Projects / 8/21/2024

Resin floors for a historic palazzo and a new hotel in Budapest

Waterproofing and installation of ceramic tiles and mosaics in the W Budapest hotel, recreating the atmosphere of the 19^th century

The W Budapest Hotel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been renovated thanks also to Mapei's expertise in waterproofing and ceramic tile installation. Mapei Kft. supplied high-quality materials for renovating floors and walls in various areas, ensuring a blend of modern luxury and historical elegance.

Last year the new W Budapest Hotel opened its doors in the old Drechsler Palace, now designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the centre of the Hungarian capital. Built in 1886 in Neo-Renaissance style to house the Drechsler café on the ground floor, from which the entire palazzo takes its name, and the Hungarian Rail Pension Institute on the upper floors, the building was later turned into a residence for noble families and the home of the Hungarian National Ballet Academy. It was then abandoned for a number of years until its recent restoration to bring it back to its former splendour. Today, the building welcomes guests into modern and sophisticated surroundings with 151 guest rooms and suites, a bar, a restaurant, the W Lounge and a spa inspired by the famous thermal baths of Budapest.

"Terrazzo-alla-veneziana” floorings were created in several areas of the hotel using MAPEFLOOR I 300 SL epoxy formulate.

Waterproofing and installation in many different environments

Mapei Kft., the Hungarian subsidiary of the Group, supplied products to install ceramic tiles and mosaics on around 7,500 m² of floors and walls in the rooms and products to waterproof the substrates in the bathrooms and showers.

Mapei products were also used to create “Terrazzo-alla-Veneziana” resin flooring on heated screeds.

In the bathrooms, the substrates were treated with PRIMER G, levelled off with ULTRAPLAN ECO 20 (a self-levelling compound, which is manufactured and distributed on the Hungarian market by Mapei Kft) and then waterproofed with MAPELASTIC AQUADEFENSE ultra quick-drying, flexible liquid membrane.

Tiles in various formats were installed in the reception area, the restaurant of the W Lounge and the changing rooms, including black and white large format tiles (100x100 cm).

For the floor below ground level, where the W Budapest Away Spa is located, the swimming pool was covered with mosaic, while ceramic tiles were chosen for the floors and walls in the wellbeing area. In all these areas the substrates were initially waterproofed with MAPELASTIC AQUADEFENSE liquid membrane and MAPEBAND EASY rubber tape for the corners, before levelling the surfaces with ULTRAPLAN ECO 20.

The product chosen to install the tiles on walls in all these environments was ADESILEX P9 adhesive, while KERAFLEX EXTRA S1 ZERO* deformable, cementitious adhesive, with no vertical slip or with high wetting capacity, was chosen for the floor tiles. The tile joints were grouted with KERACOLOR FF FLEX (which is manufactured and distributed on the Hungarian market by Mapei Kft) and the expansion joints were sealed with MAPESIL AC silicone sealant.

In several areas ceramic tiles were installed with Mapei adhesives (ADESILEX P9, KERAFLEX EXTRA S1 ZERO) and grouts (KERACOLOR FF FLEX, ULTRACOLOR PLUS).

Terrazzo-alla-Veneziana resin floors

In several areas of the hotel (1,100 m²) “Terrazzo-alla-veneziana” flooring was created using MAPEFLOOR SYSTEM 35 F. This type of flooring is made up of natural aggregates mixed into a resin-based binder.

Before applying the flooring, a cementitious screed was created, incorporating the heating elements for the underfloor heating system. Once the substrate had hardened, it was treated with PRIMER SN, a two-component, fillerized epoxy primer, immediately broadcast in excess with QUARTZ 0.9. Once the primer had hardened and any excess sand had been removed, the “Terrazzo-alla-veneziana” flooring was created using MAPEFLOOR I 300 SL, two-component epoxy formulate mixed with the thixotropising powder ADDITIX PE and the natural aggregates.

After grinding and polishing the surfaces, the designers were looking for a protective finish that would not form a surface film to prevent altering the final aesthetic effect of the flooring.

Mapei technicians proposed applying MAPELUX LUCIDA, cross-linked, high-strength, metallic wax with a shiny finish for protecting floors subjected to intense foot traffic.

Ceramic floors were installed in several areas by using Mapei systems

Project information

W Budapest Hotel, Budapest (Hungary)

Original design: Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos

Period of construction: 1886

Owner: QPR Properties Kft.

Period of the intervention: 2021-2023

Intervention by Mapei: supplying products to waterproof substrates, installing ceramic tiles and mosaics and laying resin floors

Design: Bánáti + Hartvig Kft., Bowler James Brindley

Main contractor: DVM Group

Mapei coordinators: Zsolt Lakatos, Zsolt Szemenyei and Sándor Nagy, Mapei Kft. (Hungary)

*These products have their CO₂ emissions measured throughout their lie cycle in 2024 using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, verified, certified with EPDs, and offset through the acquisition of certified carbon credits in support of forestry protection projects.