"carpets tiles"

Russell Roof Tiles provided Galloway tiles for a Social Housing project in Bristol.

For this busy educational building with high footfall, the Unexpected Purpose modular carpet offers rich saturated colour and excellent wear performance. Its Comfort Lite cushion backing also provides additional sound absorbency, particularly important for the quiet study areas in this building. The LVT floor coverings provides the recreational areas with a hard wearing, practical solution and the perfect urban aesthetic.

Russell Roof Tiles supplied Vistry Partnerships with 20,000 Galloway tiles in Anthracite for a £11.8m independent living apartment complex for over 55s in the heart of Northwich, Cheshire. Vistry Partnerships, the UK’s leading Partnerships business work with local authorities, housing associations and investors to create lasting relationships and deliver vibrant, sustainable places to live.

This project involved a penthouse with a huge roof terrace. The existing deck was dilapidated and needed complete replacement. The existing decking needed to be lifted, cut up and removed. The terrace was jet-washed and sealed. Using ipe tiles on top of adjustable pedestals keeps the tiles out of standing water and creates space underneath for cables, etc. Rooftop terraces are difficult to access. 500x500mm timber tiles are much easier to manually handle and transport than long plank decking. The tiles aren’t fixed to the pedestals, making them future-proofed.

UltraTile are delighted to have played a part in the restoration of The White Swan – a pub based at the heart of Gressenhall Green, Norfolk.BackgroundThere has been a pub at the heart of Gressenhall Green for over 250 years but when the doors sadly had to close in 2018, and with the threat of the land being redeveloped for housing, the local community took it upon themselves to raise the necessary funds to transform their much-loved pub and reopen its doors once again.The ChallengeThe ‘Save our Swan’ community project has ambitious plans for the pub. Builders and volunteers have been hard at work stripping out the old fixtures, redesigning the interior space to provide more room and better facilities, and renovating the Cartshed to install a wood-fired pizza oven and dining area.The Gressenhall Community Enterprise have done a tremendous job in raising the funds needed to restore and revitalise The White Swan. For the project to be a success, and to ensure funds and volunteers’ time are used most effectively, it was crucial that the materials used throughout the restoration were reputable, trusted and guaranteed to perform.Dereham Tiles & Carpets, flooring specialists with over 20 years of knowledge and expertise, recommended the use of UltraTile for all tiling installations.The SolutionUltraTile was delighted to be part of such an important community project and was more than happy to donate 50% of the adhesives and grouts needed, free of charge.UltraTile ProLevel One was used to prepare the subfloor in the main pub and Cartshed, ready for installing the Jaipur Heritage antiquated limestone tiles with ProRapid RS tile adhesive and ProGrout Flexible grout.Formulated for depths up to 60mm in one application, ProLevel One deep fill floor leveller incorporates a blend of specially graded fillers, cements and polymers to offer a rapid curing profile for early fixing of tiles, even at thicker depth applications.ProRapid RS is a flexible rapid set tile adhesive specially formulated with enhanced adhesion and flexibility. These properties make ProRapid RS an ideal choice for use in wet areas, with underfloor heating systems and for installing porcelain, mosaic and natural stone tiles.Available in 12 colours to complement popular tile choices, ProGrout Flexible has been formulated using ColourShield Technology for a vibrant and long-lasting finish with all tile types. Polymers have been added to the formulation of ProGrout Flexible to increase flexibility and to provide a virtually impermeable set.Results“Brilliant, quality product that complements our limestone floor and adds to the character of our community pub”. Rosie Begg, Secretary at Gressenhall Community Enterprise.There is still work to be done at The White Swan but with the hard work and dedication of the local community, the doors to this much-loved pub will reopen for business around Easter 2022.

Nike Store in London. Bespoke Terrazzo tiles

For the JD Sport store in Newcastle, the Derby Terrazzo Untamed tiles selection exemplified our commitment to merging style with sustainability. Covering an area of 245m², the flooring transformation brought an elevated aesthetic and robust functionality to the space.

Tiles used: Light grey base/ green medium chip

Developers Bovis Homes needed a tile that would be sympathetic to the natural surrounds.

