"flooring"

Fairlawns Hotel & Spa is a family-run hotel near Walsall in the West Midlands. A recent refurbishment of their gym facility would see a trio of international flooring specialist Gerflor’s fitness flooring products being specified to ensure that the free weights, cardio and stretch zones would meet the hotel’s high standards. A remit that would be ideally suited to Gerflor’s Powershock 300 and Creation 70 LVT, together with their world-renowned Taraflex® sports flooring.

Youth Zone in Greater London installed a DYNAMIK Komfort Plus sprung sports floor system finished in 2mm Sport PU. This solid synthetic surface finish is ideal for multi-use activity.

The 500sq m of Creation 55 in Sweet Cloud was the perfect solution for the new development, W2 at Wellington House in Cardiff. This LVT vinyl flooring has been specified for the offices and communal areas of this project.

FORBO FLOORING SYSTEMS’ ALLURA DECIBEL AIDS IN CREATION OF DESTINATION OFFICE After over a decade of operation, 299 Lighting decided it was time to invest in a new office space, creating a destination office for its team of lighting engineers. Tasked with revamping a 90-year-old building for this purpose, interior designers Fable and Form looked to Forbo Flooring Systems’ Allura Decibel and Furniture Linoleum ranges to reduce impact noise, as well as providing a warm and friendly finish throughout the office. A former industrial unit that was converted into a bakery in 1946, Cadena House got its name from the Cadena Cafes brand, and has been used for a variety of purposes over the years. 299 Lighting spotted the potential the old building had and purchased it in December 2020, with the view to renovate it completely, reimagining the space into a new team orientated office.  Sara Barnett, Co-founder and Director at Fable and Form, commented on the design brief she received, saying: “299 Lighting wanted to strip back the building to its shell, with the view to maximise the sustainable solutions that could be added to it. With this in mind, they asked for our help to uncover the full potential of the space, as they realised engaging in the design process early would mean their imaginations could be successfully realised.  “When looking at the aesthetic requirements of the design, we took inspiration from 299 Lighting’s branding; balancing the bold and fresh company brand, with the nurturing and supportive attributes of the co-founders. This helped to create an environment which is truly unique and innovative – just like them!” The wellbeing of staff was also paramount to 299 Lighting. With this in mind, Fable and Form’s design team looked for materials that would fit the stripped back feel of the space, whilst also contributing to the biophilic design. Stevie Cleverly, Co-Founder and Director at Fable and Form explained further: “With the aim to create a sustainable and healthy space for 299 Lighting’s employees, it was important that we carefully selected the materials we used in this project. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Allura Decibel Luxury Vinyl Tiles.” A unique proposition in the market, Forbo’s updated Allura Decibel collection meets the demand for stylish, luxury acoustic floor coverings no matter what the application area. Offering 19 dB impact sound reduction, the collection is available in 49 contemporary colourways, which are split between the following ranges: woods, and stones and materials. Stevie continued: “We specified Allura Decibel in a contemporary concrete colourway across the entire first floor for continuity. This decor was in keeping with the building’s original materials and matched the concrete ceilings, which were shot blasted to its original look. Not only this, but with a 19 dB impact sound reduction, unnecessary noise could be reduced in the office, helping to create a better space to work in. “In keeping with our sustainable design principles, we also included Forbo’s Furniture Linoleum into the meeting tables and breakout furniture, providing a warmer and more tactile finish to touch points.”  Forbo’s Furniture Linoleum is a natural surfacing material and has recently been confirmed to be climate positive (cradle to gate) without offsetting. In addition to this, it is antistatic – stopping the build-up of dust and fingerprints on surface tops.  Work on the building began in early 2021 and was finished in seven months, with 299 Lighting saying: “What we have achieved is even more than we envisaged would be possible.” Find out more about Forbo’s solutions for offices, here: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/offices.

Back in 2013 when the Ipswich Basketball Academy based at Copleston Sixth Form College (which is home to the Ipswich Basketball Club) needed to refurbish their existing floor, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 700m2 of their world class Taraflex® Comfort vinyl sports flooring which was installed on top of an existing Granwood floor. By overlaying Taraflex® onto the pre-existing surface, the facility was able to quickly and cost effectively rejuvenate its floor, minimising maintenance costs whilst benefiting from long-lasting durability.Gerflor believe that supporting sports at the grass root level is imperative to ensure that every player and participant, regardless of age and ability, can become champions within their own right. To this end, Gerflor are proud to announce their 2021/22 sponsorship of the Ipswich Basketball Club. This golden opportunity will deliver a much wider social impact: it will help the players to lead healthier lives, to develop new skills for employment and to further engage with the local community in exercise and sporting initiatives.

