A boat with Cedral Terrace? Herz Ahoi shows its potentia

An event boat for an exclusive experience with a view

Last summer, Berlin inaugurated an extraordinary new house boat. The Herz Ahoi is the place to be for exclusive events on the water. It is designed as a fully glazed floating penthouse. The high-quality design extends from the luxurious interior to the 70 m² sundeck, which features Cedral fibre-cement decking for that ultimate boat feeling. On board, you won't get bored with the views, as the elegantly designed lounge area features floor-to-ceiling glazing with 360-degree unobstructed views. Only technical and toilet rooms, as well as a small sleeping room, are set into the space as volumes. The light-flooded interior, fitted with a kitchen and cosy fireplace, can be used flexibly for private celebrations, dinner with friends or enjoying the view.

Modular, self-sufficient loft on the water

With a striking cross-section in the shape of a parallelogram, 'Herz Ahoi' is not a normal houseboat of the kind that you see on holidays or in residential construction concepts in the Netherlands. The floating loft consists of an aluminium pontoon and a modular frame construction that is based on the size of common shipping containers. So, the boat can be dismantled and shipped worldwide. In order not to be dependent on shore power and fresh water, the builders opted for a solar package for its energy. And with its own water treatment plant, water supplies are never an issue. This makes the boat self-sufficient so that it can stay on the water for days. But solar power is also a sustainable choice.

Modelled on the movement of the waves

There is a seamless transition from the interior to the covered terrace at the bow or via the stairs at the stern to the large sun deck. Guests can enjoy the 70 m² terrace, that, just like the deck below, is covered with Cedral Terrace fibre-cement decking boards. The 3.15 m-long planks are laid in a soft grey colour in two alternating widths of 17.5 and 8.45 cm, mimicking the wave motion of the surrounding water. The elegant flooring has a velvety soft surface that offers a pleasant walking experience, but at the same time it also provides a good grip even when wet. An anti-slip deck is vital for marine applications.

A conscious choice for Cedral Terrace

The builders deliberately decided against the classic tropical boat-building woods such as teak or mahogany, as they tend to splinter and they also require a regular coat of stain to stay in shape. Planks made of PVC or other plastic mixtures were also out of the question, for quality and aesthetic reasons.

Instead, they chose Cedral Terrace made of lightweight fibre cement. This is an environmentally friendly mixture of Portland cement, water and organic fibres for extra strength. This ingenious composition makes the terrace planks break-resistant and non-combustible. They perfectly combine beauty and comfort with safety and practicality. Moreover, the 20-mm-thick, frost-resistant and dimensionally stable boards are easy to lay using the staple technique. No gluing, sanding or wet cutting is required.

A range of contemporary deck colours that age beautifully

Cedral Terrace exists in soft grey, deep grey, soft sand and warm red. This colour collection of four different earthy shades was developed in cooperation with an international team of landscape architects. Through the natural ageing process, the terrace gradually takes on a uniform patina across the entire surface.

• Want to test Cedral Terrace for your deck? Ask your free sample now.