Hoffman Tiling & Bathrooms, New Romney, Kent is a trade member of the Tile Association, they worked in conjunction with Dural to renovate and tile a bathroom of a new oak barn for Edridge Green Bespoke based in East Sussex. 

Over the past decade, the Capital Quarter redevelopment has provided more than 370,000 ft² of new office space and will eventually accommodate more than 3000 staff. It is already home to Finance Wales, Alert Logic, WSP-Parsons Brinckerhoff, Network Rail, Home Office, Public Health Wales and Opus Energy.The wider Capital Quarter scheme is well on track to delivering over 1,000,000 ft² of development including residential, café and student accommodation.No 4 Capital Quarter, the eight-storey canal-side landmark office building designed to BREEAM Excellent, is the fourth building to rise in the prestigious development in the heart of the city’s Enterprise Zone. The building incorporates the occupational density of open floor plates to suit the current and future needs of modern office occupiers as well as a central atrium, high-quality reception, sixth-floor roof terrace and ground-floor retail and leisure units.SolutionsThe Aruba Tegular15 mineral tiles had already been used by main contractor JR Smart on the previous office projects and were specified, with their approval, for this latest, 96,870 ft² Grade A building which is now home to Sky UK, legal firm Geldards and financial services company Optimum Credit.Some 11,000 m² of the Aruba panels were supplied to No 4 by the Cardiff branch of distributor Nevill Long and installed on the 2.7 m floor-to-ceiling heights by specialist sub-contractor 2nd Generation Facades.Fully recyclable, Aruba is the next evolution in ceiling tiles. The tiles provide a balanced acoustic performance of up to 0.65 αw, Class C sound absorption, and a sound attenuating performance of up to 39 dB. The perforation design of Aruba is unique to standard tiles, creating a smooth, contemporary finish.JR Smart construction director Gareth Smart said: “It has been a great 12 months at Capital Quarter which is testament to the commitment and hard work of the whole Capital Quarter development team, including our professional advisers and sub-contractors who I would personally like to thank.”

A&L Tiling Ltd are based in Caerphilly and offer a professional tiling service, which includes mosaics, bathrooms and kitchens. They are also members and award winners of The Tile Association. They were asked by their client to provide a splash back for a new kitchen renovation. 

In 2015 Robertson Partnership Homes was a start-up business within the group and this development was their first development on site and they have gone on to deliver numerous developments of a similar nature for most of the large local authorities and housing associations in Scotland.Russell Roof Tiles provided 100,000 Grampian and Pennine tiles in Anthracite and Terracotta colours.

More than 5,000 m² in porcelain stoneware for Germany’s largest leisure pool – Villeroy & Boch tiles in the Stegermatt Swimming Pool in OffenburgSport, wellness and leisure spanning more than 10,000 m² – the largest leisure pool in Germany, Stegermatt Swimming Pool in Offenburg, opened in late July 2017. Along with an outdoor area with 50-metre swimming pool, wave slide and adventure pool, indoor visitors can look forward to a fitness courses pool, a teaching pool, a diving pool with two diving platforms and a 25-metre competition pool. The sauna landscape comprises a variety of saunas, a steam bath and a cold-water area with adventure showers and a plunge pool. The developers for the project were the City and Technical Operations of Offenburg. 4a Architekten of Stuttgart were the architects in charge of planning for the project. The tiling work, with a volume of EUR 2.5 million, was performed by the Freiburg subsidiary of Fliesen Röhlich GmbH; with a staff of around 300 professional layers of tile and natural stone, the company is considered the largest tile specialist in Germany. For an entire year, this major project in Offenburg had 15 employees working constantly, increasing to 25 in peak periods. As a result, in spite of at times difficult weather conditions, the work was completed on time.  With the exception of the swimming pools themselves, the entire bathing level, including the changing rooms in the interior of the facility, was designed in the X-PLANE range of vilbostone porcelain stoneware by Villeroy & Boch Tiles. The range features a trendy concrete look with fine colour gradations. Spanning an area of 5,000 m², cream-coloured tiles in the two modular formats of 30 x 60 cm and 15 x 60 cm were laid in a brickwork-effect pattern, creating a space with a harmonious and at the same time vibrant look. Another approx. 600 m² of matching mosaic tiles were also used. With the special 5 x 5 cm format and a slip-resistance class of R10 they are suitable for use in shower areas.

