schede blu ingItalcementi Group Italcementi Via Camozzi, 124 24121 Bergamo, Italia The active photocatalytic principle Dives in Misericordia Church Rome, Italy Architect: Richard Meier

Italcementi GroupItalcementi Via Camozzi, 124

24121 Bergamo, Italiawww.italcementi.it

The active photocatalytic principle

Photocatalysis can effectively contribute to enhancingthe quality of life by abating the polluting substancespresent in the air and preserving the aesthetics ofbuildings.

One of the most impressive examples in this respectis the “Cité de la Musique et des Beaux-Arts” ofChambéry, France. For this work, built in grey photo-catalytic cement, continuous colorimetric monitoringwas decided to check color consistency over time.

Colorimetric monitoring is still in progress on twobuildings and is specifically involving 191 points ofmeasurement that are accurately distributed amongthe four cardinal points.

The self-cleaning action of photocatalytic cements

After thirty months’ monitoring, results are excellentand the luminance values recorded over time haveproved consistent, thereby confirming that color canbe preserved.

Preserving aesthetics: Chambéry




Dives in Misericordia ChurchRome, Italy

Architect: Richard MeierOwner: Vicariate of RomeYear: 2003Cement: white TX Arca®

Precasting firm: EdilgoriSupplier of TX Active®: Italcementi*

The American architect Richard Meier, winner of aninternational competition promoted by the Vicariateof Rome, designed the Dives in Misericordia Church,located in Tor Tre Teste, Rome. The church’s threeimpressively and totally white sails, the tallest of whichstands at 26 m, now soar over this low-key, isolatedsuburb of 10-story apartment blocks, which waslacking in both recognizable focal points andcommunity spaces.In order to avoid using a steel framework coveredwith white concrete panels – a solution that wouldnot have endured the test of time - the self-bearingsails were subdivided into large, precast blocks withdouble curvature, weighing 12 tons each.

As the main technical sponsor, Italcementi had beenfollowing the progress of this project closely, byproviding assistance with construction techniques anddeveloping a type of concrete which, in addition tobeing highly strong and durable, would ensureunparalleled and time-enduring white to the builtelements thanks to the self-cleaning properties ofthe final surfaces.

This was the first application of the photocatalyticprinciple called TX Active®.

*In Italy Italcementi is the leading manufacturer ofcement with a market share of around 30%.Italcementi boasts approximately 5,000 employeesand operates 18 all-integrated plants and 10 grindingcenters. Italcementi is also active in the ready-mixconcrete and admixture industries, with Calcestruzziand Axim Italia respectively, as well as in the field ofresearch applied to industrial plant design,engineering and technology through the Group’sTechnical Center CTG.

Preserving aesthetics: Rome




Air France HeadquartersRoissy-Charles de GaulleInternational Airport

Architects: Denis Vallode and Jean PistreOwner: Air FranceYear: 2006Cement: white TX Arca®

Precasting firm: MSASupplier of TX Active®: Ciments Calcia*

The new building, accommodated inside the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle International Airport, is theprestigious headquarters of the French flag carrier,Air France.

For this building, which is located amid highconcentrations of hydrocarbons from aircraftexhausts, a TX Active® rough surface finishing wasselected for ensuring color uniformity across façadesover time.

* As the French subsidiary of Italcementi Group,Ciments Calcia boasts 1500 employees and operates9 cement-manufacturing plants, 1 grinding center and8 sales agencies. Annual production exceeds 7 millionmetric tons of cement (1/3 of the French domesticmarket), which makes it the leader in the Frenchcement industry.

Preserving aesthetics: Paris




Hotel de PoliceBordeaux – France

Architect: Claude Marty (LacroutsMassicaults SA Architects)

Owner: The French Departmentof Interior

Year: 2003Cement: white TX Arca®

Precasting firm: CIR in TonneinsSupplier of TX Active®: Ciments Calcia*

Located downtown, the building is exposed to theaggressive action of pollutants that are typical ofurban areas.Right for preserving the aesthetic quality of thebuilding, architect Claude Marty chose using TXActive® cement to manufacture the white, smoothlyfinished precast concrete panels for cladding façades.

The two-layered panels embedding white marblefrom Pi as aggregates feature polished finishing toincrease the already typical luminosity of TX products.

A total of 750 panels, of which 700 white, cover asurface area of 5,400 m2 of architectural precastconcrete.

* As the French subsidiary ofItalcementi Group, Ciments Calciaboasts 1500 employees andoperates 9 cement-manufacturingplants, 1 grinding center and 8sales agencies. Annual productionexceeds 7 million metric tons ofcement (1/3 of the French domesticmarket), which makes it the leaderin the French cement industry.

Preserving aesthetics: Bordeaux




CommodoreOstend, Belgium

Architect: Luc Declercq - E & L projectsOwner: Municipality of OstendYear: 2005Cement: white TX Arca®

Precasting firm: DecomoSupplier of TX Active®: CCB*

As the first application of photocatalytic cement inBelgium, CCB, the Belgian subsidiary of ItalcementiGroup, chose the Commodore project, a prestigiousmultistory apartment building located in Ostend anddesigned by architect Luc Declercq with the supportof the E&L Projects firm.The façade of the first six stories are made of whitepolished concrete.

The building, situated by the sea, is notably exposedto the particularly aggressive action exerted byorganic pollutants developing in moist areas. In thiscase, too, TX Active® will ensure that the finalaesthetic appearance of the building is preserved.

*CCB is the northernmost industrial unit of ItalcementiGroup in Europe and is one of the leading players inthe Belgian market for cement. CCB is active in thecement industry with the largest cement plant atGroup level as well as in the ready mixed concreteand aggregates segments, boasting 11 concretebatching plants and 3 quarries.

Preserving aesthetics: Ostend




Ciments du Maroc’s HeadquartersCasablanca, Morocco

Architect: Rachid AndaloussiOwner: Ciments du Maroc*Year: 2005

The building houses the headquarters of Ciments duMaroc, the Moroccan subsidiary of Italcementi Group.

The building, whose circular structure recalls theGroup’s spiral logo, was made with traditionalconcrete covered with a white mineral coatingexerting the TX Active® photocatalytic effect.

Sun, and even the more so at these latitudes, is thestaunch ally in the fight against organic pollution.

* Ciments du Maroc is the second largest cementmanufacturer in Morocco. It boasts more than 1000employees and operates 3 cement plants, 1 grindingcenter and 1 bagging facility. Through the subsidiaryBetomar, which operates 4 aggregate quarries and15 concrete batching plants, Ciments du Maroc is theleader in the ready mix concrete and aggregatesindustry.

Preserving aesthetics: Casablanca

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schede blu ingItalcementi Group Italcementi Via Camozzi, 124 24121 Bergamo, Italia The active photocatalytic principle Dives in Misericordia Church Rome, Italy Architect: Richard Meier