Covestro AG moved into its new headquarters in the "chemical capital" of Leverkusen at the end of 2020 (with a reduced team due to the pandemic situation). The new administration building of the world's leading supplier of polymer materials, with six floors and modern office space, offers a lot of space and optimal working opportunities for up to 750 employees.As the general contractor for the interior work, Lindner SE handled various trades from drywall construction to subcontractor services. The system walls, built-in furniture as well as counters, doors, ceiling and floor systems were produced in-house. In addition, Lindner Leuchtenfabrik (on behalf of the companies Kinzo and Signify) supplied design luminaires for work islands.Room-high, frameless full-glass walls allow natural light from the atrium into the inner areas. Lindner Life Freeze 137 glass partition wall systems create meeting rooms or "meeting boxes" as places of retreat in the otherwise open campus. Partly designed as curved glass wall elements, they underline the individual design claim and still meet the high static requirements.On an area of more than 12,000 m², you will find above all the Lindner raised access floor NORTEC with sufficient installation space in the floor structure, a high level of walking comfort and for acoustic regulation.For heavy-duty areas, the FLOOR and more® power access floor was chosen, mostly covered with textile flooring. Among other things, 5,400 m² of the Plafotherm® GK HEKDA® heating/ cooling ceiling system ensure optimised acoustics and a good indoor climate in the open spaces. In cooperation with the architects HENN, a modern, light-open work campus was created within 20 months, in which employees can meet and cooperate more easily and efficiently.Completed WorksPartitionsPartition Systems GlassLindner Life Freeze 137Lindner Life Pure 620FloorsCalcium sulphate panelsFLOOR and more powerNORTECCeilingsHeated and Chilled Plasterboard CeilingsPlafotherm GK HEKDA 

Forbo Flooring Systems’ integrated portfolio of solutions played a vital role in helping to achieve a welcoming, stimulating and caring learning environment for the early learners of a new purpose-built nursery in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

Over ten years ago The States of Guernsey in the Channel Islands wanted to source 500m2 of sports flooring for The Guernsey Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre. Taraflex® Evolution sports flooring was specified for their main sports hall.

Hush Acoustics provided an acoustic treatment for the floors within the visitor centre of the first sake brewery in the UK, Dojima Sake Brewery. The client was concerned the excessive impact noise from busy areas would transmit through the floors and affect other spaces. The solution was to develop a floating floor design involving Hush Panel 28.Hush Panel 28 was specified for use within the visitor centre to provide an acoustic overlay floor treatment for the café area, which is above the main visitor centre, to help control impact noise from the busy environment.The specification was developed in conjunction with Alinda Barua from SCABAL Architects (Studio Cullinan and Buck Architects Ltd), which represented an excellent collaboration to arrive at the required acoustic improvements.

Lifestyle Fitness in Manchester faced noise disturbances caused by everyday impacts within their gym. iKoustic came to the rescue with our MuteMat® Gym 70 soundproof flooring tiles, effectively resolving their noise problem.

The Bikram Yoga studio on Bristol's High Street and in Highbury and Islington, London are teaching and learning centres for all things Bikram Yoga. Gerflor's Taraflex Multi-Use 6.2 in Wood was the flooring contractors' choice for these studios.

Becket Keys School specified an area where international flooring specialist Gerflor made a positive difference by supplying some 680m2 of their outstanding high performance Taraflex® sports flooring in ‘Oak’ for the planned refurbishment of the new sports hall.

La Roche Limestone floor tiles are used on the ground floor of this large self build project that incorporates many elements from Stoneworld. Bespoke Limestone floor tiles cut in our masonry workshop incorporate a contrast Spanish black marble tile to build a floor design. La Roche limestone floor tiles are used in various formats throughout this flooring project.

When St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff instigated a recent project to fit-out a new gallery, they needed a flooring innovation that was not only durable but would also look stunning and stand the test of time.Specifying 190m2 of Gerflor’s Attraction® range of fast track flooring in ‘Paraiba’, enabled the museums budgets to work hard for them as they needed a flooring product that was going to be durable over the long term, coping with the processes of exhibition installation and take down, and the daily use of the gallery by a stream of high volumes of visitors.

When the school decided to replace the existing flooring in the main sports hall the aspects of quality, performance and durability took centre stage. The new sports surface needed to be multi-purpose in order to be able to host exams and school functions, so therefore needed to withstand varied usage and heavy traffic. The College turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 590m2 of its world renowned Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring to provide the high performing, multi-use solution it was seeking.

