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Customer Magazine December 2016 Know- how Efficient roof drainage 40,000 litres per minute Reference object Port authority with a view

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Page 1: Know- ow h · 2018-04-20 · for elegant, touchless and reliable wall- mounted taps that can be installed just as quickly and perfectly as deck-mounted taps. From now on, they have

Customer MagazineDecember 2016

Know- how

Efficient roof drainage

40,000 litres per minuteReference object

Port authority with a view

Page 2: Know- ow h · 2018-04-20 · for elegant, touchless and reliable wall- mounted taps that can be installed just as quickly and perfectly as deck-mounted taps. From now on, they have

32

We build perfect waterways.

Published byGeberit Southern Africa (Pty.) Ltd.6 Meadowview LaneMeadowview Business EstateLongmeadow, Linbro ParkZA-Johannesburg

Phone +27 11 444 50 70Fax +27 11 444 59 [email protected]

→  www.geberit.co.za

Issued: quarterlyThe reproduction of individual articles, in part or in full, is subject to approval from the editorial staff.

PhotosBen Huggler (cover picture, pages 18, 20-21, back page)Michael Suter (pages 8–9)Carlos Crespo (pages 10–13)Scanderbeg Sauer (pages 14-17)

On the coverThe Port House in Antwerp comprises a former fire station and a new structure lifted above the retained building.

Hotel receives new urinalsOn site 10

Sound design for the bathroomTechnology & innovation 18

Contents

↑  Form and function in perfect harmony: modern bathroom comfort with a shower toilet in a business hotel.

The sanitary products from Geberit offer guests maximum comfort while requiring minimal maintenance and cleaning work.

ContentsNews/Agenda 5

New products 2017 – a preview 6

Pluvia roof drainage system in action 8

Demand-oriented production 14

Reference object 20

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54 Customer Magazine December 2016

Editorial

Mark Schurr, Managing Director

Dear customers,

It is always irritating for visitors when urinals, toilets or washbasins in public sanitary facilities have an “out of order” sign on them for days on end. However, this situation frustrates the owner or operator of these facilities the most. Geberit has developed a new generation of products for public areas that puts an end to this annoying situation, including urinals, washbasin taps and rimless WCs that make life easier for both the cleaning staff and the facility management team. Put through their paces at the company’s own labora­tories, these appliances live up to their promises of malfunction­free, energy­ saving and water­saving operation – even in the most highly frequented sanitary facilities.

On the very rare occasion where something does not work properly, the situation can be remedied in next to no time. All of the components are easily accessible and can be replaced within a matter of minutes, even by the cus­tomer’s own facility management team, if necessary. And with the urinals, the discharge pipe can also be cleaned without needing to remove the ceramic appliance from the wall.

For all their technical sophistication and robustness, the products exude an unpretentiousness and timeless elegance. But don’t just take our word for it – take a look for yourself. I wish you an enjoyable read.

News

1

Geberit KZN Team “gets dirty”The Geberit KwaZulu Natal employees got together and recently participated in the infamous Warrior Race which combines sport, adventure, mud and obstacles in a challenging, boundary pushing and innova-tive race. They decided early on in the year that they were unfit and needed to do something about it as a team. The Warrior Race was the ideal platform for them to come together in a fun way where they have to work as a team, challenging themselves whilst encouraging each other through the demanding obstacle course, which tested their endurance, strength and mental re-solve. Debbie Blatt, Head of KZN region, said it was a tremendous team-building ex-ercise that brought everyone closer to-gether, uplifting the spirits and comradery as well as improving our fitness levels. “The challenge is on for the other Geberit regions to participate in such an uplifting event.”

2

Anywhere event Cape Town 2016In celebration of the 2016 Anywhere cam-paign, Geberit Cape Town rolled out the red carpet and hosted a customer event at the Cinema with our special guest and brand ambassador Tendai Mtawarira, better known as “Beast” – well-known Sharks and Springbok Rugby player. Guests were mes-merised watching the dramatic Geberit Anywhere themed video on the big screen, a “Star Wars” experience that was simply out of this world. Followed by an impressive screening of Geberit reference projects from around the Globe, MC and entertainer extraordinaire Gino Fabbri took to the stage and completely enthralled with his versatile repertoire of characters, mixed with his hu-mour, and great musical talent. He had everyone in perpetual hysterics right until the very end when he received a standing ovation after his spectacular finale. An awe-inspiring, memorable event that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone!

