As part of a comprehensive renovation and barrier-free conversion, the Sinsheim Town Hall also received a newly designed, barrier-free outdoor space at the beginning of 2020. The sculptural planting and seating elements in front of the entrance area are an attractive eye-catcher on the 3,300 square meter site. While one of the oval concrete elements draws attention as a flowering plant bed, the other two serve as seating platforms for residents. The seating areas were given a durable brown Robust wood composite surface from the Bavarian manufacturer NaturinForm.

Renovation of the town hall and redesign of the outdoor areas

Since its construction in 1976, the Stadthalle has been the cultural center of the large district town of Sinsheim and the surrounding communities. Around 200 different events take place there annually. With its size and central location, the "Dr. Sieber Hall," combined with the library on the ground floor, also offers schools and clubs the opportunity to host events. To strengthen the facility's importance as a supra-regional center for encounters, education, and culture, the Stadthalle underwent a renovation project between 2016 and 2020 at a cost of 11.5 million euros. In addition, the outdoor areas, totaling 3,300 square meters, were completely redesigned and made barrier-free. The Karlsruhe-based firm of Elke Ukas Landscape Architects was responsible for the project. The now car-free square features water fountains for cooling off on hot days; wooden decks, benches, and organically shaped planting and seating elements invite you to linger – and attract attention and people.

Robust with a twist: as a seat and design element

The Bad Rappenau-based company AZ Straßen- und Pflasterbau was commissioned to build the open space. Company founder Ali Zeneli and his 17-person team are increasingly active for municipal clients. "We specialize in the construction of complete outdoor facilities – and that's how we received the contract from the city of Sinsheim," explains Zeneli. The scope of work also included the construction of the sculptural concrete elements. The exterior components were previously produced in a regional precast concrete plant and then assembled in front of the town hall. Concrete slabs were laid on the filled KFT gravel with a final bed of chippings, onto which the installers first applied the aluminum substructure from NaturinForm. The planks, which had previously been sawn to fit precisely, were then attached with concealed staples. A total of 20 square meters of the Robust plank were used for the two seating platforms. The wood textures of the brown surface create a design contrast with the concrete borders of the seating platforms. Although working with wood composite materials is not part of his daily business, his team always completes these tasks to the satisfaction of the clients within the framework of overall projects, says Ali Zeneli, who is convinced of the ease of care, robustness and durability of the material used.

Concrete plus wood composite: High acceptance of the unusual “street furniture”

"The redesign of the open space in front of our town hall has been extremely well received by the public; especially the unusual seating is being enjoyed and frequently used by all age groups," says Bernd Kippenhan, pleased with the high level of acceptance of this "furniture in public space" – and in this context, expresses his appreciation for the planning achievement. "If people enjoy using and playing in our facilities, if they spend their free time there for leisure, relaxation, and recreation, then the planners have been successful," states the website of the landscape architect commissioned, Elke Ukas.

Beautiful wood appearance with convincing “inner values”

The solid plank Robust has a beautiful wood-like appearance thanks to its intensive grain. Due to its robustness and a board thickness of 21 millimeters, it is particularly suitable for heavily used areas, such as this one in Sinsheim. The planks were installed without visible staples. For the rounded ends of the organically shaped surfaces, the solid planks were simply sawn into shape and installed. Wood as an outdoor flooring has a limited lifespan due to strong sunlight. Temperature differences – such as between blazing sun during the day and cool air at night – also cause the wood to age quickly. First, the material cracks, then water penetration can cause the flooring to rot. Experience has shown that untreated wood only has a lifespan of about five years and is also very high-maintenance. NaturinForm planks last significantly longer and are the first choice, especially for properties with high usage frequencies. Due to their innovative material composition, these planks cannot crack or splinter. The flooring looks like natural wood and is also largely made from the natural building material. However, to make it resilient, slip-resistant, and durable, it is given a technical component in the form of a single-variety polymer at the factory. The resulting wood composite material still impresses with its wood look, but scores even more points for its durability and robustness due to its homogeneous and compact interior. A light brushing of the surface in the factory also gives the flooring greater slip resistance, which remains effective even in wet conditions. Another advantage of the wood composite material, which is particularly crucial for large commercial areas, is that the planks do not require additional care such as varnishing or oiling. The natural color pigments are incorporated into the material during production. Should dirt accumulate, the flooring can be easily cleaned with a pressure washer or, for smaller areas, with just water and a brush.

Specialist for intelligent outdoor flooring and profiles

NaturinForm specializes in intelligent solutions for outdoor flooring and profiles. The wood composite materials are manufactured at the plant in Redwitz an der Rodach, Bavaria. Wood fibers – residual fibers from the wood industry, certified with the PEFC seal – are combined with an environmentally friendly thermoplastic polymer in such a way that the polymer forms a protective coating around each individual fiber. Because the polymer itself is completely water-repellent, no water can penetrate the finished plank, while retaining the optical and thermal properties of wood. This is a major advantage, especially for areas in damp and wet areas, because the material does not swell or rot, and the flooring is non-slip. Applications include decking, boat docks, swimming pool surrounds, or vertically as privacy fences, soundproof walls, and facade cladding. The product range is extensive, with many models and colors, diverse designs, and numerous matching accessories.

All NaturinForm floorboards and façade profiles are subject to 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. The company offers a five-year warranty on its products.