The noraplan® unita rubber flooring is
an essential part of the design concept
Clear the stage – following extensive renovation work,
the Theatre for Lower Saxony (TfN) in Hildesheim has
been shining in new splendour since November 2019.
Over the course of the two-year project, the interior of
both auditoriums was completely rebuilt within the existing
supporting structure. Once that had been achieved, the
walls were clad and new seating, a new ventilation system,
new fire protection technology and a new floor covering
were installed. The design concept was created by the
Color Concept Lab office. Founder Benjamin Hey and
Markus Schlegel, at the same time resident professor of
the Faculty of Design and Color Design of the University
of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK) in Hildesheim,
gave the previously modestly decorated theatre a glamorous
look. Thanks to an innovative weaving technique,
the orange and red tones of the new upholstery appear
to glow in different shades of gold. To complement this
effect, the walls received a gold-bronze coating and
the spotlights set in the green-painted domed ceiling are
reminiscent of a starry sky. The noraplan® unita rubber flooring, which was installed in the hall, foyer, auditorium,
stairs and passageways, blends perfectly into the striking
design concept. The granite chips embedded in the
flooring reflect the light in all its facets, making the floor
an intrinsic part of the interior design scheme. In the foyer
on the first floor, a hand-cut rosette inlay in graduated,
elegant shades of grey is an attractive eye-catcher. In
addition to its unique design, the rubber floor covering
has also improved the building’s acoustic qualities.
Authentic material with exceptional effects
The three-tier TfN is the fourth largest theatre in Lower
Saxony and presents everything from plays and operas
to musicals for adults and children. The building was
constructed more than 100 years ago by renowned
theatre builder Max Littmann. “Theatre is a special type
of cultural experience where visitors expect a sophisticated,
festive setting,” Schlegel observed. The design concept
honours this aspiration and places historically based
design elements and colour settings in a time-related
context. “The future can only be built on the past – we
wanted to combine the past with future-proof products
and accordingly selected high-quality finishing materials,
surfaces and design technologies.” When it came to the
interior design, the planners and the building’s owners
gbg Immobilien GmbH placed great emphasis on highquality
materials. Schlegel, Hey and architect Adrian Dams
(gbg project manager) were all in agreement: “In terms
of flooring, we chose rubber because this is an authentic
material. nora floors have a deserved reputation for
timeless design and noraplan unita proved well suited
to the design concept thanks to the glamorous effect.”
noraplan unita was installed in various shades of brown.
The floor has a lighter shade in the corridors and the foyer,
while a darker tone was selected for the auditorium. The
floor covering was installed on the stair treads in anthracite.
“Thanks to the joint-free installation, noraplan unita has
the calming and minimalist appearance of a modern
concrete floor, but the granite chips also add a note of
vibrancy, making it an integral part of the architecture,”
Hey added. The inlay cut from the floor covering in a
rosette shape echos the ceiling design of the foyer.
“Depending on the function and mood of the specific
space, the decorative elements serve to relax or add
drama and help the eye orientate itself”, Hey explained.
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Rubber floors minimise reverberation
The main focus of the renovation work was to create
good acoustics. The fact that TfN is used not just as a
theatre but also as a concert and musical hall made
the requirements complex. For this reason, an acoustic
report was drawn up at the beginning of the renovation
project and materials were selected accordingly. The
choice of floor covering has a significant effect on the
acoustic properties of any space. “Thanks to their permanent
elasticity, rubber floors reduce reverberation,
which is why nora floors were ideal in this respect,”
said Schlegel. The floor coverings contribute to a good listening experience no matter what event is being staged.
Speech intelligibility is excellent throughout the auditorium
with actors having no problem reaching the back rows.
Because the permanent elasticity of the new rubber
floors reduces the sound of footfall, they also minimise
potential disturbances caused by people arriving late
or leaving the auditorium during a performance.
Since the renovation was completed, the Theatre for Lower
Saxony can now offer visitors an outstanding experience
in every respect, to which the unique design of the
noraplan unita flooring makes an active contribution.
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