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76 Customer Magazine December 2016

New products 2017

Slim and cleverGeberit tap system for public sanitary facilities

Cleverly planned and pre-assembledThe new Geberit shower surface Setaplano

When writing an offer for a public or semi-public sanitary facility, plumbers long for elegant, touchless and reliable wall- mounted taps that can be installed just as quickly and perfectly as deck-mounted taps. From now on, they have a product they can rely on 100%.

With its new tap system, Geberit is helping to bring about a radical change in thinking: electronic washbasin taps can be slim and elegant and still be very robust. And they can be just as easily, precisely and perm-anently mounted on the wall as they can on the washbasin.

The focus here is on wall-mounted taps as they are the more practical solution in day-to-day operation. Thanks to clever integra-

tion into Geberit’s tried-and-tested instal-lation technology, it is now finally possible to carry out the planning and installation of wall-mounted taps quickly and perfectly right off the bat.

And the electronics, the mixing valve and the other components that had been housed in or directly behind the tap hous-ing to date? These are located in a separate box built into the wall under the washbasin, where they are well protected against mois-ture. The new tap system also impresses thanks to its modular design, which also of-fers exceptional flexibility when it comes to choosing the power supply.

The new tap system is available from April 2017.  ←

The new Geberit shower surface Setaplano impres- ses at first glance – and also from the first touch.  It is made of a high-quality solid material whose sur- face has a silky smooth and warm feel and is easy to clean. 

Floor-even showers are very popular, which is hardly surprising given that they sub-stantially expand the scope of design pos-sibilities in the bathroom. The Geberit shower surface Setaplano has a range of special features that help it stand out from the crowd. The shower surface is available in various sizes and with the drain posi-tioned to one side, thus ensuring maximum freedom – neither the drain nor the gather-ing water gets in the way of the perfect showering experience.

With the Geberit shower surface Seta-plano, as many components as possible are pre-assembled at the factory. Having fewer individual parts has a lot of advantages on the building site. The preparation work on site is completed in next to no time, and the overall time required for installation is re-duced.

Pre-assembly simplifies the work of the plumber while also ensuring the greatest possible reliability. As a result, the sealing foil is already applied to the Geberit shower surface Setaplano at the factory.

The Geberit shower surface Setaplano fea-tures a new, easy-to-clean trap that is avail-

The new Geberit tap system impresses not only thanks to its modular design and excellent value for money, it also promises economical operation.

↑  This is what architects and their clients often have in mind when they are planning public sanitary facilities – slim yet robust wall-mounted taps without frills and furbelows.

↑  As many components as possible are pre-assembled at the factory, which speeds up the installation process.

able in two sizes. Both can be turned 360 degrees after they have been inserted into the installation frame and can therefore be aligned as required. The trap beaker can be easily removed in its entirety. Because it is made of easy-care, elastic plastic, cleaning couldn’t be simpler.

Geberit Setaplano is available from April 2017.  ←

↑  The electronics, the mixing valve and the power supply are not located in the tap housing, but instead in a function box built into the wall under the washbasin. Here, they are well protected against moisture.

↑  With the drain positioned to one side, the shower surface Setaplano ensures a great deal of freedom – nothing gets in the way of the perfect showering experience.

New products 2017

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98 Customer Magazine December 2016

Products & solutions

Siphonic prowessLogistics centre fitted with the Geberit Pluvia roof drainage system

The Geberit Pluvia roof drainage system has been used on large and extremely large roofs all over the world for decades. The expansion of our logistics centre proved the perfect opportunity to comprehen-sively document some details of such a system.

Geberit Pluvia – a drainage system for both large and complex roofs

The Geberit Pluvia roof drainage system works on the basis of negative pressure. It is designed so that the pipes fill up rapidly and without air pockets when there is heavy rainfall. A closed, swift-flowing water column forms in the pipes, causing the water on the roof to be suctioned off. The discharge capacity of a siphonic roof drainage system is very high. Fewer roof outlets, smaller pipe dimensions and fewer discharge stacks are also required than with conventional roof drainage systems. For over 30 years, Geberit Pluvia has been reliably draining the roofs of shopping centres, football stadiums, logistics buildings, airports, museums and other buildings all over the world.

With Pluvia, Geberit offers a system for draining large or com - plex roofs that continues to stand out in every respect. The scope of services also includes project-specific consulting and planning support as well as complete BIM data for the planning software Autodesk Revit.