Humber Enterprise Park is an 86-acre site in Brough, East Yorkshire developed on the site previously owned by BAE Systems. Gradus carpet, matting and stair edgings (fitted using Gradus Grip) were used throughout. "Using Gradus Grip adhesive for fixing down the Gradus GTX51 & GXT11 profiles at Humber Enterprise Project was more cost effective as it is quicker than mechanically fixing each nosing, it also shortened the installation time as the adhesive sets quicker so there is no need to shut the staircases off for long periods." Nic Clawson Assistant Project Manager, Sandhurst Flooring

Gradus supplied stair edgings, barrier matting and carpet to the New Look Support Centre at the Weymouth Gateway development. Committed to retaining its local presence and historic links with Weymouth, fashion retailer New Look underwent regeneration of its Mercery Road site as part of the Weymouth Gateway development. The purpose built New Look Support Centre is a modern three-storey building located at the entrance to the development. The finished look is one of clean modern elevations, substantially glazed to maximise the use of natural light and make the most of the spectacular view from upper levels.

Russell Roof Tiles supplied 27,000 black Galloway tiles for a total of 27 homes on the unique island community project of St. Mary’s Island, Kent.

In the new Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD) showroom in Woking, Surrey, tile products by Saint-Gobain Weber have been specified for their new 400m² sales facility which includes an extensive showroom and trade counter.Relocation of Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD) from their original showroom on the junction of Goldsmith Road and Church Street West to Kestrel Road a few miles away was brought about by the £150m redevelopment of Woking town centre."The relocation of CTD has not presented a problem," says Rob Stevens, manager, CTD Woking. "The showroom looks brilliant – it's bigger and better, and our trade custom has definitely increased. We also attract lots of private customers who enjoy the simplicity of the large sample displays and the huge variety of tiles for every location."Several site visits were made by Weber's tile specialists to inspect the floor substrate and identify the appropriate materials. The floor was prepared with weber PR360, a multi-purpose priming solution suitable for most building substrates including wood, anhydrite, plaster and cement/sand screed. This primer regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion and the flow of levelling compounds.High performance, fibre-modified weberfloor flex was then applied which is a self-smoothing and self-levelling compound suitable for most substrates. It has rapid setting qualities and can take light foot traffic after just 3 hours. It is also one of the many products in the Saint-Gobain Weber range to feature Low Dust Technology™ which makes it cleaner and more comfortable for the applicator to use.Large format GEMINI Young Stone tiles in grey were set with weberset rapid plus ECO which is a very rapid strength tile adhesive for low porosity tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain and natural stone, and has been specifically developed to allow easy bedding of large format tiles. It is suitable for use on solid substrates and is ready for grout in only 2 hours. The new ECO formulation contains cement replacement technology which reduces the product's environmental impact of initial excavation and contributes to a significant reduction in transportation costs.The CTD Woking showroom floor was grouted with weberjoint wide which is suitable for very wide joints from 2-20mm. This is a cement-based floor and wall grout which gives a coarse textured finish. It has the added benefit of Mould Stop Technology which ensures lasting protection from mould growth, it's also abrasive-resistant and available in seven colours.As part of Woking's redevelopment, the bandstand, fire station and market place will all be demolished to make way for a new complex featuring shops, apartments, parking and a hotel. On the old CTD site a brand new state-of-the-art fire station is to be developed providing additional space and working areas for the crews and an improved training facility.

The Valentino Untamed tile installation at Westfield, Stratford is a testament to our ability to blend ecological responsibility with modern design demands. This project not only revitalizes the retail space but also aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver top-tier, sustainable flooring solutions that meet the exacting standards of today’s commercial spaces. Project details: Location: Westfield, Stratford, London Product: Valentino Untamed Tile Dimensions: 448mm x 448mm x 20mm Total Area: 245m² Type: Retail Floor  At Terrazzo Tiles, our expertise in creating sophisticated and sustainable flooring solutions was showcased spectacularly in the recent renovation of a retail space at Westfield, Stratford. The installation covered an expansive area of 245 square meters with our Valentino Untamed tiles, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the environment. The Valentino Untamed Selection Chosen for its exquisite design and durability, the Valentino Untamed collection features an impressive array of large grey and white marble chips . This eye-catching pattern not only adds a layer of sophistication to the retail space but also resonates with the modern consumer looking for style and substance.  