The London Borough of Sutton Council wanted to breathe new life into a number of communal areas in their large municipal office building. For this iconic refurbishment, they turned to international flooring and interiors specialist Gerflor to provide an array of spectacular world class flooring that would deliver outstanding durability and incredible eye-catching designs. Gerflor supplied over 2500m2 of Creation LVT and Gradus Lunar Carpet tiles for this major renovation.Commenting on the Sutton Civic Centre project Paul Sceats, Specification Sales Manager at Gerflor commented, “At the time the Gradus Lunar collection had recently been launched, it would be an ideal product to consider as the natural and neutral tones would blend extremely well alongside the authentic wood-effect planks of Gerflor’s Creation 70 LVT. The client Rob McNaught used these finishes to very cleverly “sculpt” a walkway through the main carpeted area of the reception.”In supplying a superior interiors finish, the Gerflor floorings for this distinguished project would be installed by South-East London- based Specialised Flooring (Bromley) Limited. Ian Hook, Company Director at Specialised Flooring said,” Our client is extremely delighted with the finished result. Specifying Gerflor products, is for us, a natural choice as they offer a vast range of flooring in a fantastic array of contemporary colours and designs, which are suitable for many demanding applications.”

A recent refurbishment by Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire was instigated to redevelop their retail visitor area to expand its offer for visitors. It was an expansion plan that would require 400m2 of high-quality flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

Forbo Flooring Systems' Flotex flocked floor coverings played a vital role in bringing the outside in during the design of an extra-care housing scheme, for Southampton City Council. The result is a design that ensures that the residents have a bright, healthy and hygienic environment to live in.

Stoneworld provide an extensive range of beautiful natural stone flooring, perfect for any home or setting. This client chose our popular La Roche acid-etched limestone interior flooring for their home, including their kitchen, conservatory, utility room and dining room.

In cooperation with local partner L-Group, Lindner was responsible for the production and installation of the flooring systems: a total of almost 22,000 m² of the FLOOR and more® G30 and FLOOR and more® G40 hollow floor systems were installed. Despite its low weight, the dry hollow floor impresses with excellent properties in terms of load-bearing capacity, acoustics, fire protection and sustainability. For the server rooms of the administration building, particularly high demands were placed on the floor: Lindner NORTEC G38 ST and VENTEC S38 R38 raised floors were used here ‒ the extremely stable raised floor panels provide the necessary ventilation via the cavity.

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.

In July 2010, The University of South Wales (USW) in Treforest had the foresight to install 923 m2 of Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ and ‘Blue’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was also partnered with a Gerflor Taraflex® Combisport system for a new building located at their Sports Park. It was a vision that would prove to yield fantastic results for the next eleven years.Taraflex® Performance is available in 17 colours and 3 wood-effect designs as standard with an addition of 110 solid colour options available. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45%. and is also treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment so that no polish is ever required for the lifetime of the floor. The Taraflex® Combisport system is ideal for installations requiring a low-profile floor for a vast range of new build and renovation projects.

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.

The natural aesthetics, durable performance and extensive colour palette of Forbo Flooring Systems' Allura Wood luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) collection have all played a significant role in creating a contemporary, stand- out environment for Evoo, a new 'barzeria' in Barnsley, Yorkshire. 'Evoo- The Barzzeria' is a pizzeria and bar, which combines authentic Italian cuisine with Britian's popular cocktail cultur, forming the worlds first 'barzzeria'. Set in a once prominent building that was left derelict for years, Julie Poulter Interior Design (JPID) was tasked by restaurant owner, Jaz Boparai, to design 'the best looking bar' in Barnsley. Subsequently, the project was awarded 'commended' in the Fly Forbo competition 2018/2019.

The only BBA accredited commercial gutter lining product available in the UK. Specialist roofing company APS Safety Systems chose Sharman's Plygene Gutterline system as the permanent solution for the complex gutter lining work at Headlam Flooring’s offices in Scotland.

DYNAMIK Sport are proud to have supplied and installed the world class competition sports flooring at the EIS. DYNAMIK has expertise in providing world class training venues for top athletes and creating facilities that are designed to enhance top sporting performance inclusive of wheelchair sport. The Elite Training Centre, home of Team GB Wheelchair Basketball, houses DYNAMIK’s sprung engineered oak flooring. This is an ideal surface for wheelchair users to aid the glide of wheelchairs as the low rolling resistance of sprung systems finished with a solid ‘non-spongy’ playing surface, allows chairs to easily glide across the floor.

