Luca Negri

waterproofing garage basements pools

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Infinity pool of the Reka holiday village in Albonago, built with the Drytech Tank.

Drytech carried out the waterproofing of the garage, the basements, the swimming pools and the wellness area of the Reka village in Albonago.

“Making holidays and free time accessible to all”: it was with this objective that the Swiss Travel Fund (Reka) was founded in 1939, founded by visionary entrepreneurs, trade unions and tourism and transport companies. At the time, travel and holidays were prerogative of an elite.

Reka was created with the aim of making them accessible to an ever-increasing number of families, initially with a targeted savings system, then by developing its own holiday offers at affordable prices.

Reka has expanded and reconfigured the tourist village of Albonago with an investment of 33 million francs, creating 49 apartments, two hotel rooms, a tavern/pizzeria, a panoramic swimming pool, a wellness area, a bicycle station, areas for barbecues and playgrounds, for approximately 270 guests.

Drytech created all the waterproof structures of the car park, underground areas, swimming pools and wellness area with the Drytech Tank.

One of the symbols of the Reka village is undoubtedly the infinity pool overlooking Lake Ceresio, with an incomparable view that embraces the entire Gulf of Lugano, the iconic Mount San Salvatore and extends to the horizon as far as Malcantone. A privilege truly available to all families.

Preliminary project: Itten+Brechbühl, Lugano

Project: Charles De Ry Architettura, Paradiso

Structure: Pianifica, Locarno

Direzione Lavori: Implenia Building, Besso

Construction: Barella, Chiasso e Giovanni Quadri, Cadempino

Drytech Tank: 5’360 m2

Waterproofing of an oil plant

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To protect the ground from leaks in an oil valve park, Drytech built a watertight tank underneath the plant without interrupting its operations.

For the ex-post waterproofing of an oil valve farm, whose operations could not be stopped, Drytech built a watertight tank underneath the plant.

In this way, it secured it by protecting the ground and water table from possible crude oil leaks.

A valve park sorts the crude oil unloaded from tankers to storage tanks.

In the specific case of the plant’s leaks in the ground, it was necessary and urgent to restore it, but without the possibility of interrupting its activity.

It was therefore decided to build a ex-post Drytech Tank below the valve system, which had been laid in contact with the ground.

With an almost archaeological approach, the ground beneath the plant was excavated by gradually inserting supports to the pipelines.

Then we proceeded to the casting of the drytech waterproof concrete slab and walls and, when the casting was ripe, the waterproofing injection of DRYflex resin in the programmed cracks, in the construction joints and in the crossings, including the pipe supports, which were left in place.

The intervention, designed and coordinated by Drytech Engineering, restored the system to safety and made it definitively accessible for maintenance.

Waterproofing: Drytech Italia, Como

Ex-post Drytech Tank: 4’000 m²

waterproofing Livigno Olympic Pool

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The logo of the Livigno Olympic Federal Centre

Drytech carried out the waterproofing of the Federica Pellegrini Swimming Area in Livigno, with the new Olympic swimming pool.

Added to the hyper-training altitude of Livigno are the 50 precious meters of the “Federica Pellegrini Swimming Area”: the new Olympic swimming pool, built by TMG of Berbenno di Valtellina.

The new swimming pool has 12 competition model starting blocks (6 on each side), with 5-position track start platforms. With particular attention to the swimmer’s well-being and the environmental impact, the water is disinfected with a hypochlorite (with low chlorate content), produced on site with electrolytic salt transformation technology, which among other things allows the reduction of chlorination waste products.

The safety of the structure is also at levels of absolute excellence. The pool is in fact equipped with the Angel Eye system: 20 underwater cameras that record images of the swimmers in real time. The system is able to identify dangerous situations and, in the event of an alarm, sends a signal directly to the lifeguards’ smartwatch.

Drytech carried out the waterproofing of all the foundations of the building, all the perimeter walls and the recovery tanks, collaborating with the structural engineers right from the design phase. All these structures are in contact with the waters of the Federia stream, a tributary of Lake Gallo, whose flow varies depending on rainfall regimes and, above all, seasonal thawing phases.

