Projects / 9/5/2025

Energy efficiency in a large format

The Megamark headquarters boasts a façade that is both durable and visually striking

The new Megamark headquarters in Trani showcases a façade that combines energy efficiency with striking contemporary design. Covering 3,000 m², the project features the Mapetherm Tile System XL, specifically developed for large-format porcelain tiles applied on external insulation systems. The result is a modern façade with long-lasting resistance to weather conditions, mechanical stress and wear.

Energy efficiency and aesthetic quality are now key design priorities for industrial and commercial buildings. A case in point is the new headquarters opened in Trani in 2021 by Megamark Group, a leading Southern Italian retail chain with more than 500 directly owned and affiliated supermarkets across Puglia, Campania, Molise, Basilicata and Calabria.

The project involved installing a high-performance external thermal insulation system finished with thin, large-format porcelain tiles, covering a total area of approximately 3,000 m².

Mapei provided technical support at every stage of the project, helping to deliver a result that combines durability, energy efficiency and high-end contemporary aesthetics.

An external insulation system built to last

Following a detailed technical assessment, Mapetherm Tile System XL was selected as the optimal solution. Specifically developed for applying large-format, low-thickness ceramic tiles on external thermal insulation systems, it met the project’s performance and aesthetic requirements.

Work began with the preparation of the new render on brickwork using Intomap R2, a base render based on aerated lime and hydraulic binders.

Once the curing period was complete, high-thermal-insulation panels by Polyiso were installed. The panels were bonded with Mapetherm AR1 adhesive, which was applied by means of the back-buttering technique onto both the panels and the substrate using a 10-12 mm square-notched trowel to ensure full coverage and uniform adhesion.

Mapetherm Tile System XL thermal insulation system allows the installation of ceramic and/or stone coverings with a weight of up to 70 kg/m².

The structural render: the heart of the system

The key technology at the heart of the Mapetherm Tile System XL is its structural render. This structural layer plays a crucial role in absorbing the stresses generated by the weight and dimensions of the large-format ceramic tiles while maintaining elasticity, stability and durability.

Seven days after installation of the insulating panels, Planitop HDM Maxi structural mortar was applied on the faḉades of the Megamark headquarters in two coats to achieve a total thickness of approximately 8-10 mm. This mortar offers high mechanical strength (classified as M25 under EN 998-2), excellent adhesion and a low elastic modulus.

While the first coat was still fresh, an alkali-resistant, primed glass fibre mesh (Mapegrid G 120) was embedded in the Planitop HDM Maxi mortar in combination with high-performance screw anchors (Mapetherm Tile - Ejot SDF-S Plus Ø 8 UB, ETA 04/0064 certified, 5 pcs/m²) and washers (Mapetherm Tile - Ejot SBV-P 8/90 K).

This high-performance structural layer guarantees the structural continuity and mechanical resistance necessary to support heavy, large-format coverings, distributing loads across the surface and transferring them, via the system's special anchors — which are cut-resistant and equipped with steel screws — to the load-bearing layers, bypassing the thermal insulation layers. Planitop HDM Maxi is the ideal interface between the insulation and the covering layer.

High-performance ceramic covering

Once the skim coat had cured, 150x50 cm porcelain tiles were installed using Ultralite S2 Flex, a lightweight, one-component adhesive classified as C2ES2 according to EN 12004 standard. Formulated in Mapei R&D laboratories, this product ensures excellent yield (3–3.5 kg/m²), high deformability and an outstanding capacity to wet the back of the tile, thereby ensuring perfect adhesion even over large surfaces.

The tile joints were grouted with Ultracolor Plus*, a quick-setting and drying, anti-efflorescence, mould-resistant and water-repellent grout. Finally, the expansion joints were sealed with Mapesil LM, a neutral sealant with very low dirt pickup and excellent resistance to UV radiation and weather conditions, making it ideal for use on exterior façades.

The use of the Mapetherm Tile System XL ensured the completion of a modern façade with long-lasting resistance to weather conditions, mechanical stress and wear.

Technology and design for contemporary construction

Thanks to the Mapetherm Tile System XL, the new Megamark headquarters in Trani now has an energy-efficient façade covered with durable, long-lasting and visually-striking ceramic tiles. The project is a concrete example of how technical know-how, innovative materials and meticulous design can come together to meet the challenges of contemporary construction.