Forbo Flooring Systems

Congratulations to Deicke Richards (DR) Architects for their win at this year’s 2020 Learning Environments Australasia Awards for excellence in educational design. The John Paul College (JPC) Kindergarten extension articulates the college’s Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning within an Australian context. Reggio Emilia is an early learning education style that values children as capable and resilient and rich with wonder; it emphasises hands-on, discovery learning that allows children to actively engage all their senses, guided by educators rather than directed.The kindy’s program is strongly art and nature-based and focuses on encouraging children to creatively problem solve, engage deeply with personal and group projects, and to experience nature with freedom and wonder.To support this program, Deicke Richards led a collaborative process with a diverse stakeholder team to produce a design framework that fosters engaging experiences with climate; form (external, internal and transitional spaces); light; colour; materials and texture; smell; sound; and taste. Marmoleum flooring was chosen as the main internal floor finish as it fits the design and teaching philosophy.Marmoleum is made from natural raw materials, many of which grow and are renewable. The material is produced CO2 neutral without offsetting and can be sustainably recycled at the end of its useful life. Marmoleum is healthy, containing zero plastics and is asthma and allergy approved by the British Allergy Foundation. Marmoleum thanks to the linseed base is inherently bacteriostatic naturally inhibiting the growth of common bacterial and viral infections creating a better interior for children and staff.The kindy’s new building has a logical layout. Two classrooms are separated by a central amenities block and open onto a generous verandah that flows into the “piazza” or green heart. Each classroom is characterised by an internal “Atelier” form which offers focused respite from other activities – a sunken studio features in ‘The Burrow’ classroom, while a playful house-like structure punctuates ‘The Nest’ classroom. These unique Atelier spaces are dedicated to creative exploration and elevate the children’s art-focused learning experiences.JPC Kindy’s thoughtfully layered learning experiences exemplify how the values of a kindy – or any educational institution – can be meaningfully embedded in its environmental and spatial design.Diecke Richards founded in 1994 is renowned for their collaborative processes and inclusive culture. DR has a commitment to using their skill in design to achieve a social purpose and this is evident in the JPC kindergarten community project.

Forbo Flooring Systems' unique and comprehensive product portfolio has brought to life a striking new refurbishment project at Leaseplan UK, Berkshire, where a wide range of Forbo's textile and resilient products have been specified as part of an exciting modular flooring solution. Flooring contractor: Crisp Designed Ltd

Creating a more welcoming arrival experience for children and their families at Leeds Children’s Hospital, Forbo Flooring Systems donated its time and flooring solutions to help transform what was once a tired entrance at one of the UK’s largest specialist children’s hospitals.Two state-of-the-art hospital buildings are being built at Leeds General Infirmary and one will be a brand-new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital. As part of the transition to the new spaces, Forbo supplied 600m2 of its Modul’up Compact ‘Fast Fit’ flooring to help transform the existing tired entrance space.

The refurbishment of independent opticians and hearing specialists, Leightons, has used Forbo Flooring Systems’ Allura luxury vinyl tile planks alongside a host of other products to create a spacious looking interior that helps to minimise the spread of unwanted noise to the consultation rooms. Subsequently, the design won a Commended award in the Fly Forbo 2016/2017 competition.Leightons called on SKK Design for the design of their Reading store when it relocated from Oxford Road to the town centre, tasking them to give the branch a new lease of life and adapt the space into something that customers and staff would appreciate. The complete refurbishment saw new ceilings, lights, furniture and flooring throughout the main shop floor, staff areas and consultation rooms.

Forbo’s Tessera Create Space 1 has been installed throughout Lloyds Register office at Trinity Park. An ideal floor covering for an office environment as Tessera Loop Pile products are designed to maintain their good looks in the most demanding heavy traffic areas such as busy offices.Create Space 1 is an exceptionally flexible range of 18 commercial colourways, styled for today’s interiors and lends itself to single colourway installations, feature area designs and bespoke creative schemes. Lloyds Register at Trinity Park have used Create Space 1 to create feature area designs and brighten their offices as they have used bright colours against contrasting monochrome colours.

The prestigious law firm Mills & Reeve has refurbished its Norwich brand to create a smart office environment that incorporates a homely feel, using three shades of Allura Wood LVT from Forbo Flooring Systems. Mills & Reeve's new office was designed by architects Feilden + Mawson and has subsequently won the Highly commended prize in Fly Forbo 2017/2018.

