Challenge

New Bond Street has been one of the most prestigious retail streets in London since the 18th Century. In 2011 it was named as the second most expensive retail street in Europe after the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The Christian Dior name has also been synonymous with haute couture and luxury retail since its own inception in 1947.

The project required inrternal and external waterproofing to the extended basement area of Christian Dior’s flagship London store. The basement area was to be used as stock rooms, changing rooms, staff areas and shop floor.

It was a crucial requirement to achieve a completely dry internal space.

Solution

The property line construction between two existing buildings meant that there was a requirement for waterproofing both new and existing structural elements, including pile caps, underpinning, a new reinforced concrete slab, existing foundations, and also existing vaulted areas at the front of the building which extends below New Bond Street.

A completely dry internal environment was required. To satisfy this, the proposal put forward by design specialists G05, in consultation with Newton, was a combination of Type A and Type C waterproofing systems.

Because the build was between the flank walls of two existing structures, the Type A system combined two membranes.

  1. Newton 403 HydroBond hydrophilic, fully-bonded membrane was pre-applied below the new concrete slab

  2. Newton 107F flexible membrane was applied to the internal faces of the walls and the prepared internal areas of the vaults.

Following the application of the Type A system, a Newton System 500 Cavity Drain membrane system (Type C) was applied to the internal wall and floor areas .

The work was carried out by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Advanced Preservations Ltd, who also guaranteed the work.

The system included perimeter drainage using Newton Basedrain, and two Newton Titan-Pro pumping systems.

The under-pavement vaults were lined internally with the Newton 500 system.

Outcome

Not only was continuity achieved with the waterproofing systems across numerous below-ground building mediums and scenarios, but the waterproofing system also conformed to BS recommendations for combined waterproofing protection, where even the slightest form of water ingress is unacceptable.

The internal areas were also successful in achieving an environmental Grade 3 with regard to their degree of water tightness, meaning that they will be suitably fit for purpose and use by both Christian Dior’s staff and customers.