"in situ concrete floors"

The LEED v3 Platinum building features a 15,000 sq m RMG medium grade access flooring system by Kingspan Data & Flooring. At the end of 2021, it was Dublin’s highest commercial office building at 17-storeys.

55 Whitehall was previously a Government occupied office space. This iconic building has undergone a complete re-design. There was existing steel encapsulated raised access flooring throughout. Rather than remove or replace the raised floor, it was retained. Hugo18 was specified here to use as an overlay solution to the raised access floor. It offers a non-combustible, high performance substrate for a range of finishes, in this case - ceramics

Renowned for its colourful, bold designs, JA!COCO! has transformed Beer52’s Edinburgh office into a glorious dynamic, flexible and bold space, highlighting the beauty of the Georgian townhouse it is situated in, whilst embodying the brand’s strong identity.As the world’s biggest beer subscription service, Beer52 wanted an office space that was colourful and playful – the crazier JA!COCO! went, the better! Taking inspiration from Roald Dahl and David Lynch, the office space now boasts grand, arched-entrance swing doors, beer taps on receptions and floor-to-ceiling custom window blinds – to name just a few. On the first floor, an eclectic zig zag flooring design has also been created, using Forbo’s Flotex Colour range in the Melon (a burned orange shade) and Crystal (a heather-like hue) colourways. In fact, the colourways influenced the colour scheme for the office space, with similar shades adorning the walls, ceilings and swing doors.JA!COCO! also chose to install Forbo’s Allura Click LVT planks in the Blond Timber colourway throughout the hallway and kitchen spaces, to complement the more ‘stripped back’ décor, which has an almost bar-like atmosphere.

SubFloor acoustic flooring was used to renovate, raise and acoustically dampen a 828 m² floor into 12 luxury apartments near Nottingham city centre.This simple and elegant solution raised an uneven floor up to 300 mm to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height. Acoustic feet were mounted onto the SubFloor screws for acoustic damping between apartments.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmScrew Foot AcousticHeight Variation: 73 - 323 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.86 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced VitamidePolyamidePoint Load 50 x 50 mm: 5.3 kN12.84 kN/m² - Between screws12.73 kN/m² - Next to screw over joist[According to SS-EN 1195:1998] Acoustic Damping: Up to 28 dB[rating according to ISO 717-2]

FORBO’S PORTFOLIO COMBINES QUALITY WITH AFFORDABILITY   Alumno, a specialist student accommodation developer, conceived and delivered a sophisticated and welcoming space for Element Bermondsey, a new student accommodation overlooking Bermondsey Spa Gardens. To do this, Forbo Flooring Systems’ Sarlon and Safestep floor coverings were specified, for their technical and aesthetic qualities.   Operated by CRM Students, the UK’s leading independent student accommodation management brand, Element Bermondsey provides 143 students living in Southwark with high-quality, fully serviced and sustainable accommodation. Greenaway Architecture and Tatham Studios worked with Alumno, to create contemporary spaces for the increasing number of students coming into London to study.   Greenaway Architecture and Alumno took the reins when designing Element Bermondsey, as Ron Plunz, Development Director at Alumno explained: “We had agreed a palette with our funding partner during our initial design meetings, which we had presented to them in a CGI format. We then took this vision and fine-tuned it to get a much clearer idea of the direction we wanted to go in.   “When designing student accommodation, we usually opt for a neutral theme as there is a mix of cultures, ages and people living under one roof. By choosing a contemporary yet neutral palette, it provides students with the freedom to make the spaces their own.”  Not only was it important that Alumno created a space that allowed the residents to express themselves, but it was also key that the building met sustainability requirements. Ron explained further: “We really wanted and needed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ with this building. As such, one of the factors we wanted to address was noise levels, to create healthy and comfortable spaces for the students. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Sarlon acoustic floor covering; with a 19 dB impact sound reduction it exceeded the requirements needed for this accreditation.”  Forbo’s Sarlon 19 dB was specified in two different colours for this project. Ron explained: “We used Sarlon in Silver Concrete for the hallways and kitchen areas and Anthracite Nairobi in the bedrooms; both are deep greys, which offer an attractive, neutral baseline for the rooms, whilst providing some warmth to the spaces. I like to use products with some natural patterns like stone, concrete or textile weaves as it can serve a dual purpose of forming a pattern, whilst also helping to hide marks, which keeps the room looking smart.  “Forbo’s Sarlon offering fits this perfectly as it is available in a range of natural patterns and a versatile range of colours. We always use Forbo as its product range is just so varied, full of aesthetically pleasing designs that fit the technical requirements we’re looking for.”  Not only this, but the XtremePUR finish ensures Sarlon delivers improved scratch resistance, which is important for student accommodation as it endures heavy use across an academic year. Additionally, Sarlon is phthalate free, minimising the impact it has on the residents’ wellbeing.  Furthermore, Forbo’s Safestep product was used in the ensuite bathrooms, offering a good level of slip resistance. Ron continued: “Obviously resident safety is extremely important for these types of projects. So, for this reason, we needed a floor covering that could satisfy our health and safety requirements, but one that didn’t look industrial. Forbo’s Safestep was the perfect solution, with the contemporary Lava colour, which is a dark grey shade with hints of green running throughout it. It suits the neutral palette of the room, but also provides a good level of slip resistance.  “Forbo has a wide range of options available. In fact, there’s a solution for all applications, which makes our job easier, as we don’t have to use multiple manufacturers. Instead, we can purchase all the floor coverings we need from one company.”  CRM Students welcomed students into this latest scheme at the start of the 2022 academic year and has received positive feedback from the residents and press.  For more information about Forbo’s product range for student accommodation, visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/studentaccommodation  

