Munich's Olympic Park is world-renowned and a popular recreational destination—and an architectural icon. In spring 2022, a logistical masterpiece was accomplished there: the replacement of the surface on the Coubertin Terraces. What initially sounds simple turned out to be a complex project in terms of planning and implementation.

During the renovation, 470 square meters of the Die Beliebte massiv dining area were laid on two superimposed restaurant terraces.

The Coubertin Terraces are part of the Olympic Halls complex and were completed in 2011. Club Coubertin expands the dining options in the Olympic Park: With 500 seats on two levels and a beer garden, it offers an attractive meeting place. The design was created by Auer Weber, an international architectural firm based in Stuttgart and Munich, founded in 1980 by Fritz Auer and Carlo Weber. Both co-founded the architectural firm Behnisch & Partner in 1966, which was awarded the contract for the Olympic site in the late 1960s. In addition to numerous award-winning projects at home and abroad, Auer Weber is the preferred planning firm for maintenance measures and structural additions to the Olympic Park.

Gastronomic highlight in the Olympic Park

The subsequently added building extends beneath the tent roof of the Olympic Hall as a steel-framed block with a concrete core and ceilings. The widely projecting terraces on two levels provide views both into the hall and across the Olympic grounds. Access is via a stair ramp from Coubertinplatz or directly through the Olympic Hall. The elongated design (12.5 m wide and 93 m long) lends the building an elegant lightness. The full-surface glazing creates smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor areas. The service elements are compactly housed in the center of the building and simultaneously structure the spaces. "Club Coubertin offers a place to linger, enjoy, and experience in the historic Olympic Park. The terraces on levels 5 and 6, in particular, offer unobstructed views of the Olympic Stadium, Coubertinplatz and Hans-Jochen-Vogel-Platz, respectively, and the outdoor areas of the Olympic Park," explains project manager Michael Delefortrie of the Munich Public Utilities (SWM), the client.

Replacement of the terrace floor in the outdoor areas

After only ten years, the original 470 square meter robinia flooring was in need of replacement. The project also included the integration of the fixed parasol stands. Munich's municipal utilities therefore commissioned Auer Weber with the planning. However, it soon became apparent that the task was more complex than expected: historic preservation, copyright, use in public spaces, load-bearing capacity, operator requirements, as well as safety and material specifications, all had to be reconciled. To find the optimal material, SWM and Auer Weber conducted a comprehensive sampling of wood and wood composite materials.

Three-month “stress test” decides on material choice

In July 2021, three test areas were created on the terraces and subjected to real-world weather and stress tests over three months. In addition to mechanical, chemical, and biological influences, the materials were also tested for their resistance to wine, ketchup, oil, and coffee.

The result was clear: The choice fell on the solid, stone-gray Die Beliebte massiv decking board from NaturinForm. The solid profile impressed with its high dimensional stability, ease of maintenance, and robustness against mechanical and chemical influences. The material does not splinter, is suitable for barefoot use, and meets the highest slip resistance rating of R13 on both sides. Another crucial factor was that the color matched the original robinia decking even after three months of weathering and blended harmoniously into the building's architecture.

AbZ required for load-bearing structures

As a publicly accessible area and terrace over 60 centimeters high, a surface with a general building approval (AbZ) was required, which Die Beliebte massiv has. According to state building regulations, structures such as balconies and raised terraces are considered "elevated" and must be planned as load-bearing structures. Only building products with a building approval are permitted for this purpose; otherwise, costly and time-consuming individual approvals would have been required. The installation was carried out in accordance with the approval regulations. In parallel with the material change, the entire substructure was also replaced to ensure the specified minimum and maximum spacing and the required load-bearing capacity.

Logistical masterpiece of the executing timber builders

Paintner Holzbau from Ergolding was awarded the contract for the construction in January 2022. The project was challenging in several respects: In addition to pandemic-related supply bottlenecks, ongoing events at the Olympiahalle hampered the construction process. Because the work surfaces served as escape routes, construction work had to be paused during events – sometimes for several days in a row. Despite these challenges, the flooring replacement had to be completed within a tight timeframe.

Paintner Holzbau had several decisive advantages: Having already been entrusted with smaller projects at the Olympic Park, the team was familiar with the conditions and the planning stakeholders. Furthermore, the close collaboration with its sister company, Paintner Metallbau, offered significant advantages at the interfaces to metal construction. Another advantage: Paintner Holzbau uses state-of-the-art CNC-controlled digital design software, which enabled precise preparation for production.

The company was founded in 1987 by Anton Paintner and is now managed by Tobias Paintner, the second generation of the family. The company specializes in patio and balcony flooring, outdoor furniture, privacy and noise barriers, fencing, and wood and metal construction projects – primarily for public clients and residential construction.

Prefabrication ensured a fast construction site process

Due to the tight time constraints, a high degree of prefabrication was crucial for smooth assembly. The supporting structure was fully digitally measured, the data imported into the design program, and each component was manufactured to exact actual dimensions – even the holes were precisely adjusted. The cutting and drilling were performed on a CNC machine.

Die Beliebte massiv floorboards were then pre-assembled on an aluminum substructure in 130 x 260 cm modules. These were lifted into place by crane, where only the supply shafts remained to be adjusted. The actual assembly of the elements took only 15 working days, but due to regular breaks for events, construction took almost two months.

Material shortages were not a problem, emphasizes Tobias Paintner. Despite global crises, Naturinform reliably delivered the ordered materials. To minimize risks, screws and other components were also sourced from multiple suppliers.

High slip resistance for maximum safety

The 26 mm thick and 139 mm wide Die Beliebte massiv offers a choice of finely or coarsely grooved surfaces – both TÜV-tested with R13 slip resistance, the highest classification. It is available in brown, black-brown, gray, stone gray, and anthracite, and in standard lengths of four and six meters. Custom lengths are available upon request.

The plank is made from an innovative wood composite material with a 70:30 ratio of PEFC-certified wood fibers and a single-variety polymer. This material is not only particularly durable but also 100% recyclable. After use, the planks are taken back by the manufacturer and returned to the manufacturing process.

Conclusion

At the end of May 2022, the Coubertin Terraces were able to welcome guests again, just in time for the beer garden season. Given the numerous challenges, this was a masterpiece by everyone involved. Thanks to close collaboration, high levels of digitalization, and uncompromising professionalism, the project was successfully implemented.

International Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are available for all Naturinform decking and façade profiles. All products are subject to continuous quality controls. The company offers a five-year warranty on its products.