The Wedding Cake

The Challenge

WestWood Liquid Technologies was tasked with providing a waterproofing membrane for The Wedding Cake, a 12-meter-tall sculptural pavilion designed by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Located within the Rothchild Foundation’s Waddesdon Estate near Oxford, the pavilion, inspired by Baroque architecture and Lisbon’s ceramic traditions, required a waterproofing solution that balanced durability with aesthetic appeal.

Constructed as a steel modular structure by Westgreen Construction and featuring thousands of ceramic tiles in delicate shades of pink, green, and blue, the art piece needed to be both functional and visually aligned with the artist's vision. The project presented technical challenges, including ensuring the structure’s watertight integrity and achieving a precise colour match for the waterproofing materials.

The Solution

WestWood delivered a robust waterproofing system using its PMMA-based Wecryl technology, known for its flexibility, crack-bridging properties, and rapid cure times. The Wecryl 230 waterproofing layer was applied across the pavilion’s three levels, including the stairways, walkways, and terrace areas. This cold-applied liquid membrane ensured a durable, fully-cured bond, preventing water from seeping into the structure. In addition, a customised, colour-matched Wecryl 420 non-slip wearing course was used to ensure safe access to the structure without compromising its aesthetic integrity. The colour matching was critical, as the waterproofing solution needed to seamlessly blend with the pastel ceramic tiles, maintaining the artistic design. Despite cold weather conditions during installation and the complexities of cross-border collaboration, the project team successfully overcame these challenges.

The Outcome

The Wedding Cake pavilion stands as a testament to the successful fusion of art and engineering. WestWood’s waterproofing and non-slip solutions ensured both the longevity and safety of the structure, while meticulously matching the artist’s colour palette. The project highlighted WestWood’s technical expertise and ability to meet the demanding requirements of both aesthetics and functionality. As a result, the pavilion has become a visually stunning and durable public attraction at Waddesdon Estate.