Combining contemporary aesthetics with exceptional performance, an array of solutions from Forbo Flooring Systems' portfolio have been installed throughout the state-of-the-art Cancer Centre at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH). Designed by Ryder Architecture, the facility brings patient experience to the fore, where the integrated flooring scheme seamlessly guides users through the building. The prestigious project took home the winner's accolade in the 2020/21 annual Fly Forbo competition. An extension of the main hospital, the Cancer Centre at MKUH brings together all of the cancer services under one roof, which were previously provided from three separate locations on the hospital site. Split over two floors the £15 million dedicated to the facility offers a 24-bed inpatient ward, outpatient consultation rooms, procedure and specialist treatment rooms, a chemotherapy suite, alongside a wellbeing support service.

The newly built Mundaring arena indoor sporting facility is located in the Perth halls district. The building caters for a range of sports such as hockey, basketball and netball and was constructed for the local community now and for future generations. Forbo Flotex was chosen for the functionality and longevity and the new plank designs suited the design visual requested. Additionally, Flotex is a proven floor covering in sporting and gym applications. The 70 million nylon 6.6 fibres per m² offer superior wear characteristics and abrasion resistance when compared with other yarns, making it the ideal flooring for high traffic areas. Flotex is also well known for providing healthier indoor quality and has been awarded the asthma and allergy foundation seal of approval.

The vibrant colours of Forbo Flooring System's Marmoleum Modular portfolio led the interior designers HLW, to specify the floor covering to distinguish different working areas within London- based company, Neoworks. By creating an array of bright colours in an elaborate zigzag design, HLW has managed to produce a sophisticated but lively office interior.

FORBO’S INTEGRATED FLOORING HELPS TO REFURBISH FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE  Forbo Flooring Systems’ contemporary range of floor coverings were specified by Momentum, a leading furniture expert based in Cardiff, to create a warm and vibrant hybrid working space for Newydd Housing Association. Forbo’s Tessera carpet tiles, Allura Luxury Vinyl Tiles, Coral entrance flooring system and Surestep safety flooring were all used.   Founded in 1974, Newydd Housing Association is a charitable housing association that offers 3,000 affordable homes for rent and sale. With properties based around South and mid Wales, Newydd Housing Association seeks to help those with the greatest need to find a home. Momentum worked with the housing association to refurbish their existing office spaces to create an environment that inspired a new hybrid style of working.  Momentum designed the whole refurbishment and specified all the materials used, as Rhian Worgan, Interior Designer at Momentum, explains: “After securing the tender for the design of Newydd’s offices, we were asked to create a space that supported and inspired the new hybrid way of working that many offices have adopted post-Covid. Newydd really wanted to achieve a flexible and adaptable environment, so that any future changes could be made at minimal cost and with little disruption.   “One of the first things they had asked us to do was to remove any designated areas for teams or individuals. This was to encourage the sharing of information between staff in collaborative spaces. We replaced these areas with zones that supported a variety of tasks, like desk work, formal and informal meetings, brainstorming and more. The idea behind the whole design and layout of the office was that the employees would choose the area that supported the task at hand on any given day.”  However, it wasn’t just the zoning of the office that was important, Newydd desired a workspace that was warm, vibrant and welcoming for its employees. With this in mind, Rhian spent a lot of time finding the right way to subtly incorporate the branding that represented Newydd’s ethos and values, as she explains: “For me it was really important we got the colours we used right. We really wanted to make this a space that employees could explore their creativity and problem solving in and not a traditional, bland workspace. For this reason, it was key to find the right colours and materials to convey this feeling.  “This was part of the reason I specified Forbo’s flooring, there’s such a wide range of products, I knew there would be something that would fit what we were looking for.”  Forbo’s Tessera Chroma and Cloudscape carpet tiles made up the majority of the flooring space across the three-floor office building. Rhian talked about this specification, saying: “I really like Forbo’s Tessera carpet tiles, as they have this beautiful naturally inspired palette that complemented our design plan. We used the Tessera Cloudscape in Grey Dawn extensively across all three floors in the circulation areas and for one of the meeting rooms, due to their thick pile height and sound reduction qualities. It also has this beautiful mixture of greys that create a serene feeling to the floor. We used this product alongside Forbo’s Tessera Chroma in the Chanterelle colourway in the main office space, using the Cloudscape tiles to create geometric shapes embedded into the larger flooring scheme.   “We then used Tessera Chroma in the Pasture, Nautical, Blossom and Mineral colourways. These were installed in the different meeting pods and dedicated call rooms where we matched them to the paint scheme on the walls. It just added this pop of colour, which broke up the greys used in the circulation areas and main office space. Chroma was perfect for these areas, due to the sheer number of colourways available to choose from, as well as it’s underfoot comfort.”  Not only this, but Tessera Chroma has a 26 dB sound reduction, making it perfect for the meeting room pods that are connected side-by-side, stopping noise from distracting those outside or next door.   Furthermore, Forbo’s Allura LVT was specified across the refurbishment and was laid in a Herringbone pattern. Rhian continued: “We specified Forbo’s Allura planks to break-up the carpet tiles we had already used quite heavily across the scheme. We needed something that we could install easily and wouldn’t look out of place in the eating areas. We went for the Light Honey Oak colourway as it is very light and has a lovely grain embossing to it.”  Forbo’s Allura LVT was also used in the Mist Texture colourway for the ground floor entranceway.   With the hybrid nature of Newydd’s office they expected to see a lot of footfall, so it was important that an entrance flooring system was installed to protect the interior floor coverings, by preventing dirt and moisture from being brought inside. Rhian said: “We also had Forbo’s Coral entrance flooring system installed in the front entrance in the Shark Grey colourway, which complemented the Allura LVT installed in the foyer nicely. Having an effective entrance flooring system meant the rest of the office would stay looking better for longer, something which is important for an office where people are being encouraged to move around and work in a hybrid fashion.”   With its R10 slip rating, ensuring staff stay safe whilst using the onsite facilities, Forbo’s Surestep safety flooring was also specified for the ground floor bathroom and showers in the Star colourway.  Rhian concluded: “We’re delighted with the way the office space has come together, as are Newydd themselves! I’ve worked with Forbo on many projects in the past and trust the products to do what we need them to. Their portfolio on offer, alongside the customer service and technical support provided, is something that keeps me coming back to Forbo.”  Started towards the end of 2021 and finished in November of 2022, Newydd Housing Associations’ new offices have been received well by staff.  To find out more about Forbo’s offering for offices, visit: https://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-uk/segments/commercial-offices/poitcq#panel_5.  