St Columba’s is one of Scotland’s highest achieving schools, and the need to replace the flooring within its Junior School’s multi-purpose hall and two corridors located within the school’s extension, has brought the refurbished areas into the 21st century. Gerflor’s Taraflex® Multi-Use was the flooring product most suitable for the hall renovation as it combined the aesthetic, hardwearing and safety characteristics wanted. Whereas Gerflor’s Mipolam Elegance vinyl sheet flooring with the best abrasion resistance group T rating and high stain resistance for heavy traffic use was ideal for the busy corridors.

Kingham Hill School was originally built by the Christian philanthropist Charles Edward Baring Young in 1886. Today, with just over 340 pupils, it caters for both girls and boys aged 11-18. When it was decided to replace and re-develop the main sports hall at Kingham Hill, the aspects of quality, performance, looks and durability would be pivotal in the final flooring specification. The school turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 770m2 of its world renowned Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in Blue and Pink to provide the high performing, multi-use solution it was seeking.

This large project installed DYNAMIK Komfort Elite in their Performance Sports Hall, Fitness Studios and Multi-Use Sports Hall. Complementing the floor they chose DYNAMIK Solid and Acoustic (Perforated) Sports Wall panels in Galiano Oak CPL wood-effect finish.

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."

"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.

Cavendish School in Hemel Hempstead, a Specialist Sports school, were having a new purpose built Sports Hall constructed during their summer break. Gerflor’s Taraflex Sport M Plus flooring was their preferred option as it provides their users with a safe, technically advanced sports floo

Over 360m2 of Attraction® interlocking tiles have been installed in the main assembly hall at Mary Immaculate High School, Wales. Delivering an outcome that would be both visually stunning and practical for this extremely busy school was a challenge well-met by Cardiff-based Trefoil Interiors, who turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor. Peter Incledon, Senior Estimator at Trefoil Interiors commented,” We chose Gerflor’s Attraction flooring tiles as it can be easily overlayed on a Granwood composite floor. After speaking with our Gerflor representative we were confident in the Attraction product, as it has been successfully installed in several other locations where an existing Granwood floor required a fast-track covering solution.” Tony Thorne, Sales & Specification Manager, Gerflor commented, “I am absolutely delighted to have worked on this project alongside Trefoil Interiors. This project has been a great success for such a prestigious educational facility”. Peter Incledon also added, “we always recommend Gerflor flooring whenever we can, we trust their tried and tested solutions for all markets.” Gerflor's Attraction® range is a perfect solution for renovation, it is a fast track loose lay vinyl tile with interlocking edges which allows for rapid installation and replacement.

When the Tunstall Trade Park complex near Stoke-on-Trent had a requirement for over 700m2 of flooring they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply a mixture of Creation 55 Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Gradus Lafite Connect Space carpet tiles to provide a stunning finish for the project.For permanent installations Creation 55 Dryback provides the perfect solution on prepared subfloors and is ideal for new projects. When an installation needs to be removable, then Creation 55 Looselay with its exclusive construction is the answer.Gradus Lafite Connect Space features a linear design and is available in both tile and plank format offering variety and the opportunity to produce unique floor schemes.

We were called in by the client to look at supplying engineered wood flooring throughout the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Pavilion at Hampton Court.This prestigious private residence “The Pavilion at Hampton Court,” was the traditional summer residence of the royals, and is the only surviving example of four garden pavilions built by Sir Christopher Wren for William III between 1700 and 1702.The building is Grade II listed and we supplied our unfinished engineered wood flooring for the main areas of the house, and our engineered herringbone basketweave for the library. The fitters we recommend did all of the installation and finishing on site. We supplied our specialist flooring for wet areas in the swimming pool area.

When Dundee-based architects Jon Frullani wanted to refurbish their own Grade B listed office they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 250m2 of their Creation 70 LVT Dryback vinyl flooring in ‘Deep Forest’.Creation 70 LVT is a synthetic, decorative, flexible, antistatic abrasion group T floorcovering available in tile or plank, with bevelled edges. It consists in a 0.70 mm thick transparent wear layer, a design film, and a Resilient Comfort Core to provide softness and comfort surface.The LVT flooring has been used throughout the practice including the offices, communal areas including corridors, staff break-out areas, recreation space and the kitchen.Jon Frullani, Architect, and Company owner commented, “We specified Creation 70 LVT from Gerflor as it was the most suited product for our bespoke requirements. In fact, there is not one level floor in the entire building and the Creation 70 LVT has coped very well in this challenging situation.”