CJH Tiling Services, has 10 years of tiling experience, their business covers all aspects of tiling, including kitchens, bathrooms and floors. The client’s brief was to seamlessly join two areas of tiled flooring, one upstairs and one down. They wished for a seamless flow throughout, giving the stairwell a light and airy feel whilst being hard wearing and practical.

Tiles used: 9001 - Mid grey base/ grey and brown chips, 50cm*50cm*2cm Honed 80 9001 - Mid grey base/ grey and brown chips, 50cm*50cm*2cm Sandblasted R11 Size of project: 500m2

A thick tile floor covering meant a reduced floor section buildup, plus reduced construction joints to aid tiling. Ground floor 45mm Gyvlon ECO over 90mm insulation on a beam and block substrate First Floor 45mm Gyvlon ECO on a precast plank substrate. Gyvlon was used to reduce the floor build on both floors plus reducing the need for construction joints. This gave the client more flexibility on the thick floor coverings and eased installation with reduced construction joints.

Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry was selected for the LIDL method of tiling which consists of compact-vibration floor tile fixing, in the new LIDL store in Bently, Doncaster. Smet Supported Partner, Core PIC Ltd, selected the superior quality German-made, RS 648 Vibration Slurry for its flexibility as a bonding slurry in the installation of stone and ceramic tiles, making it ideal for using in vibrated floor systems (or indeed conventional methods). The tiling was carried on on behalf of main contractor PDR Construction.In preparing the floor to LIDL spec, the floor screed is placed and struck off to required levels and pre-compacted using a straight edge. The bonding layer, namely Sopro RS 648 vibration slurry, is applied to prepared and pre-compacted floor screed and ceramic tiles are immediately placed with tightly butted joints to LIDL spec.After installation of a vibratable area (10 – 20 m², depending on situation/ambient conditions and resultant setting behaviour of floor screed), a surface vibrator is passed over floor covering and tiles vibrated into the adhesive bed. When sufficiently set, hardened and bonded joints were grouted with Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile grout.Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry is a one-component, fibre-reinforced, polymer-modified, trass-bearing, cementitious bonding and contact slurry. Applied as flexible bonding slurry for installation of stone and ceramic coverings using vibrated floor system or conventional methods. It’s ideal for slurry application technique. Sopro RS 648 is particularly suitable for laying tiles with low water absorption (fully vitrified stoneware). For laying large-format units (30 cm × 60 cm) using vibrated floor system. It can also be used as slurry-applied bonding layer on substrates and on bedding adhesive.Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile Grout is a flexible, trass-bearing, cementitious tile grout, meeting CG2 WA requirements to DIN EN 13 888. Suitable for grouting ceramic, fully vitrified stoneware, natural and cast stone coverings and glass block assemblies. Rapid set for low-suction tiles, with specially tailored joint-filling properties and first-rate washability (removability). Particularly suitable for balconies, patios and in conjunction with floor heating systems (UFH).The product’s special properties and SMET’s superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry and Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile Grout. Smet Building Products Ltd is committed to delivering high-quality products to the construction of LIDL stores.For more info on our range of SMET Professional Tiling Products.PDR built the new LoF (Lidl of the future) store in Bentley Doncaster. The 23,000 sq/ft store with its striking design will help to increase Lidl’s market share and see their profits continue to rise in the UK. The Bentley store will be PDR’s 10th new build store for Lidl.Related DownloadsTDS Sopro RS 648 Vibration SlurryTDS Sopro FL 526 – Flexible Tile GroutSmet Professional Tiling Systems Brochure

A large new housing development in the East Midlands required a roof tile that would match with the traditions of the local area.

