Barbican North West Podium Waterproofing Scheme

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The scheme for this nineteen sixties listed building complex was designed by Forensic Architect Bickerdike Allen Partners to overcome water leakage into leased areas located below the podium level.  The scheme took 18 months and won the 'Best Outdoor Space' category within the 'Brick Awards' competition.

A flexible brush applied ‘Triflex’ system was selected to avoid complicated boundary flashing details, including stripping the tiled surfaces, screeds and insulation to expose the asphalt layer before applying the waterproofing system on the new rigid insulation (‘Foamglas’).  Finally, this was finished with a polymer screed and specifically formulated clay paving tiles (over 7,000 sq m).

The project also included a lake, bridge, fountain and planting scheme developed by Professor Nigel Donnett, best known for his work at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  The planting of 22,000 herbaceous plants were designed to reduce demand for regular watering.  The trees were also carefully positioned over structural columns to avoid ‘over-stressing’ the Barbican structure.