Canfranc International Railway Station refurbishment into Canfranc Estación Hotel, Huesca, Spain; Opened Jan 2023 with 104 rooms
saw_Canfranc Estación Hotel, Spain
SIKA AT WORK FROM TRAIN STATION TO HOTEL, HUESCA, SPAIN CONCRETE REPAIR: Sika MonoTop®, SikaRep®, Sika AnchorFix®, SikaGrout® JOINT SEALING: Sikadur Combiflex® SG WATERPROOFING: Sikalastic® STRUCTURAL STRENGTHENING: SikaWrap® PROTECTION: Sikagard®, SikaColor® TILE SETTING: SikaCeram®
SIKA AT WORK FROM CANFRANC TRAIN STATION TO CANFRANC ESTACIÓN HOTEL, HUESCA, SPAIN 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project features refurbishment and adaptive reuse of the historic Canfranc International Railway Station (inaugu- rated 1928) into a 5-star hotel while preserving the heritage facade and architectural identity. The station was a major cross-border hub in the early 20th century and is listed as an asset of cultural interest (monument). Its transformation has become a regional anchor for tourism and employment, at- tracting international media attention. The total project size is 9,210.66 m². The building (≈241 × 12 m) is a symmetrical, elongated struc- ture of concrete, iron, stone, glass, and slate at ~1,194 m elevation in the Aragonese Pyrenees. The project was executed in two phases: Phase I (March 2019 – September 2020): restoration for public use of perimeter platforms and vestibule. Investment €4.74 m (excl. Vat). Phase II (July 2021 – January 2023): refurbishment of the station building for hotel use (royal hideaway, barceló hotel group). Investment €11.40 m (excl. Vat). The hotel was completed and opened in January 2023 with 104 rooms and multiple f&b venues, including “canfranc express” housed in a restored carriage and awarded 1 Michelin star. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS Structural preservation & durability at altitude ́ Reinforced-concrete facades, cornices, pillars, beams, slabs from the 1915–1928 era exhibited gravel nests, localized delamination, carbonation-induced rebar corrosion, and cracking (including around canopy fixings). ́ Harsh mountain climate (freeze–thaw, limited non-frost working window ~March – October) dictated rapid-setting solutions and robust protection systems. Heritage constraints ́ Facade, profiles, colors and textures to be restored “as- original”; new work to be visually discreet (e.g., hidden crack stapling, non-intrusive strengthening). ́ Expansion joints (8–10 cm, overlapped to be visually conce- aled) required sealing and fire sectorization without altering the front views. Change of use & load paths New vertical communications (stairs/elevators) and room program required local strengthening (columns, beams around shafts; stairwells) while keeping the lobby open to full height and respecting the dome/tower accents. Execution constraints ́ Works staged over winters; underside bridge deck repairs required ultra-rapid mortars and anchored build-ups to manage thickness and temperature. ́ Continuous platforms and canopies on differential found- ations demanded movement-tolerant sealing and flexible waterproofing around interfaces. SIKA SOLUTIONS Assessment & preparation ́ Water-jet cleaning to remove contaminants and weak material; selective scarification around pathology and rust- stained zones. ́ Rebar treatment: exposed steel brushed and passivated with Sika MonoTop®-910 S; two-coat Sika® Ferrogard®-903 Plus applied (saturation/pressure-spray) as a penetrant corrosion inhibitor and primer before coatings. REVITALIZING OLD STRUCTURES FOR NEW PURPOSES Transform the historic Canfranc International Railway Station to a five-star hotel
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