In Malta, Naturinform's floorboards dare to change perspective: Instead of lying at people's feet, they soar above their heads into the sky – like airy canopies against the dazzling Mediterranean sun. Ever since the first images of the redesigned observation deck and VIP lounge terrace at the island nation's airport began circulating, the bold design by the internationally renowned architectural firm DeMicoli & Associates has been causing a stir. A total of 288 square meters of the "Nature Line" from the product range of the Upper Franconian company Naturinform were installed.

For the Maltese, it's not just any terrace. When half the family is scattered all over the world, the place where everyone waves goodbye takes on a special significance. Everyone here knows the "waving balcony," as the observation deck is popularly known. And many also have historically significant memories of the view over the airfield. When, as in 1967, Queen Elizabeth II or Pope Benedict XVI visited the island, half of Malta crowded onto the balcony.

To endure the blazing Mediterranean summer sun up there, you had to be prepared with a good mood, plenty of water, and a large umbrella. When the completely renovated Observation Deck opened on June 6th after 10 months of construction, half the island was there again. However, this time without any sun protection. Four slatted canopies protect against too much light.

Shadows like from the canopy

The structures, made of white-painted steel and oak-brown composite wood, stand across the 150-square-meter terrace. Two freestanding pillars, each with treetop-like cantilevered side supports, share the load of two nine-meter-long, four-meter-deep sunroofs. They are curved and tilted at an average of approximately 45 degrees toward the sun.

The floorboards are attached lengthwise, with gaps of about five centimeters. Combined with the brown tone of the wood, this creates a stunning effect: Standing here feels as pleasantly natural as under the canopy of sprawling beach pines. Individual rays of sunlight dance through the warm shade of the wood. If you close your eyes, you might mistake the turbines for the sound of the sea.

Inspired by nature

Bringing nature into your home is Naturinform's mission. The Bavarian wood processor's products look and feel like pure wood, but are actually technically weather-resistant: The naturally beautiful fibers are combined with a thermoplastic polymer, making them weather-resistant even in extreme locations without further treatment such as painting or sanding. The polymer prevents moisture penetration and—even more importantly in Malta's Mediterranean climate—heat-induced cracking.

The flooring used was "The Natural Line" in oak brown from Naturinform, a solid extruded and fully dyed solid plank. The surface of these planks is worth a closer look: Just like traditional sawmill planks, each piece has its own individual grain, its own play of colors, and a clearly tactile surface texture.

Tailor-made from the factory

The on-site installers also benefited from a special service: From a minimum order of ten identical boards, the planks can be prefabricated at the Redwitz factory to suit the specific project. 69-centimeter-long profiles were installed at Malta Airport – a total of 1,500 pieces. Because the cutting work was eliminated, two terraces could be fitted with a total of eight canopies in just four weeks.

The wood specialists decided to place the grooved underside of the plank upwards, toward the sky, to help drain occasional rain. "Otherwise, the boards look deceptively similar to real wood," says Debattista, who was working with Naturinform products for the first time. "There's nothing to conceal during installation." "Attaching the planks was then quite simple," says Alan Debattista of Chillischilli, the carpentry company that carried out the work. "Plank, screw, done. Much easier than with a wooden deck on the ground, because the steel frame was already there when we arrived."

Heat protection and noble patina built in

Especially in extreme heat, the wood composite has a major advantage: the plastic component makes it elastic, which means it cannot crack like natural wood.

Because Naturinform products are still 70 percent wood fiber despite the technical finishing, the wood dominates the optical properties so clearly that the natural patina formation caused by sunlight is still possible. Only, it is much more controlled than in pure wood: There are no blackish spots caused by moisture, no faded areas of the color. Because the color particles are applied during the fusion process, they are given a protective polymer layer. The selected color tone is retained over time, only being enhanced by silvery patina reflections during the first four months outdoors.