Project was part of an office refurbishment, with the carpet installed throughout the general office space, breakout and meeting areas. Plank carpet tiles replicate the size and shape of contemporary planked flooring. Selected Array in Black and Broadrib in Graphite to complement 4D Contract Flooring’s corporate colours.

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 refurbishment of Edinburgh College’s busiest campus, its FM team called upon Forbo Flooring Systems’ Modul’up adhesive free sheet vinyl for its unique ability to be installed quickly and easily, while reducing downtime and disruption to day-to-day college life – as the floor covering could be walked on immediately after installation.

When an Academy school in Northamptonshire needed to replace their dated and dangerous Granwood sports hall floor with a spectacular new ‘fit for purpose’ indoor sports surface, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 400m2 of their world class Olympic standard Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports floor.At Rushden Academy, they recognise the importance of Physical Education (PE) and the role it has to play in promoting long term, healthy lifestyles and making apositive impact on physical, mental, and social health.Installing the new Gerflor flooring would need to be undertaken by a flooring company that could deliver an excellent finish worthy of both the school and the quality flooring specified.

When Jazzercise Studio Owner Sarah Sydney-Sheppard moved her business into its own purpose-built facility in the Southernhay area of Exeter she turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to provide 200m2 of their world-renowned Taraflex® Multi-Use vinyl sports flooring for both the main studio and reception areas.

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.

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.

The Metropolitan Police Workshop in Rainham, Essex, was built to maintain the police's vehicle fleet and needed a durable floor for heavy use. Resin Floors Telford installed Arturo's seamless, slip-resistant epoxy resin flooring system, specifically the Arturo EP2500 epoxy self-smoothing floor and EP3910 slip-resistant sealer. This resin flooring provided a robust solution for the 2000m² facility, supporting the maintenance of over 3500 vehicles. Arturo's quick installation system ensured minimal disruption and enhanced the workshop's functionality.

A Raised Floor System was nominated for this project in order to ensure full access to cables / services within the flooring. This provides greatest flexibility for the long term function of any commercial building. The stunning design was created by Sheppard Robson Architects who won a design competition in 2005 to create this building. The site was developed by Linkcity with their sister company Bouygues UK as the Main Contractor. Bathgate Flooring was appointed to manufacture, supply and install over 10,000m2 of PSA steel encapsulated panels to create the raised floor system over 7 floors.

The renovation of a vinyl sports floor represented a saving of around 50% against the cost of a new floor and was completed in just five days. Working through deep cleaning, wet sanding, removing the sanded slurry from the floor and then neutralising with clean water, the surface was ready for the first coat of Bona Pure Colour to the centre section. Two coats of each colour were applied, followed by sports lines and a final transparent coat to seal the surface. The Bona Floor Care Program renovates and totally transforms the floor with new colours and graphics.

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.

