Restoring buildings in Venice with high-quality waterproofing.
Restoring buildings in Venice means combining respect for historical and architectural heritage with the elegance of modern design. The project at the Hotel Nolinski, in the heart of the city just few steps from Piazza San Marco, is a prime example.
The context
In the heart of Venice, a few steps from the famous Piazza San Marco, along Calle Larga, the luxury shopping street, the project has given new life to the Hotel Nolinski.
The project first involved repurposing the building, previously used as offices but now abandoned, into a luxury hotel. This included the addition of a swimming pool and spa on the sixth floor: an exclusive oasis overlooking the Venetian rooftops. The challenge? Protecting the structure from high tides and the indoor pool from infiltration, in a critical hydrogeological context with constant humidity.
Techniques and products
Volteco provided an integrated product system to ensure total hydraulic tightness, flexibility and durability.
The project, carried out by the company Costruzioni Bergamo L. Srl, began with an on-site inspection to determine the work phases and study the most suitable solution for the building’s characteristics.
Waterproofing the pool against high tides
The first phase involved pouring lean concrete and installing Volgrip LH, a self-gripping and self-repairing active membrane that waterproofs reinforced concrete structures and prevents lateral water migration. This operation prepares the base and waterproofs the tank and perimeter walls.
After installing the reinforcement mesh, the walls were also waterproofed and levelled with the application of Revomat mesh , an AR fibreglass mesh with high resistance to the alkalis present in the cement and free from oxidation and disintegration, combined with Bi Mortar Plaster Seal , a multifunctional fibre-reinforced coating plaster suitable for levelling both mixed and reinforced concrete walls.
Subsequently, all the casting joints were sealed with WT CONSTRUCTION, a hydro-expansive profile based on natural sodium bentonite and butyl rubber, resistant even in the presence of strong water pressure.
Indoor pool waterproofing
On the sixth floor, a swimming pool entirely covered in mosaic was built, positioned in the center of the historic bays in the attic, waterproofed before the application of the finish with Plastivo 250, a waterproof, modified polymer, two-component, highly flexible coating, suitable for all surfaces subjected to both positive and negative hydrostatic pressure.
The result
An efficient and minimally invasive application on historic buildings without structural compromises. Volteco confirms its Venetian expertise: from UNESCO compliance to climate resilience, transforming hydraulic challenges into architectural excellence. The Hotel Nolinski is now ready to welcome guests to a safe and sophisticated haven.
Images @Impresa Costruzioni Bergamo
