Kugelgarn^® for the historic town hall

The refurbishment of Witten Town Hall saw a listed administrative building dating from the 1920s transformed, in several construction phases, into a contemporary administrative centre. Over a period of around ten years, a building was created that consistently builds on its historical heritage whilst meeting the requirements of modern working environments and citizen-focused services. 

The project was carried out in stages whilst the building remained in use, placing high demands on planning, logistics and the choice of materials. This choice of materials plays a central role in the interior design concept. Kugelgarn^® in the Creation asphalt and Creation granit grades was laid across an area of just under 10,000 square metres. Whilst Creation asphalt covers the majority of the floor space as a robust, visually understated base, Creation granit was used on around one-third of the area as an acoustic variant with a special acoustic backing. Particularly in public areas and corridors, this version effectively helps to reduce impact and room noise, enhancing both concentration and the quality of the environment for users and visitors. 

The decision to use Kugelgarn^® was based on a comprehensive assessment of functional and economic criteria. A key factor was its ease of cleaning, which enables efficient maintenance even with intensive use and ensures the appearance remains consistent over the long term. A comparative cost analysis against traditional mop-cleanable floor coverings confirmed its cost-effectiveness over the entire life cycle. 

Equally relevant is the material’s high durability. Kugelgarn^® impresses with its robustness in high-traffic areas and ensures a consistently uniform appearance over time. At the same time, its construction allows for the targeted replacement of individual sections, thereby reducing maintenance costs and conserving resources. Furthermore, tactile metal floor indicators to aid the orientation of visually impaired people could be seamlessly integrated into the flooring. 

The use of Kugelgarn^® thus fits logically into the overall architectural concept, which aims for durability, precision and a clear, minimalist use of materials. The refurbished town hall now provides around 500 workplaces and brings together key administrative functions within a coherent, high-performance building. 

In an interview, Heike Cremer from the Building Management Department gave us a more detailed insight into how the decision to use Kugelgarn^® was reached and why, from today’s perspective, they are very satisfied with it:

Fabromont: What are your general requirements for floor coverings in public buildings? 

Heike Cremer: Generally speaking, floor coverings in public buildings must have a long service life, be easy to clean and have a visually appealing design. 

Fabromont: How do you go about assessing cleaning requirements and cost-effectiveness?

Heike Cremer: If the floor is vacuumed daily, deep cleaning is not required, unlike with a mop-cleaned floor covering. This reduces the cleaning effort and makes cleaning more cost-effective. 

Fabromont: How does Kugelgarn^® perform when it comes to cleaning, and how does it compare with mop-cleaned floor coverings?

Heike Cremer: Kugelgarn^® presents significantly fewer potential sources of error during cleaning. It is vacuumed and is usually clean afterwards. With mop-cleaned floor coverings, on the other hand, there is a risk of mopping too wet or too dry, using too much or too little cleaning solution, or using the wrong cleaning chemicals. This leads to more potential for errors and often an unsatisfactory cleaning result. 

Fabromont: What impact do floor coverings have on the day-to-day work of your cleaning team?

Heike Cremer: If floor coverings do not need to be wet-cleaned, there is no need to wear cleaning gloves. This puts less strain on the skin of the hands in particular, making the cleaning team’s daily work more comfortable. 

Fabromont: How does Kugelgarn^® contribute to well-being at Witten Town Hall?

Heike Cremer: Kugelgarn^® ensures excellent acoustics. As part of the Town Hall’s refurbishment, open-plan workspaces accommodating more staff were created. The floor covering has sound-absorbing properties, meaning footsteps are barely audible and, overall, a subdued, pleasant atmosphere is created. In the south wing, particularly in the public areas and corridors, Kugelgarn^® was fitted with an acoustic backing. 

Fabromont: What particularly convinced you about Kugelgarn^®?

Heike Cremer: I really liked the look of Kugelgarn^®. It’s also very hard-wearing, as has already been demonstrated at the Saalbau Witten, where the flooring has been in place for years and still looks good. During the construction phase, the floor was barely protected in places, and I would never have thought we’d be able to clean it thoroughly again. But we managed it – with intensive vacuuming. 

Fabromont: What advice would you give to other public institutions when choosing a floor covering? 

Heike Cremer: I would recommend moving away from the idea that only mopable floors are hygienically sound. A good textile floor covering can improve the indoor climate and acoustics, thereby saving on the cost of additional acoustic elements. 

Fabromont: What are you particularly proud of in relation to this project?

Heike Cremer: I’m particularly proud that my boss went along with my suggestion despite initial resistance, and that we now have a fantastic, presentable town hall.