The capacity of the Geberit logistics centre at the Pfullendorf site in the south of Ger-many is currently being significantly ex-panded. To this end, various new buildings with a total roof area of 19,230 m² – the equivalent of around two hectares or three football pitches – have been built. During heavy rainfall, several 10,000 l of water per minute can pelt down onto this surface – and up to 75,000 l/min during a once-in-a-century period of extreme rainfall.

140 roof outletsIt goes without saying that the Geberit Plu-via roof drainage system was used to drain the large flat roofs. The installed system – including emergency drainage – comprises 140 roof outlets with a capacity of 14 l/s as well as 2,942 m of Geberit HDPE pipes with diameters of 50 to 200 mm. Pluvia – the

↑ When it comes to planning Pluvia systems, Geberit offers project-specific support – including on the best places to install the roof outlets.

↑ The HDPE pipes from the roof drainage system run horizontally under the roof. As a result, the usable floor-to-ceiling height is not affected. The pipes are completely insulated in order to prevent condensation.

main drainage system – works on the basis of negative pressure and can drain up to 40,000 l of rainfall per minute from the roofs. This capacity is designed for the type of heavy rainfall that occurs every four to five years.

Just under half the roof outlets are used for emergency drainage, which springs into action if the rainfall exceeds the capacity of the main drainage system. Although such occurrences are very rare, you neverthe-less have to be prepared.

2,942 m of pipesCompared with conventional roof drainage systems, only few discharge stacks are re-quired for the Pluvia system. The roof out-lets are connected to the discharge stack via HDPE pipes laid horizontally under the

roof. Geberit offers a patented fastening system for the professional installation of these HDPE pipes. Because only minor force is exerted on the building structure, this system is also perfect for lightweight roofs. No special tools are required to in-stall the Pluvia fastening system. On the contrary, many steps can be taken care of with a single blow of a hammer thanks to the wedge system. The robust and highly dura-ble HDPE pipes are either firmly bonded to one another in a leakproof manner by means of butt welding or using electrofu-sion couplings. The range of pipes and fittings available for this purpose leaves nothing to be desired. ←

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1110 Customer Magazine December 2016

On site

Installed in next to no timeNew urinal systems from Geberit

The urinal systems at a congress hotel are showing their age and need a lot of mainte-nance. As a result, they are to be replaced by new ones without having to renovate the entire sanitary facility. The urinal systems from Geberit are perfect for such situations.

Whenever possible, maintenance work is only carried out at the Mövenpick congress hotel close to Zurich Airport when there are no seminars and events for a few weeks. This was also the case with the partial reno-vation of a toilet facility, where six urinals with obsolete flush controls had to be re-placed by new, maintenance-friendly sys-tems. The wall tiles, floor tiles and all other installations were to remain in place here. The time frame for this project: five days.

Tried-and-tested Duofix installation elementsImmediately after the old urinals had been removed, a specialist company profession-ally cleaned the discharge pipes behind the wall. It turned out that – despite having urine scale deposits here and there – the 30-plus-year-old Geberit HDPE pipes were other-wise in pristine condition. This enabled the plumbers to tackle the installation of the Geberit Duofix installation elements for the new urinals slightly ahead of schedule. This proved an easy task for the two sanitary pro-fessionals. Within just a few hours, the six blue metal frames were firmly secured to the wall and floor, all the connections for the new urinals were prepared and the wooden mounting plates for the urinal divisions were screwed on. The ensemble now constituted a perfectly aligned, robust supporting struc-

↑ The Duofix installation elements can be connected to the existing con-nections for water, electricity and waste water without the need for major adjustments.

← Yannick Ramseier, an apprentice at Bürge Haustechik AG, prepares a Geberit Preda urinal for installa-tion. Head fitter Paul Arnold can be seen in the background installing urinal divisions.

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1312 Customer Magazine December 2016

On site

↑ After: The partial renovation of this toilet facility sees six new Geberit Preda urinals and Geberit urinal divisions installed in just four days.

↑ Before: These old urinals have become prone to faults and are causing a lot of maintenance work.

↑ Because the reinforced braided hoses have been spe-cially prepared at the factory, connecting a Geberit urinal to the water supply is taken care of in next to no time.

ture. Instead of panelling this structure with plasterboard and then cladding it with tiles, the hotel management opted to use a ro-bust laminate for the cladding. No sooner were the plumbers finished installing the installation elements than two carpenters were ready to take measurements. Later that day in their workshop, they cut the san-itary wall’s cladding, which comprises just four parts, to size with great precision be-fore installing it the next day.