Formica Group is a leading provider of branded, designed surfacing solutions for commercial and residential customers worldwide. When its North Shields factory had some serious issues with an existing corridor flooring, the company turned to a local flooring supplier to suggest a suitable solution, which ultimately saw Formica Group specifying 300m2 of Attraction® fast track vinyl floor tiles from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

FORBO’S PORTFOLIO HELPS CONNECT RURAL UNIVERSITY TO COUNTRYSIDE ROOTS Situated in the countryside near Milton Keynes, Cranfield University recently added five new blocks, including a new central hub for the students, to its campus. As the communal area was the standout aspect of the project, Magna Designs Interiors utilised Forbo Flooring Systems’ Flotex planks and Allura Flex luxury vinyl tiles to help connect the university to its countryside heritage. Speaking about the project, Emma Barnes, Interior Designer at Magna Designs Interiors, said: “While the five new blocks were a new part of campus, the university didn’t want them to stand out too much from the existing buildings. Everything had to fit in and look like it belonged, whilst still having a contemporary feel. I worked with the contractor Watkins-Jones to form a basic design idea and then we got to work. The brief the client gave to me was for a modern space, one that gave a nod to the nature around them but also prioritised comfort.” Magna Designs Interiors went with what Emma described as a soft industrial design with exposed pipework in the ceiling and metal framework detailing, but then opted for something to slightly soften that look for the flooring: “We needed something that was comfortable but also hard-wearing and Forbo’s Flotex ticks both those boxes. It almost doesn’t look like a textile floor covering, especially with the designs we used for the project, but it provides great underfoot comfort. We went with this soft industrial look in the communal area, using Flotex Concrete in the Storm and Cloud colourways. This provided a really neutral look. While we combined the Storm and Cloud colourways to break up the design, I knew I wanted to mix this up even further.  “It’s for this reason that I also used Flotex by Starck. It has this nice neutral base which fits with the soft industrial theme, but then transitions from the base grey shade to a crazy and colourful pattern, which I really enjoyed. I’ve worked with Flotex before as it’s been around for years now, but it’s exciting to see how Forbo has reinvented it with their new designs, especially with their designer ranges like Flotex by Starck.” Alongside creating a comfortable and homely feel, Emma was also tasked with giving a nod to the open green spaces that surround the campus. She commented: “We wanted to link the project back to nature, as the university is situated in this beautiful, peaceful countryside area. I used Forbo’s Allura Flex planks in the areas where students could sit together on these sofas, which had earthy tones like browns and greens. It really brought the outside in and we felt it grounded the place in nature, which the campus obviously is! The Allura Flex planks have this lovely wood grain look, which fit in with the overall design but also helped to break up the greys of the Flotex tiles. I even used bark from the surrounding trees on some of the walls, which linked in with the grain of the planks.” Conscious that sustainability is high on many specifier’s agendas, this was another reason behind the specification of Flotex. Flotex is made using 100% renewable energy and the normal Flotex planks are made of 49% recycled content by weight, making it a good sustainable choice. Allura Flex is also made using all renewable energy and contains 24% recycled content by weight. What’s more, both ranges have a long-life cycle – key for education design, where products are needed that can survive for many years with minimal maintenance or upkeep. Emma concluded: “I’m really happy with how the place looks; I feel we definitely captured the essence of what was requested. Everything came together very nicely, and I cannot recommend Forbo highly enough. Elizabeth Bushell, the Account Manager I worked with, was so helpful and had some constructive ideas, suggesting products for me to use. I’m still hearing good reports about the new student central hub now, a year on from completion of that area of the project, so it’s stood the test of time so far!” The final handover of the project was completed in April 2022, but the communal area was completed over a year ago. Magna Designs Interiors’ work on the communal student hub saw them win ‘Highly Commended’ at Forbo Flooring Systems’ 2021/2022 Forbo Escapes competition.All images were produced by Cranfield University  For more information about Forbo’s solutions for the education sector, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/education or to enter the 2022/23 Forbo Escapes competition, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/forboescapes

When Ashington Academy’s sports hall required updating, the school decided to replace its existing Gerflor Taraflex® sport flooring with a ‘like-for-like’ Gerflor flooring as the floor, which was still fit-for-purpose, was a little jaded after four decades of demanding use.

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."

V&A Dundee, the £80 million museum rated ‘Excellent’ at its design stage BREEAM assessment, was designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates with PiM.studio Architects and James F Stephen Architects. Maurizio Mucciola, Director at PiM.studio Architects: “Kingspan RMG600 and Attiro was used on the second-floor circulation, foyer and galleries. The raised floor and Attiro system was chosen to provide flexibility, especially to the gallery spaces which might need to be reconfigured for different exhibitions.”