Minimising disruption for patients, staff and visitors was a priority for the University Hospital of North Tees team, responsible for the refurbishment of a vast area of new flooring in the hospital’s main public corridors. As such, Forbo Flooring Systems supplied its adhesive-free Modul’up Compact sheet vinyl – a resilient flooring solution that was easy to install and could be walked on immediately after installation. Built in the 1960s, the hospital in Stockton has seen much maintenance over the years and visually, had become dated. Therefore, the aim of the refurbishment was to bring the hospital interior into this century to create a more pleasant and comfortable environment for everyone. As well as speed of installation, the hospital team’s specification priorities were cleanliness and hygiene, especially as these main corridor routes lead on to clinical areas. But also, the spaces experience high footfall and are tested to the limit with heavy medical equipment and trolleys being moved around; the flooring had to perform well in terms of durability. “We were looking for something different and when our Forbo Area Manager, Jon Rogers, put forward the Modul’up solution, we identified a few advantages that appealed immediately,” explains the Project Manager for the University Hospital of North Tees, Michael Jones. “Firstly, speed of installation. It’s a vast area of flooring to cover. In fact, we’ve not done an area this size before, all at once. As you can imagine, we were apprehensive with it being such a dynamic environment. It’s hard to co-ordinate one installation let alone having to snag or worse re-lay. We liked the fact that Modul’up is tried and tested to meet all the current standards, but is also much easier to install and is easy to clean. “Secondly, from a subfloor maintenance angle we saw great benefits. The building was constructed in the 1960s, so in certain areas from time to time there are repairs to be done to the subfloor beneath. “With Modul’up you can cut the weld, roll back, fix the floor and re-lay with no patching required. If you have subfloor issues with normal vinyl floor you would have to lift it with the adhesive. This often causes damage to the vinyl and if patching is required then potentially you don’t get a match.” Phase One of the project involved the installation of 1,573m2 of Forbo’s Modul’up Compact in Natural Oak in the general circulation areas and corridors. Creating a fresh, contemporary and airy feel, the wood-effect flooring has been selected to complement the corridor walls, which feature a split wall colour scheme with the lower half painted in a strong, modern graphite grey and the top half in a lighter, almost white, grey.  Also commenting on the specification, Drew McColgan, managing director of Rimick Flooring, the installer, said: “We have worked with the hospital for 15 plus years. The building is old and we often have issues with the subfloor; installing a loose lay product makes it easier for us to access the subfloors for repair without having to patch the vinyl back. It was also quicker for us to install in an environment where time is of the essence. The client is delighted with the appearance of the vinyl too.” The hospital team, Rimick Flooring and Forbo worked together to ensure a smooth install as Drew explains: “Forbo came to visit the site a number of times to meet with us and the client. They attended meetings with screed representatives too and provided expert support throughout with samples aplenty; including a decent sized part roll so the fitting team could familiarise themselves with the product. Jon Rogers, and the customer support team (particularly Jason Livingstone) were there to help us every step of the way.” Drew talks through the installation process and hints at the longer-term benefits: “During the night shifts, the team lifted the existing linoleum, screeded the existing surfaces using a non-ammonium smoothing compound and fit (with set-in skirting detail) from there. Modul’up helped us to save approximately an hour a night, “Going forward, there’s no need to patch areas should there be a problem with the subfloor, and it negates the need to use an adhesive, which is good as it’s odour free and means the floor can be used immediately.”  Providing primary protection at the main entrances, Forbo’s Nuway and Coral entrance flooring systems have been installed too – helping to prevent dirt and moisture from being traipsed indoors. Forbo’s new Coral interior was also installed to complete the hospital entrance flooring system. Looking ahead, Michael Jones, University Hospital of North Tees Project Manager concludes: “So far, we’re impressed with Modul’up. There are other buildings on site which now may also be considered to be refreshed with this loose lay product.”