The comprehensive tile installation at Lina Stores in King's Cross exemplifies how Terrazzo Tiles combines aesthetic elegance with practical functionality. This project not only enhances the visual appeal of the space but also demonstrates our capability to handle large-scale, high-demand installations that stand the test of time. In a significant flooring and worktop overhaul at Lina Stores in King's Cross, Terrazzo Tiles was tasked with installing 1500 square meters of our Birmingham Untamed tiles. This extensive project was not only about achieving a stylish aesthetic but also about ensuring longevity and sustainability in one of London’s most frequented culinary destinations. Birmingham Untamed: A Statement in Durability and Design The Birmingham Untamed tiles are renowned for their robust and striking appearance. With dimensions of 60cm x 60cm, these tiles were selected to accommodate the heavy foot traffic of the restaurant while providing a sleek, modern look. The versatility of the tiles made them an excellent choice for both flooring and worktop applications, creating a cohesive visual flow throughout the premises. Project Execution and Impact This installation at Brill Place required precise coordination and execution, given the bustling nature of King's Cross and the operational demands of Lina Stores. The larger tile size facilitated a quicker installation process and fewer grout lines, leading to a cleaner and more streamlined appearance. The choice of Birmingham Untamed tiles for this project reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, durable materials that meet the functional needs and aesthetic aspirations of our clients. The tiles' natural resistance to wear and ease of maintenance ensure that they will uphold their pristine condition despite the high traffic and frequent use. Sustainability and Performance Consistent with our environmental ethos, Birmingham Untamed tiles are made from natural, sustainably sourced materials. Their production process is designed to have a lower environmental impact, aligning with our goals of reducing the ecological footprint of our projects.   

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, and Styccobond F48 PLUS temperature tolerant fibre-reinforced adhesive have enabled a fast-track LVT installation as part of barn conversions to create three holiday cottages in rural Nottinghamshire.Flooring contractors installed floorcoverings in bedrooms, open-plan living and dining areas and corridors of three previously disused farm buildings of varying size, a total area of over 200m2.Work began by sanding down the new concrete bases, which had been installed as part of the renovation of the properties, by mechanically preparing them, removing any laitance, contamination, dust and debris, to leave a solid, sound, micro textured surface to receive floor preparation products.A moisture test was undertaken by one of F. Ball’s technical representatives to ensure that the building’s subfloors were dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Surfaces were then primed using Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer to promote the application characteristics of subsequently applied subfloor preparation products.Stopgap 1500 AquaPro was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings. Fast-setting and fast-drying, it is walk-on hard in as little as 60 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings from just four hours. The product uses the latest technology to offer a water-mix smoothing underlayment that can be applied over old adhesive residues, including bitumen, carpet tile tackifiers and ceramic tile adhesives. As it is moisture resistant, it can be applied to damp subfloors prior to the application of a waterproof surface membrane.Flooring contractors then used Styccobond F48 PLUS to adhere 7-inch wood-effect vinyl planks in each of the three cottages. The temperature tolerant adhesive holds floorcoverings in place when subject to high temperatures, which may be an issue as a result of solar gain caused by large patio doors. This can cause tenting and gapping at the edges of vinyl floorcoverings as a result of repeated expansion and contraction over time. Fibres in the adhesive also provide high initial grab, a benefit when installing LVTs.Commenting on the project, Anthony Holmewood, fitter at Forester Flooring, said: “Using Stopgap 1500 AquaPro meant that we could complete the work in less than a week. We opted for Styccobond F48 PLUS to install LVTs mainly because we like the adhesive, but also for the reason that floorcoverings are exposed to direct sunlight in some areas.”

