Mapei around the World / 6/13/2024

Breaking with tradition with 3D ceramic tiles

Mapei solutions for an original bonding system at the portuguese head office of Ageas insurance group

The new Icon Douro building, headquarters of Grupo Ageas Portugal, features innovative 3D ceramic tiles bonded with ULTRABOND MS RAPID adhesive. Mapei's products for installing ceramic tiles were used throughout the building, which was awarded a BREEAM “Excellent” rating for sustainability. The project highlights a blend of tradition and modernity in Portuguese architecture.

Since 2005 the insurance giant Ageas, whose headquarters is in Brussels and is present in 14 countries, has also been operating in Portugal through its subsidiary Grupo Ageas Portugal. And since 2022 this company has a new “home”: an ultra-modern building extending over an area of 7,600 m² known as the Icon Douro. 30 million Euros were invested in the construction of the building, which is part of a more extensive project aimed at strengthening the group’s presence in Portugal.

The building is in a strategic position near major road networks in the north of Portugal and is particularly striking for its original lines: the complex is in the form of a ellipsis and has a glass façade interrupted and surrounded by rings of reinforced concrete. Designed by the architect Luís Pedro Silva, Icon Douro was conceived to provide dynamic, multi-functional spaces and, at the same time, to be comfortable, welcoming and engaging. A great deal of attention, in fact, was paid to the wellbeing of those who work here, as well as to clients visiting the building, with the aim of offering them a unique experience up to the standards of the services on offer. Over an area of 12,500 m² there are a number of offices, dining areas, a garden and communal areas.

The presence of open and communicating spaces in the central core of the building enables the natural light entering from outside to be exploited to the full, thanks also to the glass façades.

Ceramic tiles for a blend of tradition and innovation

Glass is not the only protagonist in this project. Ceramic also plays an important role, used in a traditional yet, at the same time, an innovative way. To cover many of the walls, in fact, both internally and externally, as well some of the ceilings, it was decided to opt for three-dimensional tiles: a way of exalting and, at the same time, innovating the Portuguese ceramic tradition. ULTRABOND MS RAPID was chosen to bond the tiles, a thixotropic, deformable, high modulus, silylated polymer-based adhesive characterised by high initial tack and rapid setting. This “original” bonding system was chosen for this work due to the particular characteristics of the tiles and to reduce the waste of materials to a minimum.

To install the ceramic tiles in the toilettes and communal areas inside the complex, on the other hand, KERAFLEX XX adhesive was chosen, a cementitious product with extended open time, distributed on the local market by Mapei Portugal. The joints in the ceramic coverings were grouted with ULTRACOLOR PLUS, a high performance, anti-efflorescence, quick setting and drying, polymer-modified grout free from Portland cement. This product was chosen particularly for joints in tiles in damp areas because of its water repellence, thanks to DropEffect technology, and its resistance to mould (BioBlock technology).

ULTRABOND MS RAPID was chosen to bond the 3D tiles, a thixotropic, deformable, high modulus, silylated polymerbased adhesive.

Not only ceramic tiles

Mapei products were also used in many other areas. The surfaces of the drinking water storage tanks were waterproofed with MAPELASTIC two-component, elastic cementitious mortar which, apart from being ideal for use on balconies, terraces and swimming pools, may also be used on substrates in concrete storage tanks used for holding water. The product is now available in a “ZERO” version: its CO₂ emissions are measured throughout its life cycle using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, verified and certified with EPDs, and offset through the acquisition of certified carbon credits in support of forestry protection projects. The mortar was strengthened by applying MAPENET P fibreglass mesh, which is distributed on the Portuguese market by Mapei Portugal.

The roofs of the building were waterproofed with AQUAFLEX ROOF PLUS ready to use, liquid waterproofing membrane, a highly elastic product chosen for its rapid-drying properties and resistance to UV rays.

Glass, stone and concrete for the façades

The glass façades of the complex are interrupted and given “movement” by large irregular rings in reinforced concrete. Elastomeric ELASTOCOLOR PAINT was applied on their surfaces because of its capacity to protect concrete structures against carbonation and the onset of cracking.

The granite slabs on some of the external walls, on the other hand, were bonded with ULTRABOND ECO PU 2K, a two-component, solvent-free, high performance polyurethane adhesive which guarantees high durability of surfaces.

A highly sustainable project

The building was awarded BREEAM classification in the “Excellent” category, confirmation of its high sustainability. This result was achieved thanks also to a number of design choices which were able to guarantee, for example, considerable energy savings thanks to the optimisation of natural light and solar panels installed on the roof, a measured use of water resources and the reduced environmental impact of the construction products employed. The latter also includes many products supplied by Mapei which, apart from being solvent-free, guarantee a very low emission level of volatile organic compounds (VOC).