Project/location Aula Magna Università Torino –University of Turin in North West Italy is one of the oldest Universities in Europe but continues to play an important role in research and training, ranking 3rd in Italy for Universities covering these activities. This new build project in a lecture theatre in the faculty of Journalism and Literature project was part of ten-year construction project on the University site. For a modern floor finish in keeping with the design of the building a seamless finish was required – in total 301 m2 was installed in October 2020 with the Sherwin-Williams SofTop SL system and 61 m2 of Resuflor HB epoxy floor coatings.The concrete screed sub-base was poured in August. A comfort floor type finish was requested which would have sound absorbing characteristics and have a soft touch. The products being used needed to have extremely low VOC (volatile organic compound) content and have no smell when being applied. The finishing coating of the SofTop system installed was Resupen WB Colour which carries the Eurofin Gold certification for indoor air comfort which confirms that the product fulfils low odour product emissions.Product/technical spec including mechanical grinding and application of angle profiles using epoxy screed including the vertical parts.Following preparation Resuprime pure epoxy resin primer was applied at 400 gr/sqm and broadcasted with a 0,3-0,5 silica quartz to enhance intercoat adhesion with the resin topping. Once cured the SofTop SL polyurethane self smoothing floor system was installed, which uses a body coat SofTop SLR Flex with a UV stable seal coat of Resuflor WB Colour. Under the seated areas an application of a scratch coat using Resuflor HB was applied at 600 g/sqm which was abraded and then another coat of Resuflor HB Ral 7038 applied at 800 gr/sqm. Steps and walking areas were installed with SofTop SL system in Ral 7038 at 3000 gr/sqm to provide 3mm thickness.   The whole area involved sanding the vertical parts to remove roughness of epoxy screed and drops of the resin from horizontal application. This involved using sandpaper with grit 60 to horizontal surfaces and vacuum this ready to be coated. An application of 75 gr/sqm of Resupen WB Colour Ral 7038 was applied. SofTop floors provide extreme durability and robustness, yet retain a soft and comfortable finish which is modern and attractive for diverse applications. Designed with footfall and wear in mind the finish is so tough it’s suitable for industrial areas as well as commercial and domestic facilities. The SofTop range offers a choice of 3 flooring systems providing varying thicknesses with degrees of bounce and flexibility.SofTop SL used at Turin is typically installed at 2-4 mm thickness and is recommended for industrial and commercial areas subject to normal traffic. The system has a high wear resistance, high chemical resistance and medium resistance to shocks. The floor is suitable for dry areas such as schools, laboratories, corridor areas, electronic companies and health care facilities, etc. Where footfall occurs SofTop finishes are good for the back due to the soft impact effect. With many traditional hard floors, regular users can find they experience difficulties with back issues from walking on an unyielding surface. The soft finish provided with SofTop systems provides sound absorbing ergonomics, improving the acoustic properties of the building and reducing acoustic impact on other areas of the building. Systems deliver thickness for strength but with a soft finish which has excellent resistance to sharp objects, impacts, shocks and dropped objects, minimising the chance of remedial repairs being required. Being self smoothing polyurethane SofTop is one of the fastest ways to lay a flooring system and to create a beautiful and durable foundation that completes a construction or refurbishment. The SofTop floor systems available can be ready to receive traffic after only 24 hours. Because Sherwin-Williams systems are seamless and impervious to handle humid conditions, spills that stay on the surface can be easily cleaned and hygiene maintained, with no contamination. 

When Gloucestershire NHS Commissioning Group decided to replace an existing healthcare facility in the centre of Gloucester, over 3000m2 of flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor was specified to complete the project to the highest standards. The project would demand high quality flooring that could meet and exceed the rigorous demands of this new healthcare facility head on.The main contractor Kier Construction would, through Newcastle-based ADP Architecture, specify a mixture of Gerflors’ Taralay and Tarasafe flooring solutions to produce the final high-quality flooring finish that the new build healthcare project would require.Gerflor have an enviable history in designing and manufacturing high quality flooring for the healthcare market. It’s a reputation built on expertise, knowledge, and innovation. With over 60 years’ credible healthcare experience, Gerflor is a respected manufacturer of innovative, high performance, design-led, and sustainable solutions for flooring, and interior finishes.Andy Gordon, Healthcare Specification Manager - North commented “This was a greatly prestigious project to be involved in, alongside our architectural and installer partners. The client is absolutely delighted with the outcome, both in terms of the fast turnaround of the project and the technical performance of the products installed.”