INNOVATIVE OFFICE INSTALL CREATES STYLISH AND SUSTAINABLE SPACE Forbo Flooring Systems’ Allura Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) range was specified by design and fit out company, Oktra, to transform an office building into a stylish and modern workspace. It was also installed adhesive free using IOBAC MagTabsÒ, to help achieve Akoya’s sustainability requirements.  Oktra were recruited by Akoya and Brunswick Property Partners, to repurpose an office building to create a vibrant and attractive space for young professionals and entrepreneurs to work in. Formally known as Knollys and Stephenson House, the building will be rebranded as Mosaic East, a comprehensive refurbishment of one of East Croydon’s most iconic office developments.  Typically, carpet tiles or exposed raised access flooring are the go-to solution in these scenarios, however with a premium design required, Oktra opted for something different, as Danielle La Porte, Designer at Oktra explains: “Akoya wanted to create a range of category A office suites that would be memorable to tenants, while also meeting sustainability requirements. With this brief in mind, we specified Forbo’s Allura Flex LVT, which is available in range of elegant colourways and wood effect designs – perfect for this project! “We wanted to add some brand identity within the category A suites, so we decorated some of them in a light pink colour with linear LED lighting, and other suites in a light sage green colour. To complement the colour palettes, we chose Allura Flex LVT in the Light Honey Oak shade. We then asked the flooring contractors, The Commercial Flooring Company, to install the planks in a beautiful herringbone pattern to really enhance the aesthetics of the space.” However, appearance wasn’t the only area of concern, with Akoya also conscious of the sustainability requirements. Danielle addressed this, saying: “The aesthetics of the flooring weren’t the only thing we had to keep in mind, we also had to ensure that whatever floor covering we specified would meet Akoya’s sustainability aims. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Allura Flex, as it can be easily installed adhesive free, using IOBAC MagTabsÒ.” IOBAC’s innovative MagTabsÒ provide a two-dimensional hold, with one side being magnetic and the other a dry-tack adhesive. This means they can be easily magnetised onto metal raised access flooring, like those at Mosaic East, and the chosen flooring simply placed on top, negating the need for traditional adhesives. Ian Spreadborough, Founder and Director at IOBAC explains further: “Our MagTabsÒ essentially allow flooring contractors to quickly place floor coverings down onto raised access flooring, without damaging the substrate or the flooring itself. The phrase we use is ‘hard to shift, easy to lift’. The idea is that the flooring is securely fitted but can then be lifted back up to be reused elsewhere, or simply be replaced by another floor covering further down the line. “Oktra approached us as they had used our MagTabsÒ on a previous project and had been extremely impressed by their performance, so were keen to use the product again. Additionally, Forbo’s LVT and carpet tiles are approved for use with the MagTabsÒ, making it the logical choice. On top of this, Brunswick, who own the raised access flooring itself, were keen to maintain the condition of its asset, so, the tabs served a double purpose, protecting both a heavy carbon embodied asset, in the raised access flooring, and Forbo’s floor coverings.” Jon Cochrane, Director - Asset Management & Sustainability at Brunswick Property Partners, commented on the use of IOBAC’s MagTabsÒ, saying: “Cleaning adhesive residue off sub-floors in between leases is often messy, expensive and time-consuming. In some cases, the raised access floor panels are so badly contaminated that they must be completely replaced, something which isn’t sustainable, environmentally or financially.  However, using IOBAC MagTabsÒ to install floor coverings removes this issue completely. This means that our asset, in this case the raised access flooring, is protected and kept damage-free for longer-term usage.” It wasn’t just the sustainability benefits that drew Oktra towards MagTabsÒ, with the installation benefits of the tabs also a deciding factor. Daniel Hassan, Operations Manager at The Commercial Flooring Company, commented on this, saying: “Thanks to IOBAC’s MagTabsÒ, it took a team of three fitters around five days to install 900m2 of flooring in a herringbone pattern, which is challenging to install and would have taken much longer to do through traditional methods. This provided a great time saving and allowed the other trades to work around us whilst we fitted the flooring.” The time saved during the installation stage meant the project as a whole was able to be completed in just 10 weeks, a quick turnaround for such a large job. Danielle concluded: “We’re really happy with the finished project, as are Akoya; the flooring looks amazing and we’re delighted to have been able to get it fitted so quickly, as well as meet Akoya’s important sustainability aims.” To find out more about Forbo’s offering for office spaces, please visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/offices.To find out more about using IOBAC MagTabs, please visit: Adhesive-free Flooring Installation System - IOBAC MagTabs® | IOBAC | NBS Source (thenbs.com) 

