The underground car park in Saanen will undergo significant renovation in autumn 2024, necessitating its closure from mid-September to mid-December 2024. The refurbishment aims to address long-standing issues and is projected to cost around CHF 1.2 million.

Renovation costs and funding
The estimated cost for the renovation is CHF 1.2 million, which will be covered by the municipality’s current investment account. Philipp Becker explains, “The municipal assembly approved around CHF 14 million for the construction of the public car park. At CHF 10.5 million, we have fallen short of this credit. That’s why we don’t have to go back to the large municipality for the renovation costs.” Additionally, the municipality may receive a small sum from the bankruptcy estate of the Drytech company, which was involved in the original construction.

Moisture and structural issues
The multi-storey car park, which opened in October 2013, has suffered from moisture problems. The initially chosen waterproofing method, the “white tank” system, failed to deliver as promised. Drytech AG, the company responsible for the waterproofing, has since gone bankrupt, complicating the situation further.

Becker describes the extent of the issues: “We have cracks everywhere in the multi-storey car park in Saanen, amounting to over 750 linear metres. Some water-bearing cracks in the floor slab and walls are almost two millimetres wide.” The inadequate concrete used has led to significant structural damage, including corrosion of support structures and damage to the technical systems due to constant moisture.

Legal and engineering challenges
The municipality faced numerous legal and engineering challenges. The initial waterproofing system, chosen for its cost-effectiveness, did not perform as expected. Attempts to find an amicable solution with the involved companies led to partial success. Local construction companies reached out-of-court settlements, but the municipality had to take the responsible engineering company to court. The court ruled in favour of the municipality, ordering the engineer to pay damages and court costs.

Redevelopment plan
A specialist company has been engaged for the renovation, with Theiler Ingenieure AG overseeing local construction management and Tschanz Architektur AG handling architectural planning. The plan involves demolishing all hard concrete except for the floor slabs, returning the toilet facilities and foyer to the shell, and injecting visible cracks to seal them from moisture. A highly reactive, fast-curing, and crack-bridging waterproofing membrane will then be applied. This system could have been used from the outset as an alternative to the failed “white tank” method. Finally, the hard concrete will be re-installed, the toilet facilities will be repaired, and the technology will be updated.

Philipp Becker remains hopeful: “Then we will hopefully have peace of mind for the next 40 years.”

Impact on the community
The renovation will inevitably cause some disruption to the community due to the car park’s closure. However, the long-term benefits of a fully functional and watertight car park far outweigh the temporary inconvenience. The municipality’s proactive approach in addressing the issues and ensuring a thorough renovation reflects a commitment to maintaining and improving local infrastructure.

Residents and visitors of Saanen can look forward to a revamped car park by the end of 2024, providing a reliable and well-maintained facility for years to come.

BASED ON AVS / ANITA MOSER