Breaking ground: Setting the foundation for Pavilion MANAL
End of May, the construction of Pavilion MANAL officially began, marking a significant milestone for Oxara and the entire partner ecosystem of the project. In collaboration with Kibeco (KIBAG AG) and Marti AG Bauunternehmung from Zurich, Oxara cast the Oulesse® foundation - the first crucial element of the pavilion – on the campus of HSLU in Horw.
Laying the groundwork: An innovative foundation
With the site and formwork prepared, the first major step in the construction process was casting the foundation. Unlike conventional foundations, this one uses concrete based on Oxara's Oulesse® binder. The Oulesse® binder incorporates reused mixed demolition waste, such as recycled concrete and brick and replaces the traditionally used cement. This results in a decarbonised building material that promotes a circular economy and significantly reduces environmental impact.
For the MANAL foundation, 18m³ of Oulesse® concrete was produced and delivered to the site by Kibeco, marking the largest amount of Oulesse® concrete ever produced. The novel low-carbon concrete is made using the exact same product process as conventional concrete. The MANAL Project serves as a crucial validation step, testing the concrete at a 1:1 industrial scale. Upon arrival, the team from Marti AG Bauunternehmung efficiently managed the on-site construction activities, successfully casting the three parts of the foundation in a single afternoon and leaving them to harden.
In collaboration with Duramon, the reinforcement within the Oulesse® foundation will be monitored throughout its lifespan to gather valuable data on its corrosion state. Additionally, Oxara, in partnership with KIBAG and WaltGalmarini, is closely evaluating the early strength development and shrinkage behavior of the Oulesse® concrete to ensure the structural integrity of the pavilion.
Looking Ahead: Next Steps in the Construction Phase
After a week, the formwork was removed, revealing a solid foundation ready for the next phase: installing the second-hand concrete slabs that will support the walls of Pavilion MANAL.
Despite the pouring rain that lasted most of the day, the spirits on-site remained high, with everyone eager and excited to see Pavilion MANAL take shape.
