Projects / 12/1/2023

When buildings look upwards

Hotels, offices, and residential complexes: a selection of projects from all over the world

After contributing to the construction of prestigious skyscrapers such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a host of new tall buildings were recently completed with Mapei products

One Za'abeel skyscraper - Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

This skyscraper seems to embody Dubai’s dynamic and innovative spirit. It is a mixed-use skyscraper with apartments, shops and entertainment areas. Particular attention was paid to the use of quality construction materials that would contribute to the durability of the complex. One of these materials was ADESILEX P7, an adhesive distributed on the Emirates market by Mapei Construction Chemicals, which was used to install 98,000 m² of porcelain tiles, including in areas exposed to high levels of traffic. KERABOND T, on the other hand, was used to bond 39,000 m² of small format porcelain tiles and ULTRACOLOR PLUS was used to grout joints on more than 137,000 m² ceramic coverings. To address the needs of high-tension areas, MAPEGUARD UM 35 anti-fracture and uncoupling membrane has been employed, covering an area of 5,220 m² to prevents cracks and ensure durability to the installed ceramic surfaces.

The One Za'abeel skyscraper in Dubai was lately completed with Mapei products to install ceramic tiles.

Hilton Tashkent City Hotel - Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

The centre of the capital of Uzbekistan features traditional architecture living harmoniously alongside modern buildings. This area, ideal for both tourism and business trips, is the location for the Hilton Hotel, a 22-storey tower with interiors illuminated by natural light thanks to its large glass façades. Inside the hotel, the Serenity Spa offers a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, along with other areas dedicated to wellbeing. And it was here that ceramic and porcelain tiles were installed using ADESILEX P10 cementitious adhesive, KERACOLOR FF and ULTRACOLOR PLUS cementitious grouts and KERAPOXY DESIGN epoxy grout for joints.

In the Tashkent City Hotel in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) ceramic tiles were installed in the swimming pools of the wellness area with Mapei adhesives and grouts.

Helea tower in Puebla (Mexico)

Designed by Bulnes Arquitectos, this 33-storey tower with 94 apartments has received several architecture awards and is one of the city’s most iconic residential projects. Each floor of the building has three sections arranged in the form of a spiral which rotate by 15 degrees in an anti-clockwise direction at each floor level until reaching a height of 150 m. Mapei products were used to prepare (PRIMER L) and level off the substrates (ULTRAPLAN ECO 20, a product distributed on the Mexican market by Mapei de Mexico), as well as to install ceramic tiles. Going into detail, ULTRAFLEX LFT cementitious adhesive was chosen to bond the ceramic tiles while KERACOLOR FF cementitious mortar was used to grout the joints.

Ceramic tiles were installed with Mapei products in the Helea Tower in Puebla (Mexico).

Lex tower in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

This skyscraper, which stands out for its graceful lines and glass façades, is located on the site of the historic Politeama Theatre which, with its new look, has become part of the complex. It consists mainly of office space, accessible from two different entrances. Technologies were employed for its construction that would guarantee a high level of sustainability by optimising rainwater, creating green roofs, using materials supplied by local manufacturers and by creating parking spaces for smart vehicles. So it comes as no surprise that the building has been awarded LEED BD+C certification: Core and Shell from the Green Building Council. Mapei Argentina also played a part in achieving this result by supplying eco-sustainable products, such as KERAFLEX to install porcelain floor and wall tiles and MAPELASTIC to waterproof substrates.

Lex Tower in Buenos Aires

R11 residential towers in Cascina Merlata, Milan (Italy)

An important residential development is currently under construction in the Cascina Merlata district of Milan. The northern end of Villaggio Highrise is the location for lot R11 where residential towers designed by C+S Architects have been constructed. The two buildings, one with fourteen floors and one with twelve floors, are separated by a piazza to create a kind of urban gateway for the nearby park. For the façades of the towers M+, a subsidiary of Mapei, supplied 15x15x4 mm thick glass mosaic tiles in the colours white and dark grey, which were chosen to meet design requirements regarding light refraction. Mapei supplied ULTRACOLOR PLUS grout for joints and MAPESIL AC silicone sealant for expansion joints.