Naturally the new Olympic pool of the Federica Pellegrini Swimming Area is open to the public. Inside the Aquagranda center you can also snorkel while admiring the fish on the seabed or travel to the interstellar stations of Mars, Moon and Venus. All this thanks to Divr: a new form of virtual reality that uses multisensory technology, amplified by immersion in water.

Ownership: Aquagranda, Livigno

Project: Architect Giovanni Colturi

Project collaborator: Geom. Demis Spiller

Structure: Eng. Fabio Fabiano, Varese / Engineer Marco Finazzi, Palazzolo Sull’Oglio / Eng. Fabio Sibaud, Como

Construction: TMG, Berbenno di Valtellina

Drytech Tank: 2,300 m2

Waterproofing the underground levels

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Rendering of the redevelopment project of the historic skyscraper known as the ‘Pirellino’. with the addition of a Podium drawing an open square directly connected to Corso Como and the Porta Nuova district of Milan.

Waterproofing the underground levels of Corso Como Place with the Drytech Tank system is consistent with the overall approach of the project, which represents the new frontier of smart building.

A building model that combines energy efficiency and environmental sustainability with a new experience for users and an evolved concept of living comfort.

What makes the project even more special is that it starts from the renovation of a building from the 1960s.

The Pirellino, as it was called by the Milanesi, stands in the center of the new Milan of Gae Aulenti Square, Corso Como, Eataly and the Feltrinelli Foundation & Microsoft House.

An iconic and very central place, which has stimulated a revolutionary project.

Corso Como Place is a complete redevelopment project, symbol of an architectural and urban planning path that creates beauty without destroying the existing one, starting from the enhancement of the Tower designed by Francesco Diomede, Giuseppe and Carlo Rusconi Clerici, converted to modernity in the sign of innovation.

At its foot stands a Podium that draws an open square directly connected to Corso Como and the Porta Nuova district.

The environmental sustainability of the buildings is guaranteed by the Nearly Zero Energy Building international standard.

The photovoltaic system chosen for the structures, the use of geothermal energy, which covers over 65% of the annual requirement, and the high-performance facades with automatic solar shading devices, allow very high energy performance and maximum reduction of CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, the choice of the Drytech Tank for the hypogeum ensured the impermeability of the underground structure not only to water, but also to radon.

A smartphone application allows everyone to customize their work environment, by intervening on lighting, temperature and shading.

Underground parking can be booked in real time based on the availability of free parking spaces and the IoT sensors (the Internet of Things) will monitor the noise level of the offices and the quality of the air, to ensure comfort and well-being for users.

With a role as a hub for green mobility paths and green areas, as well as a driving force for the redevelopment of the area, Corso Como Place represents a beautiful example of how architecture and construction technology can transfer a historic building into the future.

Asset & Development Management: COIMA, Milano

General Contractor: ICM, Vicenza

Project: PLP Architecture International, Londra

Structure: CEAS, Milano

Construction: ICM, Vicenza

Drytech Tank: 4,500 m²

Waterproofing of basement and fountains

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Aerial view of the Polis multipurpose centre in Pregassona.

Drytech has created the waterproofing of the basement of the Polis Centre with the Drytech Tank and the surfaces of the fountains with the Drycoat architectural coating.

The plan of Polis Multifunctional Center in Pregassona is a double L that welcomes and embraces, enhancing the sense of openness towards the outside. An architecture that is both symbolic and functional, which guides routes, creates aggregations and integrates the Center into the urban fabric.

The structure was designed by Studio Mario Campi, winner of the international competition in 2008. The subsequent development of the work was managed by the architect Rosario Galgano, until the inauguration in 2021.

The complex is an important resource of the social services network for the elderly in the Lugano area.

On the lower level, the nursery, with its own outdoor play area, overlooks the courtyard, which contributes to the intergenerational and interconnected character of the Polis Centre.

