Luca Negri

waterproofing of an industrial clarifier

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An industrial clarifier

The waterproofing of an industrial clarifier, which receives wastewater laden with metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants, must resist aggressive agents and at the same time be compatible with drinking water.

An industrial clarifier receives wastewater laden with metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants.

It separates these elements from water through mechanical and chemical processes.

It then conveys the clarified water to the sewage systems and retains the residual sludge from the purification.

The walls of a clarifier are therefore exposed to a series of more or less aggressive agents. Conversely, they must not release any material into the water, much less polluting.

The DRYflex resin – used to seal joints, crossings and cracks in the Drytech Tank – has this dual ability to resist aggressive agents (starting with salinity) and even be compatible with use in drinking water facilities.

It is important to emphasize that the resin saturates joints, cracks and crossings for the entire thickness of the structure.

In the case of the Genoa clarifier, the barrier opposite the water has a variable thickness from 30 to 120 cm, coinciding precisely with that of the structure.

On the other hand, the characteristic single structure of the Drytech Tank waterproofing allows direct and non-invasive access for any maintenance interventions, which are simple and immediately verifiable.
Moreover, without particular limitations on the use of the system.

As part of the construction of the Genoa plant, Drytech Engineering collaborated with the structural engineer already in the design phase, proposing solutions for waterproofing the critical points of the structure. Engineering also contributed to the definition of the recipe for controlled shrinkage waterproof concrete, based on the characteristics of the plant chosen by the client.

Structure: Dr. Ing. Raffaele Ghitti, Darfo Boario Terme

Construction: SEMAT spa, Artogne

Drytech Tank: 700 m²

Waterproofing of the Enzo Ferrari Museum

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The Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena is an engaging hymn to the myth of the car and the architectural manifesto of Jan Kaplicky.

Drytech Tank waterproofing has perfectly matched the sinuous lines of the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, Italy.

The Museum is an engaging hymn to the myth of the car and the manifesto of the architecture of Jan Kaplicky: the Czech architect founder of Future System in London.

The Mef can count on an area of ​​6’000 m², of which 4’400 are intended for exhibitions. The Museum is a car hood that emerges powerful from the ground. In Kaplicky’s style, the height is contained to establish a harmonious relationship with Ferrari’s birthplace, without however attenuating the evocative force of the new structure.

The exhibition spaces were developed in the basement, creating a waterproof structure of 5’850 m² with the Drytech Tank System.

Access to the museum is through an imposing curved glass wall, whose inclined plane is bisected by a series of fins that resemble the radiator of a custom-built car.

The exhibition spaces are accessed from the hall through two inclined platforms, going down to a depth of 5 meters

“Spaces defined by eight edges are not necessary, they are not mandatory”. One of Kaplicky’s famous phrases expresses well the spirit of the project, to whose sinuous lines the flexibility of the Drytech tank has been perfectly adapted.

The design phase saw an intense collaboration with Drytech Engineering to define the waterproofing solutions for the unprecedented construction details proposed by the particular shape of the basement.

Project: Future System, Londra

Structure: Politecnica, Modena

Works Management: Ingegner Coppi, Modena

Construction: CCC, Bologna – Ing. Ferrari, Modena, CSM, Modena

Drytech Tank: 5’850 m²

Waterproofing of the car parks and underground rooms

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Aerial view of the Hofmatt Foundation rest and nursing home in Münchenstein, Basel.

Drytech realised realised the waterproofing of the car parks and underground rooms of the Hofmatt Foundation in Münchenstein with the White Tank structure.

The project first involved the construction of the new buildings 1 and 2, after which the old nursing home building was demolished and finally the third and final building was constructed.

The Hofmatt Foundation in Münchenstein, founded in 1891, is located at the transition from the rural area of the Basel region to the city.

As a retirement and nursing home, it specialised in a wide range of areas for people with different needs.

During a lengthy renovation phase between 2011 and 2015, the buildings were modernised and extended. The result is a centre of excellence for the elderly and people in need of care that shines in new splendour.

Owner: Stiftung Alters- und Pflegeheim Hofmatt, Münchenstein

Structur: Jauslin + Stebler Ingenieure AG, Basel

Project: Oplatek Architekten AG, Basel

Construction: Ernst Frey AG, Kaiseraugst

Drytech Wanne: 5’104 m2

Waterproofing swimming pools garage SPA

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The Corten cladding of the walls in architect Mino Caggiula's design.

The waterproofing of swimming pools, garage, spa and lift pits of the Blade villas was realised with the Drytech Tank system.