As a leading entrance matting installer, Andrew Scollan Matting Systems are a trusted partner for Nuway installations across Ireland.Here you can see several examples of Nuway Tuftiguard Black Anodised, which has been expertly installed by Andrew Scollan Matting Systems in offices and entrances throughout Ireland.In line with recent design trends, Nuway Tuftiguard Black Anodised is becoming increasingly popular for customers who wish to combine quality with design, when it comes to their primary barrier matting solution.

Nuway Tuftiguard Classic has recently been installed within a modern office building in Dublin, by the expert installers from Andrew Scollan Matting Systems.Cut into a unique shaped matwell, the classic grey and aluminium aesthetic of Nuway Tuftiguard Classic was chosen to complete the first impression for visitors entering the building, whilst also providing outstanding dirt and moisture retention. As a result, this will reduce the number of accidental slips or falls and protect interior floor finishes.

A temple in Chorley has recently had Nuway Tuftiguard Classic in 17mm closed construction installed by the Northern team at Master Matting. As Nuway is ideal for entrance areas of all shapes and sizes, it was perfect for the design of the architecturally striking building. With three points of access, each with their own set of revolving doors, the rigid entrance flooring system will help to stop the outside from travelling in.Due to the busy nature of the temple, removing soil from soles of shoes and wheel treads was essential in providing accidental slips and protecting interior floor surfaces. Nuway Tuftiguard classic is also reversible, which effectively doubles the lifespan of the entrance flooring.

Forbo Flooring Systems’ Marmoleum was the product of choice for a creative breakout space at investment management firm, Triple Point. With its growing headcount, Triple Point appointed AW Spaces to create an environment that could accommodate the company’s hybrid working strategy, whilst developing a light and warm aesthetic.  Founded in 2004, Triple Point employ 215 people and manage over £2.7 billion of private, institutional and public capital across five distinct investment strategies: Social Housing, Energy, Digital Infrastructure, Private Credit, and Venture. Each of these strategies helps to solve a problem society faces, and each one creates opportunities for investors.  With the company’s increased headcount and the new hybrid working strategy, AW Spaces suggested increasing the size of the breakout area available to employees. The aim was to make this area feel different from the working environment, by incorporating warmer colours with a dynamic flooring design.   Another important aspect for this project was the environmental impact. Lisa McLeod, Design Director at AW Spaces spoke on this, saying: “Sustainability was a big part of Triple Point’s brief. As such, when it came to choosing a floor covering for the space, the sustainability aspect led us to look at products such as Forbo’s Marmoleum. After discussing the sustainable flooring with Triple Point, where I also sent them a concept image of a design, we decided it was the perfect solution.  “Not only did Marmoleum fit the sustainability requirements, but it’s also available in a variety of contemporary designs that match in tone with each other, which allowed us to create a very dynamic space. Additionally, it’s a really nice material to work with, which aided the installation process.”   Forbo’s Marmoleum was specified in Terracotta, Titanium and Vintage Blue from the Marmoleum Walton range, and in Neptune Blue from Marmoleum Piano. Lisa commented on these choices, saying: “We chose these colours as they work beautifully together and coordinated with the joinery so it looked as though those elements rise from the ground. We also really liked the warmth of the Terracotta colourway and the brightness of Neptune Blue, which provided some contrast from eachother without looking disjointed from the joinery they connected to. The choice of colours really helped us to convey the feeling that this space was for relaxation rather than work, with all the colours flowing into one-another nicely.”  This refurbishment wasn’t like a typical installation as there were multiple different colourways which had to be combined in different shapes. As opposed to a typical refurbishment where tiles or sheet flooring is laid; this flooring had to be cut into shape in situ. The finished flooring mixes curved edges with sharp points, with all four colourways meeting towards the middle of the floor then flowing out at different angles around the room.  Lisa continued “The pattern was quite complex, so Forbo recommended an installer called Medifloor to us who could take on this challenge. We had worked with them on a couple of occasions before, so we knew they had the credentials, and they did a fantastic job with pinpoint accuracy!  “We’re absolutely delighted with the finished result and I’d say the breakout space remains my favourite part of the entire project.”  With a unique installation, a specialist approach had to be taken by installers, Medifloor. Jim Gordon, the Director of Medifloor, spoke on this, saying: “AW Spaces gave us this amazing design for Triple Point, which was extremely challenging to create with all the different curvatures. So, to achieve it we actually used computer aided templates which allowed us to cut the perfect curve – something that’s really hard to acheive in flooring.   “Forbo’s Marmoleum Walton was perfect for this, as it’s the only sheet flooring that lends itself to the natural materials used in this project and looks amazing when finished.”  With this method, a creative and dynamic flooring solution was created. With the installation starting in July 2022, Triple Point’s office refurbishment was finished in mid-September 2022 and has been well received by the staff who use it.  Luke Francois, Guest and Employee Experience Manager at Triple Point, concluded: “We asked AW Spaces to create a bright and inviting space, with a focus on using sustainable products and services, and Forbo’s Marmoleum ticked all the boxes for this. We’re happy with the end product delivered by AW, Medifloor and Forbo.” For more information about Forbo’s range of office products, visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/offices  