The opposite wing instead houses the structures for the functionality of the centre: radiology, underground car parks, supplier entrance, technical rooms, etc.

This level, partially buried in the profile of the hill, is made with the waterproof  Drytech Tank structure.

Drytech also created the waterproof covering of the courtyard pools, with the continuous Drycoat covering in two colors obtained from the mixture of quartz sands (not from paints) and therefore resistant to continuous exposure to atmospheric agents, without chromatic degradation.

The complex, like every new building in the city, complies with the Minergie energy standard, significantly reducing energy needs. Furthermore, the Polis Center is unique for the self-production of electricity, through an integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV) which exploits both the horizontal surfaces of the roof and those of the facades, equipped with a further 1,600 meters2 of photovoltaic panels.

Project: Studio Mario Campi

Executive project: Architect Rosario Galgano, Lugano

Structure: Afry Engineering, Rivera

Construction: Consortium Garzoni – Rizzani De Eccher

Drytech Tank: 2’900 m2

Waterproofing pump shafts inside the slab

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Drytech has designed a special waterproof pump shaft that allows companies to create pumping points inside the bed.

Drytech has developed a system for waterproofing pump shafts that allows contractors to position the bailing out points directly inside the slab.

The special waterproof wells are manufactured in the workshop in Bedano, Switzerland, and shipped to the construction site, wherever in the world they may be, where they are prepared by the Drytech technician.

This is the case of the construction site opened directly in the North Sea, where 36 pump wells were installed, subsequently sealed and incorporated into the bed.

Once its function is exhausted, the Drytech pump well is waterproofed both externally and internally.

Once the casting is complete, the joint between the well and the bed is injected with DRYflex expansive resin, which seals the element by pressure, wrapping around the entire thickness of the bed.

Any water flows inside the well are instead rendered harmless by the lid sealed with gaskets both on the circumference of the well and on each of the sealing bolts.

The use of the Drytech System resulted in a saving of several weeks on the time required for the construction of the waterproof basement.

Waterproofing: Drytech Italy

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The main façade of the Vira-Mezzovico Aqueduct.

The waterproofing of the new Vira-Mezzovico aqueduct basin was carried out with a complete Drytech Tank, including a waterproof slab.

The new water storage and supply basin is part of the General Plan of the Aqueduct of the Municipality of Vira-Mezzovico.

Set into the mountain slope to minimize its visual impact, the Drytech concrete structure is entirely waterproof, both to the water present in the ground and to that collected in the internal basins. Even the slabs, covered by the lawn, are in Drytech Tank, therefore also resistant to root development.

The perfect correspondence between structure and function of the Drytech Tank makes it not only a solid barrier to water (the waterproofing is as thick as the structure), but also a durable system, because it is predisposed to extraordinarily practical maintenance. To the point that, specifically, any intervention does not require emptying the reservoirs or even interrupting the service.

The modernization plan of Aqueduct of Vira-Mezzovico also affected the water network, renewed for flow and efficiency in all its twenty kilometers of underground pipes.

Drytech Engineering collaborated already in the design phase with Lucchini & Canepa Engineering, for all aspects relating to the waterproofing of the structure.

Structure: Lucchini & Canepa Engineering, Lugano

Construction: Implenia Switzerland, Bioggio

Waterproofing the double underground gymnasium

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The CPC double gym in Chiasso is the victory of lightness over weight, interaction over separation, flexibility over rigidity.

Waterproofing the double underground gymnasium, designed by architects Baserga and Mozzetti in fair-faced concrete.

The CPC double gym in Chiasso is the victory of lightness over weight, interaction over separation, flexibility over rigidity.

The duality between the podium and the covering volume of the room is defined by a detachment, produced by a punctual support on all four sides.

Through this suspension, the monolithic volume appears very light, to the point of seeming to be held back – rather than supported – by the four lateral Vs.

The detachment connects the interior space with the urban and natural elements that surround the gym. An interaction that places it in the context of the school and cultural campus, weaving various relationships with the peculiar elements of the place.