With a height of up to 110 m, the impressive Elbphilharmonie rises up on around 1,700 reinforced concrete piles. The architects from Herzog & de Meuron have placed a curved glass facade made up of more than 1,000 differently curved window elements on the brick Kaispeicher A, a former warehouse for cocoa, tobacco and tea. Their shape is reminiscent of giant horseshoes and tuning forks and creates unique mirroring effects. The concavely curved roof evokes impressive wave crowns with shimmering sequins.The heart of the Elbphilharmonie is the legendary concert hall, which literally floats at a height of 50 meters – decoupled from the rest of the building for sound insulation reasons. Its acoustics, for which the Japanese Yasuhisa Toyota, one of the world’s most renowned acousticians, is responsible, are overwhelming: the “White Skin”, which owes its name to the around 10,000 gypsum fiber panels on the walls and ceilings, and a reflector in the middle of the vaulted ceiling for optimal listening pleasure in each of the 2,100 seats. Functionally and aesthetically reliable tilesIn addition to two other concert halls, the building is home to 45 apartments, the freely accessible plaza at a height of 37 meters with a 360° panorama over the city and a very special hotel. The “The Westin Hamburg” extends in the eastern part of the building from the 6th. floor to the end floor on the 20th floor. In the 244 exclusive rooms and suites, discerning guests will encounter Villeroy&Boch tiles: mosaics from the PRO ARCHITECTURA series are integrated into the design concept by Tassilo Bost, bost group berlin. The calm, puristic interior design plays with the themes of sand, air and water and combines a linear design with a flowing design language. The pure white small formats of just 2.5 x 2.5 cm with a matt surface give the designer space for individual bathroom designs. The minimalist ceramic tiles underline the exquisite room atmosphere in a reserved manner and without pushing themselves into the foreground.“The Westin Hamburg” also includes a 1,300 m² fitness and wellness area. In addition to training options, saunas, steam baths, two fresh air loggias with a view of the Elbe and the harbor, treatment and relaxation rooms and a lounge, the Elb Spa offers the longest indoor hotel pool in Hamburg at 20 m. The swimming pool was also designed with PRO ARCHITECTURA. Villeroy&Boch Tiles has been a proven and reliable partner for planners and architects in swimming pool construction for many years and, in addition to modular tile series, offers them all the additional molded parts for a functionally high-quality and at the same time aesthetically sophisticated swimming pool. PRO ARCHITECTURA is also used in the staff rooms for the approximately 160 employees, who look after the well-being of hotel guests from all over the world at “The Westin Hamburg”.

Cembrit, leading cladding and building board specialist has launched Unipan, a versatile tile backing board which is ideally suited for internal ‘wet’ applications. Unipan is lightweight, tough, and stable, and offers a solid base for tiling through its excellent adhesion properties. The boards are manufactured from a material that is a mix of cement and aggregate, which also contains polystyrene beading to reduce the weight of the board allowing for easy on-site manoeuvrability and quick installation. Unipan features flat, reinforced tapered edges that are specifically designed for a good join, which is critical in wet applications such as bathrooms.

The project comprised of a large scale installation of Square GRC concrete floor tiles in two contrasting colours. Large Hazelnut tiles with Anti-slip Sandblast finish were laid around the main reception are. The remaining floor areas we resurfaced with Silver and Hazelnut tiles in Silk finish to emphasise the predominantly neutral colour palette of the interiors and the existing concrete structures which were left exposed.The tiles were manufactured using our special GRC BTX concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. We used our unique eco concrete mix technology with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption and staining. The challenges for this project were working with such large tiles that were pre-cut and only allowed for minor adjustments on site but the project was completed to a high spec for the client.This project was also featured in Architecture.com in Awards and Competitions section. Read more here: Riba London Award Winners.

The ChallengeFounded in 1432, Sevenoaks boarding school is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country with some of the buildings dating from the 17th Century. The client requested an easy-to-use, energy-efficient underfloor heating solution in rooms of different uses across the school that would have a negligible impact on floor heights. The installation of the system would also have to be considerate of the historic nature of the building.The SolutionDue to the need for a low floor build-up and with a project featuring a mix of floor finishes, our Foil Heater was the ideal choice for an easy-to-use and quick to install underfloor heating system. The Foil Heater is perfect for use with the school’s carpeted and wooden floor finishes and was installed in conjunction the Dual Overlay System when fitted with the carpeted flooring for a stable subfloor solution that can handle heavier load areas. Warmup’s StickyMat System was installed throughout the school’s bathrooms, which can be fitted directly within the layer of tile adhesive or levelling compound, therefore having little-to-no effect on floor heights. Our Tempo Thermostat was installed for accurate floor heat control alongside overall control by a Building Management System.The ResultThe beautiful and historic Sevenoaks Boarding School has now been given a 21st Century update with a responsive Warmup heating solution that didn’t substantially raise floor heights. The staff and pupils can now enjoy radiant warmth throughout the year, leading to better comfort levels and therefore a happier space in which to study and work.

