The renovation of the Kornversuchsspeicher, completed in 2023, gave Berlin’s Europacity district a striking landmark that can be seen from afar. The former granary, originally a six-storey brick building, was built in 1897 as a research laboratory for grain storage. The expansion of the building to seven storeys and the redesign of the roof area restored the original historical form of the building. Large roof terraces with a total area of 120 square metres were created on both sides of the building. These were covered with WPC decking boards from NATURinFORM, giving them aesthetically pleasing yet functional flooring. The custom-made COMPACT decking boards in brick red echo the colour of the old and new bricks of the monochrome façade.
Roof terrace of the Kornversuchsspeicher in Berlin, Germany
Patio deck
COMPACT in brick-red as solid
decking board, surface: finely grooved
Type of construction
Roof terrace for roof addition
Client
ADLER Real Estate AG, Berlin
Planner
AFF Architekten GmbH, Berlin
Project management
Heide Siegmund-Schultze, Taurecon Real Estate Consulting
Building materials trade
Gerhard Borchert Baustoff-Fachhandel GmbH, Velten
Revitalisation of a monument
After years of vacancy and temporary cultural use, the Kornversuchsspeicher was extensively renovated as part of the neighbourhood development in Moabit and in close cooperation with the monument preservation authorities. AFF Architekten, who specialise in renovating historic buildings, planned the structure’s careful and sustainable redevelopment. The client ADLER Real Estate and developer Taurecon wanted to preserve the appearance and historical elements of the industrial monument as far as possible. They repaired and insulated the clinker brick façade and renewed and partially replaced the windows with large-format panoramic panes in consultation with the conservation authorities.
Addition of an attic storey
An additional recessed (attic) storey could be added. Large roof terraces on both sides further extend the available space. Large sliding doors open to the east and west, allowing views over the city and towards the water. The new structure was designed in monochrome, the door frames and terrace floor match the colour of the clinker brick. The client and architects did not take the selection of the decking boards lightly. Firstly, it was essential to find the right colour to match the new bricks of the addition. At the same time, the decking boards should be durable and correspond to the sustainable material concept of using resource-saving and recyclable building materials. In addition, they should retain the selected shade despite different weathering.
Brick-red WPC decking boards in a special colour and length create space
In the end, NATURinFORM’s recyclable wood composite material COMPACT decking board was the best match. After examining many different colour samples, they decided that the special colour brick red was the best match for the added brick façade. NATURinFORM’s production site in Redwitz a. d. Rodach in northern Bavaria specially produced the decking boards in brick red for the Kornversuchsspeicher.
With their brick parapets and large sliding windows, the two roof terraces offer ample outdoor space, contrasting with the building’s closed masonry façade. The monochrome terrace flooring made of high-quality WPC blends seamlessly into the overall architectural concept and reinforces the feeling of space.
“We opted for WPC decking boards because they offer a better ecological balance than conventional wood for outdoor use thanks to the use of recycled material – residual wood fibres from the wood processing industry. Their longer durability, which even surpasses that of tropical wood, is a further advantage. In addition, the wood fibres come from sustainable cultivation in local forests, which allows us to avoid long transport routes”, reports the project developer, architect Heide Siegmund-Schultze, adding with conviction: “What’s more, NATURinFORM WPC decking boards can be recycled up to 25 times.”
To avoid any waste, the decking boards for the two areas were supplied in special lengths of 2.40 metres and laid across the building without any visible assembly. The substructure and all other accessories also come from the NATURinFORM range to ensure a durable and professionally executed terrace design. The substructure assembly begins with the self-levelling deck feet, which create both distance to the ground and the necessary slope. The assemblers then snapped aluminium profile connectors onto this, onto which they screwed the decking boards in a concealed assembly. The open joints drain water into the floor, where it infiltrates into the ground via rain gutters.
The addition and renovation of the Kornversuchsspeicher has created a total of 2,500 square metres of gross floor space on seven levels. While public restaurant use is planned for the top and ground floors, the remaining space is available for rent as open-plan office space. The historic building has thus been revived and fulfils its urban function as a landmark of Berlin-Moabit in a modern way.
“We are delighted that our COMPACT WPC decking boards in brick red could contribute to the revitalisation of the Kornversuchsspeicher. Thanks to the combination of durability, recyclability, and individual colour design, they fit perfectly with the sustainable and architecturally sophisticated concept of this industrial monument. It shows how modern materials can enhance historical buildings without compromising on aesthetics or environmental friendliness”, concludes Horst Walther, Managing Partner of NATURinFORM.
COMPACT: easy-care, weather-resistant, and slip-resistant
Low maintenance, weather resistance, and slip resistance were also decisive criteria when choosing the floor covering. The COMPACT WPC decking board stood out due to its secure grip, even when wet from rain or snow. This solid decking board has already proven itself many times over in public areas. It offers two surface options: a finely grooved side and a side with block stripes, both brushed for better grip and increased slip resistance. The finely grooved side was installed here, which guarantees a high level of safety when walking on with slip resistance class “R11”, as confirmed by TÜV Rheinland.
WPC decking boards from NATURinFORM: durable, recyclable, and environmentally friendly
Sustainability and environmental friendliness characterise the life cycle of NATURinFORM’s WPC decking boards. They do not need to be varnished or oiled as they are already coloured at the factory. Customers can choose from up to 31 different colours depending on the product line. The high proportion of wood in the WPC decking boards is particularly noteworthy: With NATURinFORM, the ratio of wood to polymer is approx. 70 to 30 per cent.
Another advantage is that NATURinFORM’s WPC decking boards are 100 % recyclable. With its own recycling system, the “Re-Form Recycling Box”, the company ensures that valuable raw materials remain in the cycle for up to 600 years. Leftover pieces or dismantled material can be collected in the “Re-Form Recycling Box”, which is delivered to the construction site free of charge. At the end of construction or when the box is full, the leftover material is returned to the production plant in Redwitz a. d. Rodach for recycling.
NATURinFORM attaches great importance to ecological production. The decking boards are made from PEFC-certified wood fibres from sustainable forestry and are a by-product of the wood processing industry. The organic component of the composite material is made of an environmentally friendly polymer. In contrast to conventional wood, NATURinFORM decking boards do not require any environmentally harmful chemicals for maintenance. Clear water is sufficient for cleaning, and no microplastics are released.
NATURinFORM offers products for DGNB-certified construction. All NATURinFORM decking boards and façade profiles are covered by Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) drawn up in accordance with international standards. All products are subjected to continuous quality controls and load tests to ensure consistent immaculate and first-class wood-based material quality.
Download: Press release
Product information: COMPACT