Maintenance-friendly designOn day four, the sanitary professionals were already able to set about installing the new urinals and divisions – a first for the two pros. “When installing the first urinal, we simply stuck to the installation manual,” said Paul Arnold, head fitter at the company Bürge Haustechnik. “The other five appli-ances and the divisions were then installed in no time – when it comes to installation, the new urinal systems from Geberit are well thought out right down to the last detail.”

Marcel Sorrentino, head of facility manage-ment at the Mövenpick congress hotel, was delighted that the renovation work was completed after just four days. “I have great hopes regarding the design of these new urinal systems,” he says. “If something should not work, you can simply remove the entire control unit from the docking station and replace it with a replacement module. This is an elegant way of preventing inter-ruptions in service.” ←

↑ The Geberit Duofix installation elements for urinal systems are prepared for the installation of the models Preda and Selva.

Paul Arnold, head fitter at the company Bürge Haustechnik

“The new urinal systems from Geberit are well thought out right down to the last detail.”

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1514 Customer Magazine December 2016

On demandProduction at Geberit

When a product is ordered from Geberit, a fascinating process is set in motion. The goal is to manufacture and deliver a product with as little loss as possible in terms of material, energy, time, quality and safety.

crete need. Production at Geberit then has the sole aim of meeting this need without delay. “In principle, every plastics-processing company worldwide is capable of manufacturing cisterns,” explains Robert Lernbecher, Managing Director of the production company in Pful-lendorf. “However, our plant can do much more. It always manufactures the exact number of cistern systems required by the market at the time and consisten - tly does so with optimum productivity and at a clearly defined, very high quality.”

Put in relatively simple terms, it is comparable with a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant. The stock of already made burgers on the metal chute between the kitchen and the tills is mostly low, comprising just a few items. The rest of the burgers are then freshly prepared when they are actually ordered.

system in their entirety, employing processes such as injection moulding, foaming and extrusion blow mould-ing. Only a few small rubber and metal components are acquired elsewhere.

The maximum production capacity of the three-shift operation is 25,000 cisterns a day, which corresponds to a complete ready-to-install unit every four seconds. However, it is extremely rare that such high quantities are ordered. Ordered is the key word for the Pfullen-dorf-based cistern builders, as only what’s ordered is manufactured. It is not the production capacity, but the number of cisterns ordered each day that determines the activities at that manufacturing plant.

Comparable with McDonald’sIn other words, every time a plumber somewhere in Eu-rope orders a Geberit cistern, he is declaring a con-

Virtually all products sold by Geberit in Europe are also manufactured in Europe. This may come as a surprise at first, given the age of globalisation in which we now live. Yet when it comes to efficiency, productivity and sustainability, Geberit’s plants in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland can match up to any manufacturer worldwide – a fact that will now be illus-trated using the example of concealed cisterns that have been produced in their millions.

High level of in-house productionGeberit cisterns have been manufactured at the Pful-lendorf plant in the south of Germany for 50 years. Just as the cisterns themselves have been continually im-proved over the decades, their production too is sub-ject to ongoing optimisation. Today, approximately 700 production employees in Pfullendorf produce 95 per cent of the roughly 130 components found in a cistern

←  Many steps in the final assembly of concealed cisterns are carried out by robots.

Backstage

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1716 Customer Magazine December 2016

Similar to the metal chute at McDonald’s, Geberit too has a finished goods warehouse. This warehouse ser-vices the lorries that dock each day at the Logistics Center and deliver to wholesalers throughout Europe. The finished goods warehouse has the function of an expansion tank. In terms of concealed cisterns, its stock can last for a few days. However, a critical point is never reached as the warehouse system continually notifies production of all outgoing goods resulting from cus tomer orders. These outgoing goods are then promptly produced all over again.

Continuously improved energy efficiencyThe first step in manufacturing a cistern is the pro­duction of the flush tank. This is produced from a piece of hot viscous polyethylene using the extrusion blow moulding process. “Extrusion blow moulding is proba-bly the most complex and demanding plastics-pro-cessing process there is,” explains Robert Lernbecher. “Geberit has mastered this process to perfection and is the only manufacturer to employ it when manufactur-ing cisterns.”