SubFloor Outdoor Flooring was used to help renovate and raise a 650 m² roof into an outdoor terrace in Västerås, Sweden.This was built on top of the existing roof felt and used high-quality pressure impregnated wooden joists to create an even surface, level with the rest of the building. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.Products:Pre-treated Wooden Joist 45x70x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmSubFloor Screw FootHeight Variation: 90 - 339 mmJoist separation: c/c 300 mmSystem Weight - c/c 300 mm: 10.72 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamidePoint Load Limit (50 x 50 mm):Load next to screw over joist edge - 21.74 kNLoad between screws over joist edge - 16.43 kN

On the fourth floor of the Royal Opera House is a fourth floor decking area of around 600sqm. Originally a rest area for staff at the Royal Opera House, the decking area was to be re-purposed as part restaurant, part relaxation area, part meeting space and part open air dance training studio. Alfresco Floors were commissioned to supply and install the Grad Decking System supplied by Alfresco Floors. The finished deck is part of a major transformation of the Royal Opera House by Stanton Williams and has been open to the public from September 2018.

Brynteg School in Bridgend, Wales had an urgent need to refurbish their incredibly tired and dated linoleum floor in the main sports hall. The project would be a perfect ‘fit’ for international flooring specialist Gerflor who supplied their Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Performance sports flooring, together with their Taraflex® Bateco protection system.The installation of the Gerflor flooring would be the responsibility of Cardiff-based Puma Floors Ltd. Matthew Graves, Commercial Director, Puma Floors Ltd, commented, “We have previously installed both Taraflex and Bateco before, they are extremely easy products to work with. The final result and the sports hall look amazing, and the client is delighted with the final finish. We would certainly choose to specify and install Gerflor again.”The main sports hall at Brynteg School also provides sporting facilities for a host of wheelchair sports which makes Gerflor’s Taraflex® the ideal choice when it comes to comfort, safety, and performance. Taraflex® sports floorings are recognised all over the world for all types of sports. cushioned floors, with high IPI values, are key features for sitting volleyball and other sitting sports.Commenting on the Brynteg School project Tony Thorne, Gerflor Specification Manager, South Wales said, “This has been a formidable project to be involved in and hugely fulfilling to see our first-class sports surface really delivering on both performance, comfort, and safety.”Taraflex® sports flooring has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Approved by many National and International governing bodies as a world class sports surface, it is also widely installed within the education, community, leisure, health, and fitness sectors.

When Edinburgh Gin wanted to open its latest pop-up store in Edinburgh city centre, they tasked Exhibeo VM to design a store which reinforced the company’s branding, whilst creating a lasting visual impact. Using a colourful, textured look to elevate the customer experience and entice shoppers into the store, Exhibeo VM specified Forbo Flooring Systems’ adhesive-free Modul’up range in the Coral Terrazzo colourway, to bring the vision to life. After being based at the nearby Frederick Street, Edinburgh Gin decided it was time to go all out and form a brand new, flagship-style destination shop, which prompted a move to the nearby Hanover Street. Arantxa Garcia, Creative Consultant Designer at Exhibeo VM, said: “We wanted to create a pop-up store similar to the existing premises on Frederick street, but almost step it up a bit, moving more towards the feeling of a flagship store. It would be a place where people could go for an experience. We added a mini tasting area too – a space where customers could come in, sit down and enjoy some of the amazing gins on offer. We also wanted to display the products in a zoned fashion to make purchasing easier for customers. “In line with Edinburgh Gin’s brand guidelines, it was important that the shop was colourful and that the colours used helped to evoke thoughts of the botanicals used in the gin distilling process.” With the bottles of Edinburgh Gin lining the walls, Exhibeo VM opted for a candy pink theme to run throughout the shop, with brightly lit wall-mounted shelving and extravagant designs in the glass windows.  The glossy pink theme is aided by Forbo’s adhesive free Modul’up flooring solution in the contemporary Coral Terrazzo colourway – a pattern and texture that is slightly reminiscent of the ingredients used to distil the gin. Arantxa commented on the design choice, saying: “We really liked the finish of the Modul’up sheet - it has this amazing Terrazzo pattern which goes nicely with the candy aesthetic that runs throughout the shop itself. The flooring definitely pulled the design together; it gave us the continuity we wanted. We had specified coloured LEDs to be placed behind all the shelving, to really enhance the colours of the gins and the flooring brought that whole colour palette together.” Forbo’s Modul’up range wasn’t only chosen because of the contemporary colourways it is available in, but also because of how easy the installation is. Typically, flooring is the first port of call for most projects, but Forbo’s Modul’up was installed last on this project, thanks to its quick and easy installation. Arantxa explained: “We actually did the installation in reverse; usually flooring is the first thing installed in a project, but in this case, it was the last thing we put in. It took a team of four installers - recommended by Forbo – just five hours to install in the morning of the grand opening, as it is installed using Forbo’s unique double-sided tape – another big reason behind the choice of floor covering.” Forbo’s Modul’up range can also be easily removed and is immediately ready for recycling via Forbo’s Back to the Floor scheme. The ease of removal also allows the flooring to be reused if needed, reducing waste further. And with no adhesive used, the substrate remains clean meaning the flooring can be replaced without time consuming and expensive subfloor preparation. The Edinburgh Gin shop on Hanover Street was awarded ‘Commended’ in the Forbo Escapes 2021/22 competition.  For more information about Forbo’s Modul’up range, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/fastfit or to learn more about the Forbo Escapes competition, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/forboescapes

