Opened in 1910, the Kempinski Palace Portorose in Portorose, Slovenia enjoyed a brilliant but brief career as one of the upper Adriatic’s most luxurious hotels. Left vacant at the end of the Seventies, the building fell into severe disrepair. It has recently been salvaged by radical restoration. A listed national monument since 1981, the former hotel has many architectural features recalling the Viennese Secession, Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Cubism, Art Déco and contemporary design. The restoration project entailed demolishing the old hotel but salvaging the main façade, now restored to its original condition. Another new building, the Ala Rosa, now flanks the historic façade. The contractor in charge of the project decided to use cement-free products. As a result Mapei was chosen for its Eco-Pozzolana based Mape-Antique range. Once the deteriorated sections of the façade were identified, the old plaster was removed and any degraded or loose reinforced concrete removed. The whole façade surface was then thoroughly cleaned with pressurized water jets. The reinforcing rods uncovered during the clean-up process were then cleaned, after which the gaps in the reinforced concrete were filled in. The façade was then given a finishing coating to provide protection from the elements and give the whole surface a pleasing uniform appearance. As well as the work on the facade, Mapei was also involved in water-proofing the bathrooms, kitchens, terraces and balconies as well as laying the tiles and parquet inside and outside the buildings
Mapei
Via Cafiero, 22
I - 20158 Milano
Tel. +39 02 37673.1
Fax + 39 02 37673214
E-mail: [email protected]
www.mapei.com