The majority of the eleven extrusion blow moulding fa-cilities in Pfullendorf are state-of-the-art – not least in order to continuously reduce energy consumption. Since 2009, the energy consumption per manufac-tured cistern has been reduced by just over 20 per cent. A large portion of the required energy has been produced in the plant’s own biogas-operated block heating station since 2012.

Final assembly – where it all comes togetherWhile the flush tank blanks – which are still warm from extrusion blow moulding – are being transported along a long conveyor en route to final assembly, various in­jection moulding machines produce all of the numer-ous individual fill and flush valve components. These parts are then brought to the respective assembly lines, where robots assemble and test the valves. At the same time, the anti-condensation insulation is foamed and metal parts are mechanically machined in other areas of the production plant.

As the first flush tanks pass through the leak test, the ready-to-install valves and all other components arrive at final assembly – and in identical quantity. The cisterns are then assembled, tested and readied for shipment using a mixture of manual and fully auto-mated processes. With the cisterns scarcely packed and on their way to the finished goods warehouse, the components from a new series arrive at final assembly.

Safety as a factor of success“The greatest challenge with this type of order-ori-ented production is ensuring that the entire system flows smoothly without any glitches,” explains Robert Lernbecher. “This demands a high degree of flexibility and personal responsibility from the individual employ-ees. The change in set-up from one production process to the next has to be done quickly, and the timing of the delivery of the manufactured parts or components at the next processing station is always critical.”

An exemplary work safety and high-quality standards make a significant contribution to the high productivity achieved in cistern production in Pfullendorf. However, the Pfullendorf team is not one for resting on its laurels and is seeking out additional potential for improve-ment. For example, it is currently aiming to further reduce its already very good record of only 13 safety- related incidents per million hours worked. It’s not for nothing that the maxim applies that with every invest-ment made towards improving productivity, work safety also has to be measurably improved. ←

→  Geberit flush tanks are manufactured using the extrusion blow moulding process. The hot bubble made of viscous polyethylene (center picture) is moulded by this machine to form a flush tank.

↑  Final mechanical processing and assembly of angle stop valves.

←  Despite a high degree of automation – as seen here in fill valve assembly – around 700 employees work in production in Pfullendorf.

Backstage

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1918 Customer Magazine December 2016

When people buy an expensive sports car nowadays, they also want it to sound like one – from the deep, throaty growl of the engine through to the rich clicking of the sporty manual gearbox. Although the noise level produced by the vehicle must not ex-ceed legally prescribed values, there are no limits when it comes to the quality of the sound.

Sound as a provider of informationLike sports car manufacturers, Geberit as-sumes that a premium product – such as the shower toilet AquaClean Mera – has to be convincing in every respect. And sound is also part of the overall impression. “Sounds should confirm expectations,” says Oliver Wolff, Head of Building Physics at Geberit. “An automatic WC lid that clangs and rattles when opening doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. If the spray arm then screeches like a rusty hinge when extend-ing, a poor first impression is then turned into a highly irritating experience,” he ex-plains.

The goal of sound designers is to modulate sounds so that they match the function and – if required – even convey important infor-mation. With a shower toilet, for example, if you can clearly hear when the spray arm has finished extending, this adds to the comfort because you won’t be surprised by the shower spray.

Complex sound sourcesBefore you can modify and design sounds, you need to know precisely how and where they develop and which components affect the sound quality. For example, when the WC lid is automatically lifted, it is not just the built-in electric motor that is respon-sible for the sound quality – the hinge and the vibration behaviour of the lid also play a

Technology & innovation

This is what quality sounds likeSound design for Geberit products

Thanks to its concerted efforts in the area of sound design, Geberit ensures that appliances such as shower toilets and urinals also meet customer expectations in terms of how they sound. Let’s take a brief excursion into the world of sounds.

role here too. The sound quality can be modulated by changing how the electric motor is controlled, reinforcing the material at specific points on the lid and adjusting the design of the hinge. All you need to fig-ure out is which sound fits.

The right sounds add value“Every person perceives and evaluates acoustic signals differently,” explains Oli-ver Wolff. “How a specific function of a shower toilet should sound like can there-fore only be determined by systematically asking people.” Over 80 people were in­vited to Geberit to take part in listening tests as part of a study on the topic of sound design. The test subjects had to lis-ten to the sounds of various shower toilet functions using headphones and then had

to evaluate the quality of the sounds that were played. The evaluation of the results allows taste ranges and preferences to be defined. These gave the acoustics special-ists clear indications as to the direction in which a certain sound should be modified.

