A gem in Franconia: Roßtal is located in the heart of the Keuper-Lias region. And because the community can look back on a tradition dating back over 1,050 years, valuable historical buildings can still be found there, including original half-timbered houses, harmoniously embedded in the beautiful surrounding hills. This tradition is being continued in the south of the town by the long-established Rost Wohnbau GmbH and its in-house architect, Karsten Kundiger. They have built a high-quality residential complex there, whose understated architecture blends perfectly into the rural surroundings. With spacious balconies and terraces in a sunny, south-facing location, the perfect place to enjoy the greenery. Smart ensures unadulterated outdoor enjoyment on balconies and terraces. An intelligent outdoor flooring from NaturinForm that does more than just look good.

The layout of the balconies and terraces of the 28 condominiums spread across two buildings initially presented a challenge for the renowned Fürth-based construction company and its contractor, Märkl GmbH, a master company specializing in roof, wall, and waterproofing technology, also from Fürth. The project required a slope-free design. A problem that was optimally solved with the "smart" system. Thus, the first owners were able to move in in October and enjoy the autumn sunshine on their balconies. Completion of the second construction phase is expected in the spring.

Comfortable living

The location of Roßtal, a community with only around 10,000 inhabitants, is almost perfect. Enjoy relaxed country life and plenty of fresh air right on your doorstep, while at the same time, a modern infrastructure offers all the amenities of the city of Nuremberg, just 15 kilometers away.

The high-quality furnishings of the 2-, 3-, and 4-room apartments, as well as penthouses, ranging in size from approximately 70 to almost 106 square meters, ensure a feel-good atmosphere within your own four walls. The solid construction ensures a pleasant and healthy living environment – cool in summer, warm in winter. This also saves heating costs and protects the environment. Accordingly, the complex on the 2,800 square meter site was built to a high energy standard (KfW Efficiency House 55). Furthermore, great care was taken to ensure a high level of accessibility, for example, with low-profile showers and multi-passenger elevators that enable barrier-free access from the underground parking garage to every apartment. The only challenge was integrating and occupying the outdoor areas in a way that is as barrier-free as possible.

Accessible balconies

A total of 450 square meters are offered to the apartment owners: eight balconies measuring 9.15 to 14.98 square meters per building and two penthouse terraces measuring 55.48 and 38.40 square meters respectively. Given these impressive dimensions and a gradient of two percent, it's no easy task to fill them. The senior partner of the company carrying out the work, Thomas Märkl, explains why: "Here the drains could be 7 to 8 meters apart, meaning the height differences from the lowest to the highest point could be up to 15 centimeters," he explains. "If you have a horizontal surface and then have to start underpinning the slope of the subfloor with rubber pads, it's a bit like the Tower of Babel," he says with a laugh. That's why he chose Smart system. A good choice, because it made installing the decking with the aluminum substructure quick and easy. "NaturinForm supplies special pedestals. Available in various sizes and adjustable, height differences are easily accommodated." Or as construction manager Jens Münch puts it with a grin: "This way, you sit up straight and no glass on the table is crooked."

A well-rounded thing

The advantage lies in the special shape of Smart. "The Zero Degree Plank" is an innovation from NaturinForm, which has been guaranteeing the highest quality with its flooring for 20 years – and is therefore valued by both builders and installers. Master roofer Märkl also agrees: "We tried many others in the past; they weren't bad, but they weren't ideal either. Then we came across NaturinForm and stuck with it because, for us, it's the best product all around. Both the customer appreciates it because it's a beautiful flooring, and we appreciate it because it's so easy to install." The work of the product developers at NaturinForm has paid off. With "Die Smarte," they have combined the water-repellent properties of the wood composite material with a cambered surface for the first time. It's curved towards the center so that water caused by weathering or cleaning is automatically drained away. It practically shakes off rain by itself! Märkl describes it this way: "The slope is already built into the board, so to speak." This was particularly important for this project because the exterior surfaces were very generously dimensioned and often ran around corners. "If you have a conventional surface there, there are intersections" – which can easily become stumbling blocks. "One more reason why we used Die Smarte, because it can be laid without a slope."

Three in one: form, color and functional

TÜV-certified construction manager Münch fully agrees and cites another advantage for the owners: "They were able to choose the color of the flooring themselves, and NaturinForm offers such a wide selection that everyone can find something to their taste, even unusual ones. With pure wood, that's difficult. And anything painted afterwards is difficult to repair; you can see it later." In addition to the color, the feel also plays a role, says the master bricklayer and concrete worker. " Smart gives a good feeling when walking barefoot, without the risk of splinters like with real wood. And: There's no need for subsequent sanding and painting." This is especially important for owners who sublet the property: "If the tenant doesn't take care of the wooden surfaces, then in the worst case scenario, the owner will have to completely relay everything because the wood will warp and be beyond repair. This can't happen with a wood composite system. The owner doesn't have to worry about anything, and the tenant can't break anything," he adds. So it’s a win-win situation.

Weighs little, can do a lot

The construction manager is right. Because Smart guarantees durability and easy maintenance: Like all NaturinForm planks, the wood is refined by adding a technical polymer to create a water-repellent surface. Green growth doesn't stand a chance! The special curvature further optimizes this effect. At the same time, it's barefoot-friendly, non-slip, and safe to walk on. The wavy embossing offers another advantage: it refracts light, highlighting the elegant wood look even more. By eliminating grooves, Smart also saves on height, which is just 19 millimeters. And it can still "carry a heavy load": its own weight of 2.7 kilograms per linear meter is offset by a load-bearing capacity of 400 kilograms per square decimeter! On top of that, it's installed in a flash, thanks to the base profiles with a click function. And it lasts and lasts and lasts: The material doesn't need to be varnished or oiled. That's good for the environment and your wallet – and leaves plenty of free time to enjoy the balcony instead of maintaining it! Smart is an all-round smart solution!