In the heart of London's dynamic Kings Cross area, Google's first purpose-built office in Europe stands as a testament to innovative design and environmental sustainability. Covering an impressive 1,000m², this project required a flooring solution that matched Google's ethos of innovation, quality, and sustainability.  Snowdonia Essential Plus Terrazzo tiles, chosen for this project, feature a subtle off-white base with varying sizes of grey and white chips. This modern engineered marble is not just about aesthetics it boasts exceptional quality and sustainability credentials, being LEED-certified. This certification underscores the tiles contribution to energy efficiency and environmental design in buildings. Google's new London HQ, envisioned by renowned architects Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group and brought to life by BDP, reimagines the traditional office space. The design prioritizes a low-rise structure that harmonizes with the urban landscape of King's Cross, emphasizing subtlety and consideration in every aspect. Being part of the creation of Google's groundbreaking London headquarters was an opportunity to showcase our commitment to quality, sustainability, and design excellence. The Snowdonia Essential Plus Terrazzo tiles not only complement the aesthetic vision of the architects but also contribute to the building's overall sustainability goals. 

We were contacted by a customer in Bucharest trying to source our Ipe Timber Tiles. He was concerned about durability as Romania has extremes of hot and cold, and torrential rainfall. We reassured him that even with a minimum gap drainage would be sufficient and the suspended tiles system would ensure longevity. He selected the Ipe timber tiles mounted onto fixed height 14mm Plastic Pad. To protect against the extreme weather the tiles were then treated with a generic wood preserve on site, giving them a rich, luxurious finish and producing the "treasure chest" George Ezra would be proud of. https://www.wallbarn.com/case-study/timber-tiles-cata-romania/

The office “G+P Muller architectes” designed a total of 94 rooms, including classrooms, laboratories, workshops and studios. The Lycée also has its own swimming pool, sports halls and a canteen kitchen with an attached cafeteria. The straight-lined architecture, which uses daylight in a variety of ways and cleverly leads into the building, is captivated by a fresh color concept that takes on an aesthetic and structuring function throughout the building.In order to harmoniously adapt the swimming pool, sanitary areas and canteen kitchen to the color concept, the architects chose two tile series from Villeroy&Boch: PRO ARCHITECTURA and UNIT ONE. In addition to the necessary technical properties for public kitchens and wet areas, the PRO ARCHITECTURA series in particular offers a professional color and format system.For the sanitary area, the architects chose orange, which also appears in the school’s logo, as well as red and white, using several of the system’s modular formats. The swimming pool area is designed around the pool with specially anti-slip tiles from the PRO ARCHITECTURA series. In the surrounding areas, the swimming pool is divided into the colors light and dark gray, which harmonize very well with the concrete elements and the wooden ceiling.

We were approached by a porcelain tile supplier who needed to elevate porcelain tiles around a new build property in Wales. Initially concrete was used to create a base. However the weight of the concrete bent the lintels. The installation proved very challenging due to such a dramtic fall over such a short distance, creating a severe 5% slope. Fortunately our ‘Balance’ self-leveling range of adjustable pedestals provided the answer. Our service team are on call to advise and support installing contractors throughout their project, including site visits.

To showcase the product range, the Airport Center features an impressive spatial concept, in which the tile design from the X-PLANE collection of V&B Tiles was impressively staged. In X-PLANE’s design composition, the original appearance of a cement surface is enhanced with a metallic glimmer. This enhancement of the surface leads to a variety of stylistic possibilities, which were used to enhance the atmosphere in the showroom of Mercedes Benz. As a high-quality and durable floor covering, tiles from Villeroy&Boch also meet the requirements for maximum functionality, capable of withstanding the weight of cars and enduring high visitor frequency.Images ©: AirportCenter of the Mercedes-Benz Berlin branch