1 Product File
The centerpiece of the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park in Zürich Zoo is a 6,800 m2 elephant house constructed using Sika basement to roof solutions. The 80m diameter facility has a multi-faceted timber roof structure weighing more than 1500 tons. The free-form, flat roof is weatherproofed, insulated, and column-free on the inside. Skylights give natural light to simulate the forest canopy of the elephants' natural habitat.
The roof is supported by a fine architectural filigree concrete framework around the perimeter, with structural foundations absorbing loads from the huge timber frame and shell. The foundations are made of a pre-stressed, free-running concrete ring beam that transfers the load to the ground at three low points in the facade through especially piled foundations. The ring beam runs around the building for a total length of approx. 270 m, has a cross-section of about 48 x 200cm, and adapts to the curvature of the structure.
Sika Solutions - Architectural Concrete
All concrete for the specialist structural and watertight performance demands was produced using ViscoCrete® admixture technology which helped to achieve the optimum concrete flow, compaction and ultimate strengths for the fine filigree reinforced concrete support structure for the architectural façades.
ViscoCrete® admixtures were used alongside Sigunit® sprayed concrete accelerators for the slope stability needed for the pre-construction excavation for optimum performance and rapid completion. The Sika Sprinter mobile spray machine was used to apply the sprayed concrete.
Sika Solutions - Waterproofing Systems
The watertight areas and structures used Sika engineered waterproofing solutions to seal and accommodate the required movement capabilities in all of the joints, including the Sikadur®-Combiflex® system. Sika Control technology was also used in the concrete to prevent shrinkage cracking in the floor slabs.
Sika Solutions - Joint Sealing
SikaGrout® technology was used to fix and seal the roof supports into the structure and Sikasil® structural glazing adhesives and sealants were used for structural bonding of the overhead glazing in adapted profiles, plus sealing and UV-resistant bonding of the insulated glazing for the edge seals.
Sika Solutions - Roof Systems
The roof was produced and waterproofed with a Sarnafil® roofing system, fully bonded to the Duripanel boards, thus allowing joints in the substructure to be fully and securely bridged. The base of each platform support was enclosed in a maintenance-free Sarnafil® T fitting that was specially developed for the project by Sika.
Sika Solutions - Industrial Floor Coatings
Fast-curing, sprayed Sikalastic® polyurea technology proved to be the ideal solution to waterproof and provide impact and chemically resistant linings on the exposed concrete surfaces. This system was used throughout the elephant house and for protection of the water-retaining and holding tanks, including the waste-water containment and treatment facilities. Sikafloor® resin systems were applied on all of the trafficked and exposed floors in the visitor entry and access corridors.
