At Leipzig Zoo, ‘Tierra del Fuego’, which opened on 1 September 2026 in the southern part of the South America enclosure, has created a spectacular new aquatic world for sea lions and penguins. Spanning around 10,000 square metres, the facility includes, amongst other things, an underwater tunnel more than 100 metres long, a water basin with a capacity of around 5.5 million litres, and various areas for housing and caring for the animals.
Solutions from PohlCon were used to waterproof the complex concrete structures. The facility’s underground technical rooms extend to a depth of up to eight metres. To reliably seal the joints against groundwater, around 230 metres of KUNEX® joint tape was used. The profile of the joint tapes causes the water in the joint to flow around the tape, thereby ensuring a secure seal.
PENTAFLEX® joint sheets were used to waterproof the basement areas and the animal tanks filled with seawater: a total of around 600 metres, supplemented by OBS elements. The special coating on the joint sheets ensures a bond with the fresh concrete that is resistant to water penetration. PENTAFLEX® OBS controlled-crack elements for in-situ concrete components, in combination with PENTAFLEX KB® joint sheets, create controlled cracks in the floor whilst simultaneously sealing them reliably.
Sealing joints securely is of paramount importance, particularly in the case of low-lying structural elements: it protects the structure from water ingress and thus helps to ensure the long-term functionality of underground areas.
