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Author: Dr. Dieter Köster, CEO KÖSTER BAUCHEMIE AG
The KÖSTER BAUCHEMIE AG is a company that develops and manufactures products that extend the service life of buildings. I was able to see just how diverse and technically challenging this field of work is during my visit to Riga, Latvia, in May.
Riga, the capital of Latvia and the largest city in the Baltic region, has a history stretching back over 800 years. The well-preserved old town on the banks of the Daugava River is characterized by a very extensive stock of historic buildings. Art Nouveau characterizes the cityscape in many streets.
Cityscape of Riga (Source: Wikipedia)
In Latvia, our company is represented by CM Serviss. Mr. Alexandrs Kapusts founded and built this company. I met him for the first time in 2007 at the BAUMA in Munich. After 17 years, a business relationship has long since turned into a friendship. Aleks has given our company many valuable impulses. Today, his son Maris Kapusts runs the company.
In Riga, you can now find buildings in which KÖSTER products have been installed on practically every corner: The main railway station, the zoo, many historical buildings, e.g. the Danish embassy, the National Theater, the Opera House, apartment and office buildings, hotels, the ice rink in Ogre, commercial buildings such as Lidl and building centers, and government buildings. The products used include practically the entire KÖSTER product range: KSK, acrylic gels, restoration plasters, slurries, repair mortars, TPO, KÖSTER Crisin, KÖSTER PSM, KÖSTER NB 4000 and many more.
KÖSTER project: The Danish Embassy
KÖSTER project: Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theater
KÖSTER project: The new RAIL Baltica central station
Vitali Rolsing and I had the opportunity to visit three special buildings during our visit: Riga Castle, the National Bank of Latvia, and the Wagner House.
At Riga Castle (Rīgas pils or Riga Castle), we were given an individual tour by the site manager in charge, Bruno Fibiks, who has been overseeing the renovation of the castle since 1976- for almost 50 years.
Construction of the fortress began in 1330 and the castle was extensively rebuilt and extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. In recent decades, it has been renovated step by step. Today it is the official residence of the President. Another part of the castle will soon house a historical exhibition.
Rigas pils - Schloss Riga - Riga Castle
CM Serviss has closely monitored and supported the construction work in recent years. Aleksandrs Kapusts and Dr. Slobodan Kalinic visited the property back in 2016. The challenge was to waterproof the foundations of the oldest part of the building. The aim was to intervene as little as possible in the historical building structure, while at the same time protecting the building comprehensively and permanently from water damage. The castle is located near the Daugava River. This means that the building has always been exposed to groundwater. Over the centuries, the street level rose so that the former first floor now forms the basement.
Moisture was able to penetrate the building from the outside and from below and bring in salts, both of which damaged the fabric of the building. The castle is built on solid foundations. The walls of mixed masonry with components made of brick and natural stone are more than 2 meters thick in places.
After an extensive analysis of the masonry, it was determined that there were no major cavities. The salt analysis showed that masonry injection with KÖSTER Acrylic Gel G4 was possible. Dr. Kalinic prepared a technical documentation of the status analysis and a technical solution proposal. The planner responsible for the project requested the installation of test areas, whereby other parties were also invited to compare different systems.
Maris Kapusts in front of one of the massive foundation plinths
CM Serviss won the project with a convincing concept based on its extensive technical experience and in close coordination with our company. The injection work was carried out in 2020 over a period of 12 months. The basement and the remaining rooms of the construction phase have now been completed, so that the building section will soon be re-opened to the public as a museum.
Not far from the castle is the National Bank of Latvia. This building was erected at the beginning of the 20th century and has since housed Latvia's first independent central bank. Since January 1, 2005, the National Bank has been part of the Eurosystem.
Staircase in the entrance hall
CM Serviss is currently renovating and waterproofing the basement of the building. Rising damp and moisture pressing through from the outside has attacked the building structure here over many years.
Here, too, a variety of masonry repair systems are being used: negative side waterproofing with KÖSTER NB 1, masonry injection with acrylic gel, repair mortar, restoration plaster, and many more.
Basement under construction
KÖSTER in Latvia
We were then able to visit another highly significant building in Riga's historic city center. It is called the Wagner House. It was built in 1780-82 as the German Theater and Richard Wagner worked here as conductor of the theaters orchestra from 1837-39. The building had a strong influence on Richard Wagner and served as a model for his own house, where the Bayreuth Festival was held. The restoration of the building is supported by the Federal Republic of Germany and the Wagner Society.
The building is severely damaged by settlement. In addition to the waterproofing work, structural repairs are required. The foundations are to be supported using mineral injections. Furthermore, extensive masonry repairs will be carried out by filling cavities and cracks, reinforcing using a spiral anchor system, and partially replacing the masonry. In addition, the installation of a horizontal barrier and negative side waterproofing in the basement will be necessary. Leveling compounds will be used on all floors. Many of the KÖSTER products can be used to repair the building.
Richard-Wagner-Street
Condition of the foundation in the basement
Dieter Köster, Aleksandrs Kapusts and Maris Kapusts at the CM Serviss headquarters in Ogre
