoverings at the earliest possible opportunity. Boasting a superb portfolio of successful commercial installations, ARDEX specified the perfect system solution for this prestigious project.

SOLUTION

ARDEX teamed up with East West Flooring to deliver the ideal flooring solution for a refurbishment project at the Royal Albert Hall.

Once the existing floor had been removed, ARDITEX NA (in some countries known as ARDEX K 60), an ultra-rapid setting latex sub floor levelling compound was applied to the 400m² area. ARDITEX NA’s rapid setting properties mean that floorcoverings can be applied after just 4 hours, and its adhesion and flexibility make it perfect for levelling concrete, cement/sand screeds, and many other substrates. The ammonia free formulation proved an added bonus, making it perfect for use in such a high trafficked public area.

To complete the system, the Freudenberg rubber floor tiles were fixed with ARDEX AF 2300. Ideal for use with rubber floorcoverings, ARDEX AF 2300 is a single part, water-based, low odour and solvent free adhesive. It offers excellent early and long-term adhesive strength, and allows the installation of rubber floorcoverings up to 4mm thick without the need for the adhesive to develop tack.

Commenting on the project, Terry Nevill-Jones of East West Flooring said, “We were delighted to work on this project, and it was of course essential that we assured our client of a totally proven solution. By working with ARDEX things are never ‘left to chance’ – the job is always delivered on time, on budget, and with outstanding results”.

 

SITUATION:

HOK/Skanska-Walsh was looking for a single source manufacturer to provide solutions that address concrete flatness, levelness and moisture mitigation and the porcelain tile installation. ARDEX Americas prepared a recommendation that covered all facets of installation including ACMS, anti-fracture membrane as well as high performance tile mortar and grout, in compliance with our comprehensive ARDEX SystemOne Warranty.

CHALLENGES:

  • Large amounts of material, and more than usual depth
  • Union labor market requiring OSHA certification training for Pump mechanics, sales professionals, truck drivers
  • Dense, urban job site settings and an ambitious, ever-changing schedule

SOLUTION:

The first phase of the project made use of ARDEX Concrete Management Systems, a patented, specified finishing method for new concrete construction that includes an integrated system of moisture control and self-leveling underlayment products. To address the moisture issues the One-Coat Moisture Control System ARDEX MC RAPID was installed.

In addition, the high-capacity pump POWERFLO was used to cut down on the time and labor. It had to work around cold weather and space constraints causing the project to last 18 months with dozens of mobilizations. Over 900 tons of ARDEX V 1200 were pumped covering 150,000 sq. ft. at an average depth of 1 ¼”.

For the tiling side of the project, ARDEX 8+9 antifracture membrane was installed in accordance with ANSI 118.12 providing a semi-elastic membrane designed to reduce cracking in the tile installation system. Next, the Tile & Stone Mortar ARDEX X 77 was selected for its superior non-slump properties while providing the contractors the extended working time to help facilitate proper transfer of mortar to the backs of the 24” x 48” LFT porcelain tile.

This redevelopment is the largest public-private-partnership (P3) in U.S. aviation history and one of the most complex projects ever undertaken by Skanska. By combining products and systems with high-performance properties ARDEX satisfied the demanding requirements of this project.

For further information on the project’s scope and timeline, visit Skanska’s website here.

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:

When Widex began building their new headquarters, they desired an environmental flooring solution that aligned with their corporate business model. Widex also needed a system that would resist crack telegraphing and could be installed at a thickness of 2mm. With these challenges in mind, the contractor was worried they would not be able to meet their fast-approaching deadline.

CHALLENGES:

  • Environmental considerations during the construction process
  • Cover existing cracking on a molded deck
  • 2 mm (.0787 inch) thick
  • Fast-track installation

SOLUTION:

ARDEX Technical Service Representatives recommended the Asnaes Carpet Center contractors use ARDEX K 14 System Leveling Compound. ARDEX K 14 was the natural choice, because it has a GEV-EMICODE rating of EC 1. GEV-EMICODE is a green quality control rating that ensures a product has very low or no solvent content that contributes to indoor air pollution caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ARDEX K 14 can also be poured to a depth as low as 1.5 mm when needed over dense or primed areas.

To start the process, ARDEX Technical Service Representatives completed a demonstration on site. This product demonstration proved the recommended system would meet Asnaes Carpet Center’s time constraints and prevent a third party from having to assist in the installation.

With confidence Asnaes Carpet Center started the installation. In the areas where the concrete slab had cracked, ARDEX K 22 F Fiber Reinforced, Calcium Sulfate Leveling Compound filled the larger cracks. ARDEX EP 2000™ Substrate Preparation Epoxy Primer was then used to fill the smaller cracks and prepare the cement for the ARDEX K 14 topping over areas of substrate cracking. ARDEX EP 2000 can be used as crack filler and helps prevent cracks from telegraphing.

In areas where the concrete had not cracked, Asnaes Carpet Center used ARDEX A 31 Primerless Fine Filler to fill defects in the concrete substrate and then coated the slab with ARDEX P 51™ Primer. ARDEX P 51 is solvent free and has no VOCs. ARDEX P 51 also greatly improves the bond of ARDEX toppings and greatly increases the strength of the bond between the ARDEX K 14 and the substrate.

With the help of ARDEX Technical Service, Widex Headquarters was completed on time. The new Widex Headquarters hosts 800 employees and is a prime example of an environmental building. With green construction products, an onsite windmill and solar paneling, the Widex building is CO2 neutral and delivers excess power to the local grids.

PARTICIPANTS:

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Asnaes Carpet Center – Asnaes, Denmark
ARCHITECT: White Architects – Copenhagen, Denmark

SITUATION:

Times Square was officially opened in April 1994 and is one of Hong Kong’s largest shopping mall and one of the most popular tourist destination in Hong Kong. Situated at Causeway Bay, the most vibrant mega-mall in town with foot traffic over 150 thousand each day.

In early of May 2013, the Facility Management (FM) Team from the Times Square Limited started to look for a suitable methodology and a reliable product for the flooring renovation work at the Basement one.

SOLUTION:

For the 750m2 flooring renovation work, they planned to divided into 10 phases and all the work should be done overnight after the weekend.

“With ARDURAPID-Effect” , “Walk ability after 3 hours” & “Ready to receive any floor coverings after 1 day” are the features of ARDEX A 35.

Site work was commenced on 26th August 2013 and to be completed by 27th November 2013.

We are not only to provide engineered solutions but follow through until the client’s satisfaction.

PARTICIPANTS:

Owner: Wharf Properties Limited