Completed in spring 2022, the new St. Katharina Labouré retirement and nursing home in Unterhaching near Munich blends harmoniously into the surrounding park landscape. The three-story structure is punctuated by cantilevered balconies and vertical louvres, which serve as sun and privacy screens as well as allowing views to the outside. The client and architects placed particular emphasis on a warm wood look. Therefore, the durable wood composite material from NaturinForm was chosen for both the balcony decking and the privacy screen. A total of 1,070 square meters of the Compact decking in the color "Brushed Sand" were installed. For the privacy and sun protection, the Bavarian manufacturer supplied 8,700 linear meters of the Constructive sun protection profile in "Light Brown."

The history of the St. Catherine Labouré Retirement and Nursing Home began in 1924 with the acquisition of a farm, initially used to supply food to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy and provide recreation for the sisters. In 1967, a nursing home for the sisters was built on the site, which was later converted into a public nursing home. Construction of the new building began with the laying of the foundation stone in September 2020 and was completed in March 2022. Superior General Sister Maria Rosa Dick describes it as "a place where people live well, are accompanied and cared for – a place where everyone working here can work and contribute effectively."

Shared living communities instead of traditional nursing homes

"Our brief was to design a retirement and nursing home for around 100 residents," explains Simon Baumann, lead architect at SAI Schleburg Generalplanungs GmbH in Rosenheim. With around 30 employees, the firm is one of the largest planning companies between Munich and Salzburg. The design called for dividing the home into eight residential groups of 12 residents, each with its own kitchen and common rooms. "The concept is intended to convey the character of a shared living community, rather than adopting the classic nursing home structure," says Baumann.

The three wings are connected to a central connecting building, which houses the administration and access to the residents' groups. A particular challenge was the demolition of part of the existing building before construction began.

Sustainable solid construction and threshold-free design

The three-story new building was constructed using solid reinforced concrete and masonry. The stiffening reinforced concrete walls were clad with a thermally insulated brick facade. The use of petroleum-based insulation materials was largely avoided. A special structural feature is the two-meter-deep, cantilevered balconies, which serve as living spaces and sun protection. The building meets the KfW55 standard and is heated by district heating. A ventilation system was installed only in necessary areas. All entrances and exits, as well as the balconies, were designed without thresholds to provide the greatest possible accessibility for residents.

The construction contract was awarded to Grossmann Bau GmbH & Co. KG, one of the oldest and largest construction companies in the Rosenheim district with special expertise in building construction.

Balconies as a harmonious connection between indoor and outdoor space

The architectural concept is characterized by a delicate, open façade that harmoniously integrates the building complex into the surrounding park landscape. The wraparound balconies play a central role, serving as a transitional space between the interior and exterior areas. "The privacy and sun protection harps lend the façade an exciting irregularity. With their slatted structure, they create a sheltered atmosphere on the one hand, but also allow views to the outside on the other," says architect Simon Baumann, describing the design intent.

Wood composites prevail over wood

During the planning phase, the architects and client initially favored wood as the material for the balconies—both for the flooring and for privacy and sun protection. However, the inherent advantages of wood composite ultimately won them over. "Experience shows that wood performs significantly worse than wood composite in terms of durability and maintenance in weather-exposed areas such as the facade," explains architect Simon Baumann. Another decisive factor was user safety: Unlike wood, this modern material does not splinter, eliminating the risk of injuries from wood splinters.

Sun protection profile Constructive onefor privacy screens

For the privacy and sun protection elements, NaturinForm supplied a total of 8,700 linear meters of the Der Konstruktiveprofile in "light brown." The profile is smooth on four sides, without embossing or brushing. 215 privacy screens measuring 1.25 x 2.70 meters were manufactured for the balconies on the first and second floors, and 80 pieces measuring 1.25 x 3.20 meters were manufactured for the ground floor.

The elements were installed in several steps: First, prefabricated flat steel frames were delivered to the construction site. Wagner's carpentry shop in Prien screwed the 38 x 100 millimeter profiles into these. The prefabricated sun protection elements were then mounted on the steel structure of the façade.

"Producing the privacy screens was a first for us," recalls Martin Wagner, owner of the carpentry shop. Until then, he had primarily used the wood composite material for balcony and patio flooring. "Due to the high density, processing was more challenging than with wood," Wagner reports. Screwing them together was somewhat more difficult, but with the screws recommended by the manufacturer, the material could still be installed quickly.

Solid plank Compact on the balconies

Compact solid planks were installed on 1,070 square meters of balconies. Because the balconies rest on a steel substructure, the flooring was constructed in several layers:

1. 40 mm thick three-layer board made of solid spruce wood
2. Protective fleece and sealing
3. Rubber granulate plate as a protective layer of the seal

Originally, adjustable feet were planned for installation, but due to the low installation height, alternatives had to be found. In consultation with the NaturinForm technician, the team opted for plastic spacers as height adjustment. The aluminum profiles were then installed, to which the solid floorboards were attached using clips.

Compact: maintenance-free, weather-resistant and safe

Especially in public buildings, maintenance-free operation, weather resistance, and slip resistance are paramount. Unterhaching chose Die Kompakte, a flooring that ensures secure grip even in wet conditions. The reversible plank offers two surface options: finely grooved or with block stripes, both brushed for additional slip resistance.

Another advantage: Unlike wood, the wood composite material doesn't splinter. Furthermore, the Compactis available in standard lengths of 3, 4, 5, and 6 meters, with custom lengths between 2 and 13 meters available upon request.

Sustainable outdoor flooring and profiles – Made in Germany

NaturinForm specializes in high-quality outdoor flooring and profiles made of wood composite materials. In Redwitz an der Rodach, Upper Franconia, they manufacture WPC products that combine the look of traditional wood with the durability of a technical polymer.

Thanks to a special processing technique, the environmentally friendly, pure thermoplastic polymer envelops each wood fiber like a protective coating. This makes the material water-repellent and moisture-resistant.

Sustainability is our highest priority:

• Production exclusively with wood fibers from domestic, sustainable forestry (PEFC-certified)
• No additional tree felling – wood fibers are a by-product of the wood processing industry
• 100% recyclable products – take-back and recycling by NaturinForm

NaturinForm offers Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all floorboards and façade profiles, prepared according to international standards. The products undergo regular quality controls and stress tests to ensure consistently first-class wood-based material quality.

5-year warranty – quality you can rely on.