“Because sound design is far less firmly es-tablished in the field of sanitary technology than in automotive engineering, we can create considerable added value for our customers by focusing on this area,” sums up Oliver Wolff. ←

← The acoustics experts at Geberit also use a state-of-the-art artificial head measurement system to record and analyse sanitary noises. This system enables an aurally accurate re-cording of sound events.

↑ Sound design creates added value: the sound of the automatic lid-opening function on the shower toilet Geberit AquaClean Mera was modulated by a series of targeted measures.

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2120 Customer Magazine December 2016

All hands on deck! Port House, Antwerp, Belgium

Complex statics

Reference object

Spectacular projects – such as the Port House – usually have a very ambitious schedule. How was it in this case?At the outset, the schedule for the work was indeed very tight, particularly when it came to the existing, lower building. In the extension, on the other hand, there was a little bit more leeway due to several changes of plan.

What sanitary technology issues arose due to the new port building’s unique design?The upper building structure is very complex from a statics perspective. It stands on two concrete pillars, with the one in the inner courtyard serving as the entrance. All the drainage pipes had to be routed to the second pillar – the one in front of the building. A precise calcula-tion was required in order to bridge the horizontal distance. We went over the whole thing several times.

What support did you receive from Geberit over the course of this project?Extremely valuable support, particularly with regard to the aforementioned calculations. In my experience, it is much easier to convince the planning offices of a solution when they know that Geberit is signing off on the underlying calculations or even doing them itself. ←

Vliegen NV

Raf Vliegen has been managing Vliegen NV – a company that his father founded in 1960 – since 2000. He currently employs 25 sanitary special-ists and works together with an additional 25 external contractors. Vliegen NV specialises in major projects. Current such projects include a hospital in Mechelen and “Tour Paradis” in Liège.

Antwerp has the world’s largest cargo port in terms of area – however, its size is diffi-cult to grasp from the roof terrace of the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS). The con-tainer terminals and petrochemical facili-ties span an impressive 130 km2 right up to the Dutch border. Unlike its eternal rival in Rotterdam, the Port of Antwerp did not be-come so large due to land reclamation. Bit by bit, each of the 48 docks was created by excavating the land and flooding it with water from the Scheldt.

Renewing the bondsThe labyrinth of warehouses, locks and canals is impossible for outsiders to get their head around, which is perhaps why the inhabitants of Antwerp have a peculiar aloofness when it comes to their relation-ship with the port. However, the tide really turned with the approval of the widely ac-claimed Strategic Spatial Structure Plan from 2006 – Antwerp was finally claiming its

port. In the area around Montevideostraat, the residential towers designed by Diener & Diener, David Chipperfield and Gigon & Guyer bear witness to this. On the other side of Kattendijkdok, the area around Ca-dixstraat is a major building site where resi-dential property continues to be developed at a frantic pace.

A project that builds bridgesThe transformation of the historical Eiland-je docklands – to which the areas around Montevideostraat and Cadixstraat belong – is now reaching its provisional conclusion with the addition of the Port House by Zaha Hadid. Located at the end of Kattendijkdok, this is a strategic project that serves as a link between the city and the port. The Port Authority employs a total of 1,650 people, and this project brings together 500 mem-bers of staff who had previously been work-ing in different locations scattered all over the city. ←

Around 500 Antwerp Port Authority employees have taken up quarters. Their new workplaces are strategically located in a former fire station that Zaha Hadid Architects extended by placing a sparkling diamond on top.

Greenbuilding: BREEAM

Port House Building owner: Antwerp Port Authority Architecture: Zaha Hadid Architects Planning and execution: Vliegen NV

Geberit Know-how Duofix installation system Electronic urinal flush controls Mepla supply system PE-HD building drainage system Pluvia roof drainage system

Interview with Raf Vliegen, Managing Director of Vliegen NV

↑ A bold vision becomes reality: the Port House in the cargo port of Antwerp, designed by the world-famous architect Zaha Hadid.

↑ The entire building above the former fire station is supported by just two pillars. The complex statics placed high demands on the sanitary engineers.

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Geberit qualityFlush, refill, flush, refill – in fatigue tests, Geberit simulates up to 50 years of product use – for example, with flushing systems and actuator plates – in three months. All water-bearing Geberit products are put through their paces in the sanitary technology laboratories at the development and production site in Jona, Switzerland. Anything that leaves these laboratories with a seal of quality fullfills the highest standards.