Renovation of the benches at the Hornberg Open-Air Theatre (Germany)

New WPC seat surfaces and backrests from Naturinform provide greater comfort on the grandstand of the Hornberg Open-Air Theatre. The "Strong" profile in brown was used for this project. With the renovation of the spectator grandstand, the Hornberg Historical Society invested in a solution that blends harmoniously into the forest-fringed surroundings and meets the demands of this highly frequented venue in the long run.

The town of Hornberg in the German Black Forest region is well known far beyond the region for the "Hornberger Schießen" (the famous local legend of the "Hornberg Shooting"). Equally characteristic of the town is the idyllic open-air theatre, nestled at the edge of the forest and offering views of the historic castle tower. From late June to early September, the schedule features contemporary plays alongside that very classic production about the "Hornberg Shooting". In time for the 2024 season, the benches on the spectator grandstand were replaced. The management of Freilichtbühne Hornberg Historischer Verein e.V. opted for the "Strong" WPC solid profile in brown from Naturinform. On the one hand, the brown tone of the decking boards blends harmoniously into the wooded hillside; on the other hand, they stand out due to their durability, robustness, and low maintenance and upkeep requirements. 

A theatrical tradition deeply rooted in the region

Legend has it that the roots of the "Hornberg Shooting" reach back as far as 1564. According to the legend, the citizens of Hornberg wanted to welcome the Duke of Württemberg with a gun salute, but they had already fired all their gunpowder too early. Instead of the grand reception, all that remained were shouts of "Bang-Bang". This is said to have given rise to the famous German idiom "to end like the Hornberg Shooting" (meaning "to turn out to be a damp squib"). Later, the saying also found its way into literature; Friedrich Schiller used it in his play "The Robbers". In the 1950s, local author Erwin Leisinger wrote a folk play that has been performed in its original form at the Hornberg Open-Air-Theatre for over 70 years.

Year after year, the Hornberg Open-Air-Theatre attracts between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors. With around 800 seats available per performance, the theatre is one of the cultural hotspots in the Black Forest region. High demands were placed on the material properties of the new grandstand benches with regard to durability and maintenance.

Renovation carried out by volunteers

The grandstand of the Erwin Leisinger Open-Air Theatre is nestled into the natural slope of the Hornberg Storenwald forest. Since the society's founding, volunteer engagement has been its backbone. In 1955, the entire facility was built from scratch by 15 society members within just six weeks. To this day, everyone involved – from the stagehands to the actors – is recruited exclusively from within the society's own ranks. Today, more than 100 people are actively involved. The recent renovation of the grandstand benches was also carried out by a team of volunteers. 

After many years of intensive use, the previous wooden boards of the benches were heavily weathered and, in some places, even splintered and rotten. Therefore, the goal was to find a material that is permanently stable, visually appealing, and comfortable for the visitors. The society sought advice from the nearby building materials dealer Maier + Kaufmann in Steinach. The choice fell on "Strong" by Naturinform. In addition to the robust material quality, the customised sizing also spoke in favour of the product, as the measurements of the new decking boards matched the existing ones almost perfectly. Another factor was the colouring: The brown tone blends harmoniously into the forest surroundings while simultaneously matching the stage backdrop with its Black Forest half-timbered houses.

Test bench proved a success in practical use

For evaluation purposes, initially only a single row of benches was fitted with the "Strong" profile in brown. After the test proved successful, work began in July 2024.

The existing concrete substructure and the steel framework attached to it for the seat surfaces and backrests could be retained. After the old boards were removed, the new WPC profiles were cut to the required lengths and screwed step-by-step onto the existing steel framework. Two profiles were used for each seat surface, and one for each backrest. Rounded rivets were placed over the screw connections on the top surface to provide extra safety for visitors.

The result is a weather-resistant and visually appealing grandstand facility that does justice to both the overall character of the open-air theatre and the practical demands of ongoing theatre operations.

"Strong" delivers stability and natural appeal 

With a material thickness of 38 mm, "Strong" is designed to withstand high loads. Thanks to its stability, the decking board is also suitable for spanning larger distances, without the need for a complex load-bearing substructure. Visually, the WPC solid profile impresses with its natural-looking wood grain. The profile, which is highly versatile and frequently used for steps or benches in public spaces, is available in Black brown, Grey, and Anthracite. The surface is available with either a lightly brushed finish or with fine ribs.

All WPC products from Naturinform combine the wood look with high resistance to climatic conditions. During manufacturing, wood fibres are bonded with a polymer. This creates a material that is resistant to moisture, splinter-free, and easy to maintain. Therefore, the profiles are ideal for areas where moisture or splashed water pose higher demands on slip resistance.

Maintenance and care benefits for operators

Especially in public and semi-public areas, durability, safety, and maintenance efforts are what matter most alongside aesthetics. This is where the wood composite material (WPC) used by Naturinform truly plays to its strengths. Dirt and stains can be removed with minimal effort, maintenance requirements remain low, and the surface stays attractive even under intensive use. For operators of highly frequented facilities, this represents a cost-effective yet user-friendly solution. The option to dispose of products free of charge through Naturinform’s own recycling system at the end of their service life is also a major advantage for public sector clients.

Achim Schemel, stage manager of the Hornberg Historical Society, explained: "Our grandstand is heavily used during the season, which is why we needed a solution that is robust, safe, and at the same time comfortable for the audience. With the new seat profiles, we have achieved exactly that. The benches look much more high-end, are comfortable to sit on, and also fit perfectly into the surroundings of our open-air theatre."

Conclusion: 

With the renovation of the spectator grandstand, the Hornberg Open-Air Theatre has implemented a functional and visually compelling solution. The new WPC decking boards combine durability, comfort, and a natural appearance. For demanding outdoor applications, the project demonstrates how existing structures can be upgraded very cost-effectively and enhanced for the long term.

Pia Hobeck, Managing Director at Naturinform, concluded: „Especially for projects like this, what matters is a balanced mixture of design, safety and durability. In Hornberg, we can see very vividly, how our "Strong" profile fulfils these requirements, while providing a solution that is very much adaptable to existing structures."