Executive Summary
- Project Name: One SOHO
- Location: Shan Tung Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong (HK)
- Project Type: 26-Story High-Rise Residential Tower, 3-Story Commercial Podium & 2 levels Basement Carpark
- Asset Scope: 322 Luxury Apartments, Multi-Level Substructure (Below-Grade Car Park)
- Core Challenge: Reclaimed Land, High Groundwater Table, Hydrostatic Pressure & Concrete Corrosion Risks
- Waterproofing Solution: Integral Concrete Waterproofing Admixture System
Project Overview
One SOHO stands as a premier architectural landmark in the heart of Mong Kok, Kowloon—recognized historically by Guinness World Records as one of the world’s most vibrant and densely populated urban districts. This modern 26-story residential high-rise features 322 contemporary apartments situated above a dynamic three-story retail shopping mall. The landmark structure seamlessly blends high-end interior aesthetics with a striking glass-paneled facade, redefining the architectural landscape of urban Hong Kong.
Technical Project Requirements & Substructure Challenges
Urban development in coastal and reclaimed environments presents severe structural durability risks. The One SOHO engineering framework demanded a highly reliable, long-term concrete waterproofing and corrosion-proofing system due to two primary environmental factors:
- High Groundwater Table: The project features a deep two-level below-grade basement car park subjected to continuous hydrostatic water pressure.
- Reclaimed Land Vulnerabilities: Being constructed on reclaimed land, the surrounding soil and groundwater possess elevated chemical profiles that risk accelerating steel reinforcement corrosion and concrete degradation.
To ensure structural integrity, prevent water ingress, and mitigate chemical attack, the client required a high-performance integral waterproofing solution rather than relying solely on traditional external sheet membranes.
The Solution: Advanced Concrete Waterproofing Admixture
To address these aggressive subsurface conditions, KMK Krystaline Add Plus 2.5 supplied our specialized concrete waterproofing admixture, which was integrated directly into the concrete mix design during batching.
By utilizing an integral waterproofing admixture, the concrete itself becomes the primary water barrier. The active chemical components react within the concrete matrix to block capillary pores, micro-cracks, and tracts, effectively sealing the structure from within against high hydrostatic pressure.
Key Performance Benefits Delivered:
- Permanent Hydrostatic Resistance: Formed a continuous, lifetime barrier within the below-grade car park walls and rafts to resist heavy groundwater pressure.
- Corrosion Mitigation: Blocked the ingress of moisture and water-borne chemicals, protecting the internal steel reinforcement from the corrosive elements typical of HK reclaimed land.
- Construction Efficiency: Eliminated the extensive labor, time, and surface-preparation requirements associated with traditional external waterproofing membranes, accelerating the project timeline.
Talk to Our Waterproofing Experts
Are you designing a below-grade structure, basement car park, or high-rise in high-water-table zones? Contact KMK today for technical mix design consultations, waterproofing specifications, and professional concrete durability solutions in Hong Kong.
Whatsapp : +852 6255 8093 Phone: +852 2951 0988 Email: info@kmk.com.hk
Photo credit to Midland Realty (first photo)