For architect Mino Caggiula “Designing means reworking what we have absorbed to find new solutions. Blade is the product of the experience lived inside a work of art by the American sculptor Richard Serra.”

The Ticino architect feels it is “a great responsibility to leave a balanced and integrated mark on the territory, capable of generating a harmonious connection with the space and the surrounding landscape.”
The operation was to carefully “scratch” the hilly terrain through the insertion of curved Cor-Ten steel blades, positioned so as to prospectively override the view of the forest to the south and lead the gaze towards the lake.

Organized into two separate blocks, the housing units are divided by a system of primary and secondary blades. The distribution on two levels also generates large terraces, which take on the dimensions of real private hanging gardens.

Tognola Group, which is the promoter and general contractor of the project, also developed the interior design of the villas. The complex also includes a wellness area reserved for residents, with gym, sauna and Turkish bath, plus an outdoor swimming pool.

Promoter: Tognola Group, Lugano

Project: Architect Mino Caggiula, Lugano

Strutture: Engineer Alessio Casanova, Pazzallo

Construction: GTL, Gravesano

Foto: Paolo Volonté

Drytech Tank: 2’875 m2

Waterproofing large underground car park

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Three of the five buildings that make up the Aletsch Campus.

Drytech carried out the waterproofing of the large underground car park below the 5 new buildings on the former Gertschen site.

In the centre of Naters, five new buildings with a public car park, an information centre for visitors to the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as offices, retail space and flats were constructed on an area of 7,000 square metres.

Designed by architects N4 from Bolzano and Padua, the Aletsch Campus now houses the ‘World Nature Forum’.

The waterproof Drytech Tank structure used to build the underground car park and its ramps is designed to withstand even flooding from the Rhone.

Owner: AXA Leben AG, Winterthur

Global contractor: Baulink AG Generalunternehmung, Bern

Structur: ARGE Dr. J. Grob AG, Winterthur / SRP Schneller Ritz und Partner, Brig

Project: omg + partner architekten ag, Winterthur / Francesco Minniti, Bozen

Timber construction: Renggli AG, Schötz

Construction: ARGE Aletsch Campus Frutiger AG, Thun / Walpen AG, Visp

Photos: © Renggli AG, Schötz / Baulink  Generalunternehmung, Bern

Waterproofing: 6’660 m2 Drytech Wanne

Waterproofing by a Ex-post Drytech Tank

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Due to a faulty geological survey, no provision was made for waterproofing the basement of this prestigious residential complex, which was rehabilitated by constructing a Ex-post Drytech Tank.

Due to a faulty geological survey, no provision was made for waterproofing the basement of this prestigious residential complex, which was rehabilitated by constructing a Ex-post Drytech Tank.

Unfortunately, after the construction was completed, a peak of the seasonal water table flooded the -2 level, making the garages unusable.

At this point Drytech was involved to restore the underground.

The analysis of the structural and environmental situation by the Engineering has identified the best solution in the construction of a Ex-post Drytech Tank.

The industrial floor built above the gravel filling was therefore demolished. The water table was brought under control with a well-point system.

We then proceeded to lay the cracking elements in the stalls and prepare the stalls / walls and stalls / columns joints with the DRYset Channel.

The numerous crossings produced by the well-points have also been suitably prepared for the waterproofing injection, once the concrete has matured.

The new waterproof concrete slab based on the Drytech recipe was then cast.

To ensure the height of the extrados, it was necessary to create the sealed platform and the industrial floor in a single fresh-on-fresh helicopter jet.

When the concrete has matured, Drytech has perfected the injection of programmed cracks, joints and crossings with DRYflex expansive resin.

Due to its elastic quality, the resin is re-injectable, so it guarantees the possibility of maintaining the system over the years.

The construction of the ex-post Drytech platform made it possible to waterproof the basements and to deliver the properties with the usable garages.

Restoration Project: Drytech Engineering

Waterproofing: Drytech Italy

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

Concrete basement waterproofing

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The Cube in Rapperswill is an office building clad in steel panels.

Cube is a flexible office building that strives for energy self-sufficiency, with its exposed concrete basement made of Drytech Tank waterproofing.

The incidence of sunlight on the aluminium panels covering the façades creates a sophisticated changing effect throughout the day.

Inside, the oak wood gives the furnishings a deliberately essential yet warm quality in the colour scheme.

Owner: St. Galler Pensionskasse, St. Gallen

General contractor: Implenia Schweiz AG, St. Gallen

Structur: Böhler Walter AG, Jona

Project: Kaufmann Architekten AG, Jona

Construction: Martelli Agosti AG, Jona

Waterproofing: Drytech Tank 1’250 m2