Our Allura Flex luxury vinyl tiles have been used to great effect in the new offices of Becherovka in the Centrum Stomovka shopping mall in Prauge. Becherovka is part of the Pernod Ricard group, one of the largest producers of spirits and wine in the world. CAPEXUS was given the task of creating an office with a more distinctive and prestigious appearance, one that would be comfortable, feature interesting materials and, last but not least, be practical. The unifying element of the new offices is a more industrial concept. Not to be overlooked is the open ceiling with its visible concrete beams and ducts. The exposed materials in combination with the wooden furnishings and Forbo’s Allura Wood and Material luxury vinyl tiles create a pleasant atmosphere for work, business meetings in the conference rooms and relaxation.

After nearly 30 years without refurbishment, the Paediatrics department at Ormskirk District General Hospital required a new lease of life to be injected into the building. With hospitals in operation around the clock by patients, visitors and staff, it was vital that the new flooring solution offered a combination of optimal performance benefits, whilst being quick and easy to install to minimise both disruption and downtime. Looking for a time and cost saving solution, Southport and Ormskirk NHS Hospital Trust chose Forbo Flooring Systems’ Modul’up adhesive free sheet vinyl for the refurbishment. Easy and quick to install during out of hours, the ‘fast fit’ floor covering delivers outstanding dimensional stability and indentation resistance.

An old Edinburgh Woollen Mill store in Buxton was recently transformed into a bike shop to cater fro the needs of the avid cyclists in the local area. Peak ascent Cycles also specialises in bike servicing and repairs which in turn, results in dirt and moisture from threads of wheels being rolled into the shop on a daily basis. Recognising the necessity to stop dirt in its tracks and protect the shop's shiny interior floor coverings, Patrick Healy, the owner of Peak Ascent cycles had our Coral Duo entrance flooring system installed at the front door. In a green Bellagio colourway- which is new for 2021- the vibrant green shade matches the bike shop's brand colours perfectly and reflects its ethos of nature and the great outdoors. Indeed Coral Duo is proven to stop up to 95% of dirt and moisture from entering a building and can reduce cleaning time by up to 65%.

An array of Forbo Flooring Systems products has been installed within the University of St Andrews’ newest student accommodation building, to help deliver a contemporary and high-end aesthetic that would enhance the students’ experience.

Creating better education environments Primary School De Verwondering is a fully bio-based school building and the first example of a new generation of bio-based school buildings that recognizes and harnesses nature's powerful effcet on learning.The beautiful wooden building - which runs on circular energy - has a vegetation roof with chickens, green facades and remarkably large windows. The primary school recently won the 2021 Golden Frog award for sustainable construction in the Netherlands.The interior and exterior of the school have a positive influence on the well-being and performance of the pupils. The environment outside blends with the natural elements of the building, such as wood and bamboo, while inside the interior architect chose a CO2 neutral (cradle to gate) Marmoleum floor covering. Marmoleum Cocoa is made of natural and renewable raw materials with the addition of a waste product from the cocoa industry and, in that respect, it fits the building perfectly. Marmoleum is one of the flooring industry's most beautiful and also oldest bio-based products.

