The Lindenhof Terraces, an architecturally striking new building in a central location, dominate the cityscape of Halberstadt. Compact honeycomb plus WPC decking from NaturinForm was installed as a durable flooring on the balconies and terraces of this modern residential complex. The design, which won the competition to develop one of the last large demolition sites in the city center, represents urban housing that blends seamlessly into the city's fabric. Inspired by the "New Living" concept, the city of Halberstadt pursued the goal of restoring the lost urban identity by building along the historic street layout, thus making the city center more attractive.

The more than 1,200-year-old episcopal town of Halberstadt is considered the gateway to the Harz Mountains. The towers of the sacred buildings from various stylistic periods make the town visible to visitors from afar. For centuries, Halberstadt, with around 1,600 half-timbered houses, was one of the most beautiful half-timbered towns in northern and central Germany. During and after World War II, however, the historic town center was almost completely destroyed. Only 447 historic half-timbered houses remained in 1990 and were saved by their inclusion in the model town program for the "Preservation of Historic Urban Spaces in the New Federal States." To address the housing shortage at the time, prefabricated buildings were built on the many abandoned inner-city sites after the end of the war. One of the large prefabricated buildings was built along Kühlinger Straße and demolished after reunification.

Balconies swing in the striking building shape

The winning design by arc architekturconzept projektmanagement featured a distinctive, curved building form that extends across the entire construction site. Inspired by the "New Living" concept, the project pursued a mix of primarily two-room apartments that cleverly and economically structured the small footprint and met all accessibility requirements.

A continuous ground floor block facing Kühlinger Straße lends the building visual stability, while the three-part and slightly offset upper floors ensure optimal natural light. A penthouse with a flat roof forms the upper section and supports the harmonious overall appearance. The curved balconies, integrated into the unusual cubic volume, offer residents their own private outdoor spaces. Flat steel railings in contrasting gray create open yet protected outdoor areas. The WPC decking from NaturinForm Compact honeycomb plus in graphite gray was chosen as the honeycomb flooring, matching the color of the railings and partial perforated sheet parapets.

In 2017, the city, together with its own housing company, HaWoGe, planned to redevelop this central downtown location, thus restoring a piece of its identity. The goal was to make the area attractive for residents again by restoring the old street layout and creating a cohesive development. A competition was held to find an architecturally and functionally appealing solution for the redevelopment.

Focus on longevity and accessibility

WPC decking is becoming increasingly popular in residential construction because both private and public investors value their durability and low maintenance. Requirements such as accessibility can also be met with WPC decking from NaturinForm. Thanks to a matching floor grid, they enable seamless transitions between living spaces and balconies or terraces. Compact honeycomb plus and Compact are also particularly popular with housing associations due to their excellent value for money. And with planners, this decking scores points with its relatively low material weight of 2.2 kg/m² and 2.0 kg/m² for the two honeycomb decking versions, respectively, as this makes it easier to accommodate structural requirements to accommodate the balcony component.

System solutions for fast and precise assembly

Master roofer Jens Schulze from neighboring Harsleben and his company installed the more than 1,000 square meters of WPC decking on the balconies and terraces of the "Lindenhof Terraces." The WPC decking was installed quickly and securely thanks to NaturinForm's coordinated accessory system – consisting of height-adjustable deck feet, aluminum base profiles, and concealed mounting clamps. The shape of the curved balconies, for which the decking required individual cutting, was also straightforward thanks to the material's ease of processing.

The easy-care Compact honeycomb plus was laid on all balconies and terraces

With the Compact honeycomb plus,a robust, durable, and easy-to-maintain flooring was selected that ensures reliable traction even in damp conditions. This WPC plank is a honeycomb profile plank and impresses with a stylishly embossed, multi-colored wooden plank look. It is available from specialist retailers in oak brown, chestnut brown, and graphite gray. A classic grooved side and a block-striped side are available. With lengths of up to 13 meters, a thickness of 21 millimeters, and a reversible surface , Compact honeycomb plus is versatile in its application – whether for new construction projects or renovations.

Sustainability combined with longevity

NaturinForm's WPC decking consists of 70 percent PEFC-certified waste wood fibers and 30 percent environmentally friendly polymer, making it particularly easy to maintain and weather-resistant. Their embossed, robust surface makes them ideal for demanding outdoor areas, while their durability ensures they will remain visually and functionally impressive for years to come.

NaturinForm supports sustainable construction with its own take-back system: All planks and profiles can be returned at the end of their life cycle or as processing residues and reintroduced into the manufacturing process. This recycling system helps ensure that these valuable raw materials remain in the material cycle for more than 600 years, sustainably reducing raw material consumption.

NaturinForm offers products for DGNB-certified construction. All NaturinForm decking and facade profiles are provided with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) prepared in accordance with international standards. All products are continuously subjected to quality controls and stress tests to ensure consistently flawless and first-class wood-based material quality.