The Babylon Cologne bathhouse, a renowned wellness oasis for men near Cologne's Friesenplatz, has been a top address in the cathedral city for over 30 years. Spanning more than 1,400 square meters, it offers a variety of saunas, a stylish fireplace and bar area, and a pool in the courtyard. The adjacent Bangkirai wood lounge area had weathered over the years, so the owner opted for a durable and visually appealing alternative. He chose the ExclusiveBasalt Gray from Naturinform. A stylish, Mediterranean hideaway was created on 60 square meters in the heart of Cologne's Old Town.

The Babylon Colognebathhouse, a popular wellness oasis for men only, is located in the immediate vicinity of Cologne's Friesenplatz - and has been considered a top address in this segment in the cathedral city for more than 30 years. Spanning over 1,400 square meters, it offers a generous range of saunas, a fireplace and bar area, and a pool in the inner courtyard for cooling off. The Bangkirai wood sunbathing area adjacent to the pool had become unsightly over the years, so the owner decided to replace the patio flooring with a visually attractive and durable alternative. He chose a wood composite material. He had Die Exklusiveflooring in basalt gray from the range of the Bavarian manufacturer Naturinform laid over a total area of 60 square meters. In doing so, he created a Mediterranean hideaway in the middle of Cologne's old town.

Modern wellness oasis in the heart of Cologne

Located in the center of Cologne, the Babylon Cologneleaves nothing to be desired with its attractive wellness offerings for men, offering guests an outdoor pool, a Finnish sauna, a steam sauna, and a whirlpool. A spacious bar with an open fireplace invites guests to linger, offering a wide selection of soft drinks, a select wine selection, cocktails, and coffee specialties. The bar provides direct access to the courtyard terrace. There, guests can cool off in the ten-meter-long pool or soak up the sun on the terrace. Between May and September, the outdoor pool area becomes "Babylon Island," a place to chill out with cool cocktails and a barbecue.

Experience of a wood specialist for the perfect solution

The Babylonhas been located at this address for 35 years, and in addition to the sauna club, there are also apartments in the spacious building. The special feature of this inner-city complex is its atrium courtyard, which provides an ideal, wind-protected setting for the pool. However, years of intensive use and constant exposure to water had taken their toll on the pool terrace. "The Bangkirai wood flooring was showing its age, partially splintered, and no longer met our standards of quality and aesthetics," explains Stephan Collet, who is responsible for marketing at the Babylon. "So we decided to install a new, robust, and durable flooring." Due to the owner's long-standing relationship with Manfred Geldmacher, owner of the Hattingen-based trading company "Baukulit," which specializes in exterior design, he relied on his expertise – and so the choice fell on a product from the Naturinform portfolio.

Durability and slip resistance are the deciding factors

"Above all, durability and robustness, especially in constant contact with water, and not least the anti-slip properties, were at the top of the list of requirements when choosing the product," says Collet. Manfred Geldmacher has worked with the wood composite specialist from Redwitz ad Rodach in Franconia for many years during his long career and gives Naturinform's products top marks. "In the field of wood composite materials, this supplier is clearly one of the best," Geldmacher swears by the quality of the products. "So what could be more natural than recommending Naturinform when the owner of the Babylonasked me for my expert advice?"

The team from Marcel Hartung, a gardening company in Essen, installed Die Exklusivedecking boards in basalt gray over a total of 60 square meters. A total of 60 boards, each measuring six meters, were used, along with 80 linear meters of WPC base profiles measuring four meters each, and 320 adjustable "Large" swivel feet. The Hartung team also installed stainless steel mounting clamps and 40 packages of rubber pads. The clamps are no longer visible after installation, creating a uniform, homogeneous surface.

Elegant appearance meets functionality

The new flooring creates a stylish atmosphere and offers an ideal combination of aesthetics, safety, and ease of maintenance. The exclusiveflooring impresses with its matte, embossed linear structure, narrow 5-millimeter joints, and natural-looking surface. A durable, easy-care, and safe material is particularly important in a wellness area like the Babylon—a requirement that Naturinform's WPC planks optimally fulfill.

Narrow joint with elegant stone look

"Pure elegance, refined gray with a narrow joint" – the Exclusivedecking board impresses with its exceptional appearance and quality. The three modern colors, dolomite gray, basalt gray, and lava gray, as well as its embossed stone look, lend it a stylish, high-quality feel. The particularly narrow joint of just 5 mm – instead of the usual 7.5 mm – creates a harmonious, cohesive overall appearance. With a width of 162 mm and a thickness of 21 mm, the board is installed on one side. The matte, embossed surface creates a smooth, exclusive appearance. The Exclusivedecking is available in standard lengths of three, four, five, and six meters; special lengths between two and 13 meters are available upon request.

Project-related production for less waste and cost savings

To install one square meter (weight approx. 3.8 kg/m²), approximately six planks of one meter each are required, plus an additional 2.5–3 meters of base profile, depending on the site conditions, and approximately 14 stainless steel clamps with screws. The joint profile tube cannot be used with Die Exklusive; the appropriate installation aid is required instead.

To ensure optimal processing and avoid unnecessary waste, Naturinform produces the planks in the desired length for each project. This saves time and money, as no on-site adjustments are required. Naturinform also offers a site-specific accessories package that can be customized upon request. Thanks to the complete set, consisting of substructure, fasteners, height adjustment, decorative connections and finishes, and lighting, customers have maximum design freedom.

Durable, weather-resistant and easy to maintain

Water and moisture take a heavy toll on conventional wood – it swells, cracks, or becomes susceptible to mold and algae growth. Naturinform's wood composite material defies these challenges: On the 60-square-meter terrace of Babylon Cologne, Die Exklusivereplaced the old Bangkirai flooring and has since provided a durable, low-maintenance, and safe surface.

"Our guests are thrilled. The three outriggers by the pool, where you can relax and dangle your feet in the water, are particularly popular," says Stephan Collet of Babylon Cologne. "Since installation in November 2018, the surface has remained virtually unchanged – the planks still look like new."

Slip resistance at the highest level – tested by TÜV Rheinland

Naturinform specializes in high-quality wood composites that combine the aesthetics of wood with the durability of waterproof materials. The wood fibers are coated with a polymer that prevents water penetration. This ensures the planks remain permanently stable and do not splinter – even in humid environments.

The high level of slip resistance is particularly noteworthy: In a test by TÜV Rheinland , Die Exklusiveachieved slip resistance level R12 according to DIN 51130 – one of the highest ratings for non-slip outdoor floor coverings.