FORBO’S MODUL’UP VINYL CREATES WELCOMING MATCH-DAY SPACE A unique hospitality space located in Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium, the Riverside Terrace is notable for its move away from the traditional match-day hospitality experience. To create a premium experience, Design and Build Specialists Benchmark Designs called upon Forbo’s adhesive-free sheet vinyl floor covering – Modul’up.  Situated on the banks of the River Taff, the Principality Stadium plays host to a range of events and is renowned as the home of Wales’ Rugby Union team. Working with PSE Wales and Levy UK, Benchmark Designs looked to create a distinctive interior space, capable of offering a premium match-day experience for general admission visitors. Combining a variety of furniture and surfaces with a diverse street food menu, the Riverside Terrace was designed with the city high street in mind, as Hannah Glazier, Interior Designer at Benchmark Designs, explains: “The brief we received for the Riverside Terrace was to take this space and transform it from a traditional food service and interior style, to something with a more up-market feel that had a broad appeal to customers.  “Cardiff’s high street has such a wide range of street food eateries and PSE Wales were keen to incorporate this heritage into the Riverside Terrace, with a different vendor selected to cater each match, along with live music. With such a dynamic environment, we needed products that would complement the usage of the space, providing a practical and refined finish. For this, texture was a really important design element and we wanted to make sure the surfaces we specified would complement and contrast with each other.” With this brief in mind, Hannah looked for flooring solutions that would deliver on the desired aesthetic and feel, stating: “The space itself had a very industrial design, with exposed fixings and a metal-studded bar front adding different textural dynamics. With texture and visual quality in mind, we needed a floor covering that came in neutral shades to match the other finishes, but that could also create a warm and welcoming environment. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Modul’up, in its Concrete and Oak colourways combining the texture and tone of concrete with the warmth of timber.  “The realistic timber appearance of the Oak colourway was ideal for the zoned seating area, while we used the Concrete for the circulation areas, as it nicely matched the design scheme for the walls and bar tops. It was important that we used these complementary colours throughout the entire interior, from wall to floors, lighting to surface tops, helping to create a cohesive and well-rounded space, which feels welcoming yet distinctive.” However, it wasn’t just the aesthetic requirements that were key, but the functionality of the flooring too. Hannah explained: “With a capacity of over 74,000, the Principality Stadium is an extremely busy environment. As such, it was essential that the floor coverings used were able to keep up with the high footfall expected at the venue. This was another reason behind our specification of Modul’up. It has excellent indentation resistance, which was perfect for this space, being able withstand intense usage on match-days. It’s also able to be installed adhesive-free, which made it extremely easy to fit, saving valuable time during the installation phase of the refurbishment.”  She concluded: “Our intention was to create a fun and informal space that was suitable for all demographics to use. We feel we achieved this, with our use of versatile and flexible furniture, wall and floor materials contributing to a relaxed and casual hospitality experience.” Having opened in October 2022, the Riverside Terrace has been put to good use over the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, as well as the 2023 Six Nations, with a PSE spokesperson saying of the new space: “Forbo’s flooring has truly transformed the space, with its exceptional quality, versatile design and hard-wearing nature contributing to a modern and trendy atmosphere. The choice of flooring seamlessly merged functionality with style, making it an ideal option for entry-level hospitality settings. Overall, we’re delighted with the finished project and have enjoyed entertaining our customers in the new space.”  Benchmark Designs’ work on the Riverside Terrace saw the project achieve ‘Commended’ in the 2022/23 iteration of the Forbo Escapes competition. Find out more about Forbo’s Modul’up collection, here: https://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-uk/commercial-products/modul-up-adhesive-free-sheet-vinyl/cum7pa

Forbo Flooring Systems’ impressive digital printing capabilities gave Gilltown the scope to have some real fun with the interior design of new student accommodation in Newcastle, resulting in a scheme like no other – all while providing the performance properties required for a heavily used building.“The flooring played a key role within this project and we were determined to opt for floor coverings that have rarely been seen in this kind of environment before. After working with Forbo on earlier projects, we knew it’s wide range of high-end and quality products, along with its impressive bespoke design capabilities would help us to achieve this.” - James Gillespie, Project manager.

After extensive colour research, Tinto Architecture specified Forbo Flooring Systems' acoustic floor covering, Sarlon, in an array of striking colours, in order to create an interior that had a profoundly positive effect on both patients and staff at The Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital. The array of calming and mood-boosting colours from the sarlon collection is also combined with the benefits of 15dB impact sound reduction and easy maintenance. What's more the project went on to be recognised for a commended award in the 2016/2017 Fly Forbo competition.