The German company Knauf Integral was able to prevail against competitors with its GIFAfloor DB green raised floor system. A maximum flexible and individual floor due to the interchangeability of the individual panels, a non-combustible building material with A1 classification and the unproblematic recycling due to the lack of plastic edging, as is used in conventional raised floor elements, were decisive for the selection.Flexibility, health in the workplace and sustainability in construction - the 'Tour Alto' in Paris La DéfenseIn the Paris suburb of Courbevoie, in the office district of La Défense, the foundation stone was laid for the 'Tour Alto' - a 160 m high skyscraper which, after its planned completion in 2020, will have a usable area of 51,200 m2 next to countless offices, numerous restaurants, bars and fitness studios etc. will accommodate. For the floor structure, the property developer decided on the double floor 'GIFAfloor DB green' from Knauf Integral, paying particular attention to the aspects of flexibility, health, environmental protection and sustainability in buildings.The 'Tour Alto' office tower in the west of Paris extends over 38 floors and is part of the high-rise backdrop of the La Défense office district. Nevertheless, Bouygues, one of the largest property developers in the world, is setting new standards in construction: installed products not only have to be as flexible as possible in their design and use, they also have to meet high standards of sustainability and environmental compatibility as well as the highest health standards for people, who will do their jobs there every day.A maximum flexible and individual floor due to the interchangeability of the individual panels, a non-flammable building material with A1 classification and the unproblematic recycling due to the lack of plastic edging, as is used in conventional raised floor elements, were decisive for the selection.In addition, health and environmentally friendly aspects were the absolute focus of the project for the property developer: The selected product must contribute to excellent indoor air quality and all materials that come into contact with the indoor air should have A + according to French in terms of VOC and formaldehyde emissions Emission class to be rated. GIFAfloor DB green elements have exactly this A + certification - the decisive advantage compared to the commonly used raised floors with chipboard supports that contain formaldehyde. Independent (building) biological analysis laboratories also prove the excellent quality through their tests: Eurofins certifies the product as suitable for indoor use, and the Institute for Building Biology in Rosenheim gives the verdict " recommended ''. This ensures a healthy working environment for employees.With GIFAfloor DB green, Knauf Integral offers a sustainable and health-friendly double floor solution for flexible, high-quality commercial interior design. The elements consist of the homogeneous gypsum fiber material GIFAtec and are available in different thicknesses depending on the requirements.

The DYNAMIK sprung system finished with a solid sport linoleum allows the space to not only provide high performance sporting opportunities for alumni, but could be utilised for non-sporting events such as meetings, community groups and social occasions, due to its high indentation resistance and durability. DYNAMIK Sports have built a strong reputation for providing class leading internal sprung sports floor systems and are Sport England & BS EN 14904 compliant. DYNAMIK are the official sports flooring suppliers to Basketball England & England Netball.

