The two round, shell-like gardens on the roof of the new building look like a pair of eyes gazing into the valley.

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Stylish fusion of winemaking and architecture

The new Sauska Winery building on Varga Padi hill near Tokaj, Hungary, is an architectural marvel. The unique design demanded exceptional waterproofing solutions to protect against dampness and moisture.

MC Waterproofing masters special challenges at the Sauska Winery

Hungary

The new Sauska Winery building on the Varga Padi hill near Tokaj in Hungary is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a symbol of the harmonious fusion of winemaking, contemporary architecture and landscape. The striking design of the building, with its sculpture-like bowls that rise like curious eyes above the mountain, is virtually built into the mountain. The winery’s unique architectural concept also placed high demands on the waterproofing, challenges that were mastered using MC products.

Inside the two shell-shaped building sections, each 36 metres in diameter, are the winery’s public rooms and offices. Wine production, however, takes place in the cellar. Only the two bowl-shaped circular gardens on the roof of the new building rise up from the hill, meaning that the building is largely underground. Waterproofing the vertical and horizontal components against damp and moisture required a precise and thorough approach, as well as high-quality products.

Reliable protection through systematic waterproofing

The contractor, Csikizó Kft, used a carefully matched combination of products to seal the components in contact with the ground. The waterproofing was applied in several layers, with MC-Bauchemie’s Nafuflex Profi Tech 2 two-component sprayable polymer-modified thick bitumen coating as the main component. This was reinforced with Nafuflex GRID 25 NF, a glass fabric insert, to ensure resilience. The special MC-FastTape waterproofing tape was also used for the construction joints. Once the first layer of the coating had cured, the second layer was applied, giving a total dry layer thickness of 3mm.

The waterproofing of the up to 10 m high walls had to be performed in stages.

The waterproofing of the up to 10 m high walls had to be performed in stages.
© MC-Bauchemie 2025

Construction work in progress in wintery conditions.

Construction work in progress in wintery conditions.
© MC-Bauchemie 2025

Clever solutions to special challenges

A number of challenges had to be overcome during the waterproofing process. Formwork oil residue on the concrete surfaces was a major problem, as it affected the adhesion of the waterproofing compound. In order to remove the oil and ensure adequate adhesion, the affected areas of concrete had to be carefully abraded. Another challenge was the weather, as the work was carried out in the autumn and the start of winter. The site had to be enclosed and heated. To be on the safe side, the winter version of Nafuflex Profi Tech 2 was used, which is frost-resistant down to -5 °C and can be applied at substrate and air temperatures down to +1 °C.

 

As the wall construction was up to 10 metres high in places, it also had to be waterproofed in stages. After sealing a strip to a height of around 3 metres, the finished area was backfilled and the next section was coated from the top of the backfill. The thick layer of bitumen was applied with a spray gun at a pressure of 150-200 bar, enabling the work to be carried out without the need for scaffolding.

 

Overall, the waterproofing of the new Sauska Winery building was a challenging task. However, thanks to careful planning, high-quality waterproofing products and a creative approach, it was successfully completed despite the wintry weather conditions.

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