The recent fit out of Savills' new Welsh headquarters saw commercial interior design and supply specialists, Imium, enlisted to create modern-day, cohesive working environment, while still adhering to the brand's traditional values. Forbo Flooring Systems' striking Allura Flex Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Tessera Seagrass carpet tiles have played an integral role in the smart new interior. Rhiannon Phillips, Interior Designer at Imium, explained: "The floor comprises of both employee and customer facing areas, therefore it was important that the space was conducive for clients without affecting business as usual . We were notified by the Savills marketing department of the brand guidelines that we needed to adhere to, in terms of finishes, to make sure that the Savills story was portrayed. We took inspiration from the company's heritage and ethos and incorporated different themes within the office based on the various sectors that the firm operates in. For the customer facing area, we used a lot of silk, walnut and a splash of the colour red to reflect the residential sector."

Nearly 500 square meters of Flotex Planks form the basis for a relaxed soccer experience for almost 400 VIP guests in the VIP lounge of the Benteler Arena in Paderborn. Christian Schuster from Freiraum Planungsbüro was responsible for the feel-good ambience. Here, the sports club's holistic interior design concept includes not only a fancy lighting installation but also the creative design of the floor surfaces. "The unique feel of the flooring and its sound-absorbing effect decelerate the atmosphere in the room, " says Schuster, who particularly appreciates the combination of functional and design aspects for Forbo Flooring. It was precisely this combination of the exclusive look of the textile surface and high durability of the flooring that also convinced the sports club SC Paderborn to give preference to the flock flooring. While Flotex planks in a herringbone pattern in three harmonious colourways in the main area, a calm grey tone was chosen for the adjacent lounge and a radiant red tone for the new media lounge. With around 90 colourways, Flotex's broad colour selection offers the opportunity to set colour highlights.

Skanstes City is a brand new, multi-modal campus that provides retail areas and office spaces to many small and large businesses. The Skanstes City believes that the office today is not a coercive tool to control employees, but a convenient, practical and pleasant place to go to work in simpler and more efficient conditions than at home. The Skanstes campus has many public spaces with great design and dedicated recreational areas.Forbo’s Sarlon acoustic vinyl, Tessera Cloudscape carpet tiles and Flotex flocked floors provide a professional and modern look to the various office spaces and contribute to a pleasant working environment.

When charity, Small Steps, secured its new home at the heart of Richmond, it required a warm and welcoming interior environment that would support children living with physical disabilities and their families. Providing the perfect natural canvas, Forbo Flooring Systems' linoleum brand, Marmoleum, was installed throughout the purpose built facility. Spread over three floors of a former office building on Worple Way, the 517 m² site that Small Steps now calls home, was funded through a generous donation. The entire design team – which included JTP Architects, Robert Bird & Partners, MTT Consultants, ISG Ltd, PIP Building Services and P2 Design – worked together, many on a pro bono or reduced fee basis to complete the refurbishment for the charity.

The modern Smart Kids Kindergarten in Gdansk, Poland, is inspired by the Finnish teaching method, now recognised as one of the best methods in the world. The Finnish model is geared towards supporting creative activity. The Kindergarten impresses with an inspiring, stylish interior in subdued colours. On the floor Forbo Sphera homogeneous vinyl flooring has been installed.

"The most modern and largest municipal archive in Europe", Cologne proclaims, is now in their city. The future of the city archive had been uncertain for decades: first due to a lack of space, then came the collapse in 2009. The repository with its fragile treasures lay in ruins. No one expected this kind of new beginning. Through the office Waechter+Waechter Architekten, a new building was erected on a different site. With its opening, the rescued archives, the staff and the users are making a comeback - and a successful one at that. For the architects mastered the merging of two opposites. The transparency and openness of a civic archive is now in harmony with an indestructible security wing for the archives. Bronze and glass enclose the façade, of which there are actually two, because the building consists of an outer and an inner cuboid. The core houses the treasures, while the shell houses the offices, laboratories and workshops, the lecture hall and the foyer, whose interior glass façade provides a view of two atriums and the bronze body of the magazine.The staff offices and the lifts are covered with grey linoleum flooring, because Waechter+Waechter value the flooring as a sustainable and ecological product that meets high hygienic as well as aesthetic requirements and is hard-wearing at the same time. On the outside as well as on the inside, the beautifully ageing material of bronze is used again and again, as great importance is attached to the fact that the materials used haptically tie in with the task of preserving significant testimonies of time. Waechter+Waechter speak of their idea of connecting the areas through the repetition of the materials. This attention to detail is also reflected in the use of linoleum. The stair treads and the custom-made tables made of Douglas fir wood, the benches and the shelves have received an inlay of furniture linoleum "in a pastel moss green" (Bauwelt issue 20.21). Protected, the archival material is placed on gentle material for viewing, the colour tone has a soft effect, which gently dictates the handling of the treasures.