At Bangor University in North Wales, they are proud of their sports facilities. So, when the university had a necessity to replace the flooring in two of their main sports halls, they naturally turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply over 1300m2 of their world class Olympic standard Taraflex® sports flooring in ‘London Light Blue’ and ‘Maple’ to complete the flooring aspect of the refurbishment project.The replacement indoor flooring surfaces would include both Taraflex® Comfort and Taraflex® Evolution from Gerflor, they would prove to be a perfect fit for both halls. The improved Taraflex® Evolution product, of which approx. 625m2 has been installed in the Hall 1 facility at the university, is safer, better performing and offers even more protection than the previous flooring that had to be replacedCommenting on the project Sam Wallwork, Head of Sport, Bangor University said, “We have previously used Gerflor before and have always been really impressed by their high-quality products and high levels of customer service.”David Hebblethwaite, Specification Manager (North), Gerflor commented, “Specifying both the Taraflex® Comfort and Taraflex® Evolution surfaces for the desired locations, delivered the optimum choice for the client in terms of comfort, performance, and safety.”Overseeing the installation of the indoor Taraflex sports flooring in both sports halls would be tasked to Llandudno-based flooring specialists Linney Cooper. Lance Haldane, Office, and Accreditation Manager, Linney Cooper commented, “From the beginning of the installation and right up to the very end, the project ran very smoothly. Gerflor’s Taraflex sports flooring is a prestigious product, and our installation team had no problems when installing it. We now recommend it to our customers when and where applicable”

In specifying the all-important flooring aspect of the project Blue Jelly would select some 113 sq m of Creation 70 LVT flooring from international flooring specialists Gerflor. This amazing range won the 2017 CFJ/CFA Product of the year and their Creation 70 product scooped the coveted Red Dot Design award last year, which is akin to receiving a ‘Design Oscar’.

When Colchester Academy in Essex required a new sports floor for their main hall and their dance studio, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for an Olympic pedigree solution. For this prestigious education establishment, Gerflor would supply a total of 552m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring for the sports hall, and 258m2 of their Taraflex® Combi 85 System in Evolution for their dance studio.

The Gym Group benefitted from Tarasafe Ultra H2O, Vinyl Safety Flooring and GTI Max, Fast Track Vinyl Flooring in its extensive health and fitness facility.

Introducing the ultimate solution for a safer and healthier workplace - R-Tek Manufacturing's modular PVC safety floor!Our safety floor is specifically designed to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls, ensuring that your employees can work confidently and without worry. Made from high-quality PVC material, our safety floor is extremely durable and resistant to wear and tear, making it an excellent long-term investment for any business.Not only does our safety floor provide excellent slip resistance, but it's also incredibly easy to clean and maintain. With its hygienic surface, our safety floor is perfect for environments that require high levels of cleanliness, such as hospitals, laboratories, and food processing plants.Installing our safety floor is quick and easy, with minimal disruption. With its modular design, you can easily replace damaged tiles without having to replace the entire floor.We offer a combination of colours to differentiate between areas such as walkways, racking areas or wheeled traffic zones, however we can also print your health and safety messages on our award-winning R-Tile range.The R-Tile offers a range of health and safety advantages:•Anti Slip Protection•Industry-Standard Certifications•CE Accredited•Fire Retardant•Chemical Resistance•Noise & Dust Reduction•ESD / Anti Static•REACH Regulated •A+ BREEM Standard•Sustainable & Recyclable 

Thistle’s Centre of Wellbeing in Edinburgh wanted floorings that couple function and style with the necessary attributes. Consequently, floorings for the gym and meeting rooms were specified. It was Gerflor’s Taraflex® Evolution in Wood Oak that satisfied Thistle’s clear brief for a good looking, comfortable, hygienic, high performing, durable, easy-maintenance gym flooring. It also fulfilled the requirements for a product that could contribute to the warm, welcoming and friendly aesthetic.

Fulneck School were seeking a new and improved sports surface to freshen up the hall and transform their indoor space. For this reason, DYNAMIK overlaid the old timber school sports floor with a DYNAMIK seamless Polyethylene (PU). We advocate the benefits of solid synthetic surfaces for exceptional durability and seamless installation. Ryan Walker, Director of Sport at Fulneck School, had this to say: "The new flooring has really transformed our indoor space. It is now a first-class facility and all students at Fulneck School will really benefit from using it when we return".