The building reacts to different situations and topographical differences. To the north it has an access terrace, in relation to the school buildings and access from the public car park. To the south, a flight of steps in relation to the small garden.

A delimitation of the road field and the existing square to the east. Finally, it is at the same level as the m.a.x Museum and the Spazio Officina, sharing their public vocation.

The podium is a Drytech tank. The insulation of the internal facades is protected by an exposed wooden strip in the lower part and by an acoustic paneling in the upper part.

From an energy point of view, the building meets the criteria of the Minergie standard.

Client: Canton Ticino logistics section

Project: Architetti Nicola Baserga e Christian Mozzetti, Muralto

Structure: Ingegneri Andrea e Eugenio Pedrazzini, Lugano

Construction: Mafledil, Osogna

Drytech Tank: 2’128 m²

Waterproofing the underground garage

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The beautiful building designed by Gieffe Studio has a north-facing façade with completely windows

Waterproofing the underground garage of a beautiful building with a completely windowed north façade.
Rules are made (also) to be broken.

The choice of Gieffe Studio’s project is dictated by the shape of the site and made possible by the performance of modern thermal insulation systems and materials.

The three-family villa is set in a sloping plot facing north-west, with a 270° view of the Cassarate valley, which ranges from the Denti della Vecchia to Lake Lugano.

Gieffe Studio has therefore designed ultra-panoramic window walls for the living areas, recessed and re-oriented with respect to the front of the building, thus guaranteeing the interiors natural lighting and correct sun protection in all seasons and favoring the view of the mountains on the north façade and of the lake on the west.

At street level there is the garage, connected to the floors by an internal lift, and built with a 700 m2 Drytech Tank. The main entrance is located on the south side, at the height of the third floor.

The rationalist design is made organic by the warm travertine stone cladding and the changing reflection of the mountains and the sky that is projected onto the large windows and the elegant glass railings.
The cut and the different tones of the stones lighten the large continuous wall on the mountain side, harmoniously inserting the volume into the gentle slope of the land.

Project: Gieffe Studio, Lugano

Structure: Eng. Lucini Cesare, Paradiso

Construction: Gtl, Gravesano

Drytech Tank: 700 m2

Waterproofing of the London sewage system

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The Lee Tunnel is one of the two pipelines that convey an average of 39 million tons per year of wastewater, coming from 35 sewer pipes, built in the Victorian era as part of the network that still serves London, after 150 years.

Drytech realised the waterproofing of one of the main pipes of the London sewage system with the Drytech Tank system.

The Lee Tunnel is one of the two pipelines that convey an average of 39 million tons per year of wastewater, coming from 35 sewer pipes, built in the Victorian era as part of the network that still serves London, after 150 years.

The works began in September 2010 at the Beckton treatment plant, with the construction of the first of the four 80-meter wells, waterproofed by laying DRYset channels in the joints, then sealed with DRYflex resin injections.

The sections of the 120-meter-long milling machine were then lowered through the shaft, which in 2012 began excavating the connection tunnels, with a diameter of 7 meters.

The infrastructure is part of the strategic plan to improve and ensure the health of the Thames waters. The system routes discharges from London’s largest surplus sewer to Mills Abbey Pumping Station in Stratford, which handles 40 per cent of the total waste.

The four miles of tunnel were built beneath the Borough of Newham, from Abbey Mills to Beckton. The new tunnel helps prevent more than 16 million tonnes of sewage mixed with rainwater from overflowing into the River Lee each year, capturing and transferring it to Beckton’s sewage treatment facilities, which are in turn being expanded by 60 per year. one hundred to cope with the increase in volumes handled.

This is the deepest tunnel ever built in London. This involved excavating in conditions of high groundwater pressures, along four miles of extraordinarily abrasive soil and without lateral vent pipes.

Owner: Thames Water Utilities, London

Structure: Engineer Emmanuel Costes, London 

Construction: Morgan Vinci Bachy JV, London

Waterproofing: Drytech UK, London