The main building of the NHL Stenden University in the Netherlands has recently been extended. In addition to a focus on sustainability, the architect wanted to stimulate meetings and bring students and teachers together. In the middle of the central hall you can climb, sit, lie and build with the cube-shaped elements. The long wooden stairs and the walls are partly overgrown with plants and the floor features a beautiful green lawn digitally printed on Flotex Vision.Furthermore, BRTArchitecten has created various meeting places and has given the building it its own landscape. There is an area with a corn field, a tropical rainforest and a delta landscape. These landscapes are all also printed on Flotex Vision and thus form a beautiful focal point in the room. In addition to Flotex Vision,Forbo's Flotex Metro and Marmoleum Real were installed within the University Building.The renovation of the Stenden Hotel Management School was completed in December 2019. A beautiful new campus of 4,500 m2 where Flotex has been chosen thanks to its unique combination of design flexibility, acoustics and ease of cleaning.

The robust qualities and unique geometrical design of Forbo Flooring Systems’ Flotex Triad planks has helped to refresh the entrance level of this busy university library in Glasgow.The Andersonian Library, located in the Curran building at the University of Strathclyde, is a public facility for thousands of students and staff across Glasgow’s universities. After years of heavy footfall, the original carpet that was fitted in the reception area and corridors of the library was fast deteriorating and imminently becoming a trip hazard.Dawn McNeil, Building Surveyor at the University of Strathclyde said: “When we saw the carpet starting to fail within the entrance level, we knew that we needed a new flooring solution which would be robust stand up to the high levels of traffic, yet also able to retain its aesthetics in years to come. What’s more, as it’s a busy library, it was important for us that the flooring was also easy to clean, as the floors are very prone to food and drink spillages."

Sunderland Royal Hospital’s Emergency Department has undergone a large refurbishment with a three-storey extension and a new colourful paediatric department featuring Forbo Flooring System’s Marmoleum Marbled floor covering. Designed by P+HS Architects, the new development provides a vastly improved environment for patients and staff, and has been shortlisted for best refurbishment at the 2017 Healthcare Estates Awards. The scheme is also entered into this year’s Building Better Healthcare Awards.The existing Emergency Department building previously housed both the adult and paediatric services, however to make the environment more welcoming for children, the refurbishment has seen the creation of two separate entrances. The children’s paediatric ward has been clearly defined by the use of six bright colours from the Marmoleum Marbled collection.

Inspired by the mountainous views to the west and seaside views to the east, McCarthy O'Hora (MCOH) architects reflected the colours of the natural world that surrounds Temple Carrig School by specifying an array of vibrant shades from Forbo Flooring Systems' Marmoleum range.

Having used Forbo Marmoleum flooring in the original build of the Core building, the Eden Project called upon the durable and sustainable floor covering once more to reinvigorate the recent refurbishment of the area.After years of constant use with around one million visitors a year, the Core building at the heart of Cornwall’s popular visitor attraction, the Eden Project, underwent a major transformation and a new exhibition, Invisible Worlds, was installed.Dr Jo Elworthy, Director of Interpretation at the Eden Project explained: "When we first built the Core in 2005, we wanted to create a sustainable space, so this meant using responsibly sourced materials. We approached Forbo as we wished to showcase environmentally-friendly, sustainable flooring made from natural materials – and Marmoleum seemed like the perfect fit on all levels. As the existing Marmoleum floors had fared so well over the years, we went back to Forbo when we were looking to refresh the building. Again, we needed a floor covering that was made from renewable raw materials, PVC-free, low emitting and carbon neutral, yet would be able to withstand the heavy footfall of visitors that we get each year.”

For The Refinery, a new build student accommodation complex in Leeds, Jasper Sanders + Partners looked to create a fresh and contemporary interior design scheme that underpinned the site’s historic significance. With a variety of activity zones, Forbo Flooring Systems’ Tessera Cloudscape carpet tiles and Sarlon acoustic sheet vinyl were specified, helping to create a fully integrated and striking space that meets the demands of modern student living. The Refinery was a winning project in the Fly Forbo 2020/21 competition.Built on a former industrial site near Leeds City Centre, The Refinery is a 397-room student accommodation complex providing high quality apartments, shared living spaces and a whole host of amenities. Developed by Gregory Property Group and operated by Fresh Student Living, the interior of The Refinery was designed by Jasper Sanders + Partners (JS+P), who worked alongside AHR Architects and GMI Construction to deliver this market leading student accommodation project for specialist investor Curlew Capital.

Capturing the traditional charm of the Tudor period, London-based design studio, Upcircle, designed Chester’s newest student accommodation by taking inspiration from the city’s history and architecture. With the help of Forbo Flooring Systems’ comprehensive portfolio, including its recently refreshed Allura Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) collection, a warm, striking and sophisticated interior was created.