"engineered wood finished flooring"

Lomax & Wood are delighted to have been involved with the window installation for 1 Warwick; the latest members’ House from the Maslow’s family, housed in a Neo- Baroque mansion on the corner of Warwick, Brewer, and Glasshouse Street — a slice of London that has played muse to writers, artists, poets, and musicians over the centuries.At 1 Warwick, Maslow's theory of human motivation and happiness serves as the inspiration behind the design of the six-storey mansion. The space features a range of beautifully designed workspaces, members' lounges, event spaces, a studio, and a gym. Guests can also indulge in a tempting array of culinary delights throughout the venue, all overseen by executive chef Tom Cenci. The rooftop restaurant, bar, and terrace Yasmin is exclusively available to members and offers a delicious Middle Eastern menu. Meanwhile, Nessa, a playful neighbourhood bistro and bar located on the ground floor, puts an imaginative twist on British classics.

St Cecilia’s Hall, today a part of the University of Edinburgh, has been thoughtfully redeveloped by Page Park Architects to create a more inclusive and user-friendly space. To provide the ancillary facilities needed in a modern-day museum, Page Park Architects created a new, modern entrance with improved and updated walkways and circulation areas. Drawing inspiration from the original dark-coloured flooring in the building, the architects specified Junckers’ 140mm wide Black Oak Harmony as flooring and wall panelling in the new areas. In addition, Junckers’ Dark Coco Rustic Oil was used to restore the rich, brown colour of the original wood flooring in the concert room and gallery spaces. 

A spacious and beautifully proportioned Georgian farmhouse situated in rural Broadland, Norfolk has been sympathetically and carefully renovated by an award-winning developer. Sash windows, bi-fold and French doorsets from the Lomax + Wood Kensington & Chelsea range have been installed throughout the property.Oversized French doorsets in the formal reception room provide ample daylight and easy access to the extensive gardens. With an elegant, bespoke fanlight which extends almost to ceiling-height and has been designed with a classic Diamond pattern. Lomax + Wood produce made-to-order timber sash windows with either spring balanced operation or traditional cords and weights.

A multidisciplinary teaching and research building at the heart of Salford University Campus.A striking colour palette selected for the modified window interface and rainscreen cladding. Finishes: Interpon’s D2525 Ostuni Y2211I, Interpon D1036 RAL 3030 Gloss

Sparsholt's continued growth over recent years meant that a new sports hall was required to enhance their sporting facilities. The new building included a four badminton court hall along with a modern Dance/Aerobic Studio and extensive Fitness Suite. The majority of the work was completed using the area elastic Komfort Plus sprung sports flooring system finished in Tarkett solid Sports Vinyl.

Bespoke resin flooring for luxury stablesTattersall Race Course (Ireland) required a bespoke resin flooring solution that could offer a very specific blend of outstanding durability, slip resistance, ease of maintenance and visual appeal. It was also crucial the new floor would be equally fit-for-purpose internally and externally, without losing its safety properties when exposed to weather changes.Tattersall is an international firm offering 10,000 thoroughbred horses each year at 15 sales at either its Newmarket headquarters in England, or at Fairyhouse outside Dublin, in Ireland.As a premier facility that offers only the best horses to the most discerning customers, Tattersalls takes immense pride in maintaining immaculate premises. This focus requires regular maintenance and refurbishment projects, and Degafloor is proud to have been involved in one of the most recent.Working in conjunction with approved partner Larsen Contracts (Ireland) Ltd, we were invited to assess the current floor finish within one of the stable blocks at Fairyhouse and recommend a bespoke resin flooring finish, based on Degafloor’s slip-resistant Full Broadcast System.To achieve the best and most consistent finish possible, the heavily tamped concrete was diamond ground, then shot blasted. The bespoke resin flooring was applied in 6 layers; first a primer, next a scratch coat was applied to create a smooth and even finish. The main system layer was then installed and a full broadcast of bauxite applied. The system was finished with 2 x coats of clear Degafloor MMA seal.Speaking on behalf of Larsen Contracts, Contracts Director Eddie O’Brien said, “It is an honour to have been involved in this project and to work for Tattersalls and, in a small way, play a part in maintaining Ireland’s rich horse racing heritage.”

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."

Steel slimline windows and doors, steel heritage windows, steel secondary glazing, steel curtain walling, fire rated steel screens, fire rated steel doors

Premier Vision Communal Entrance Doors

In dairy industries it's vital that hygiene standards are kept to a high standard. Drainage and kerbing are important products that need consideration. To reduce costs, many may opt for concrete, however over time concrete dries out and is prone to cracking. This can jeopardise a hygienic environment as unwanted bacteria will harbour in the cracks Alternatively, drainage and wall kerbing. Stainless steel is resistant to caustic cleaning materials and lactic acid, which are common elements in a dairy. This resistance ensures that the ss surface does not corrode or weaken making it an excellent long term solution.

The BEMO N50 perforated profile was chosen to clad the plantroom at the Institute of Cancer Research. Thanks to BEMO's expertise in curving, the tight radius could be achieved as a smooth curve to ensure that the desired appearance was achieved without the need for facetted or crimped sections.

Complex geometry and a combination of roof and wall cladding, without welded joints, required BEMO's MONRO freeform standing seam panels on this prestigious project. Produced in stucco embossed aluminium, the panels were manufactured on site, and designed by the BEMO in-house technical team

This project is a collaborative effort of many different parties to enable many facets of the community. It was partly funded by Burnley Football Club and grants from funding bodies including Sport England. DYNAMIK worked alongside Barnfield Construction to create the sports facilities including a four court Sports Hall installed with a DYNAMIK area elastic sprung sports floor finished with Tarkett Veneto Sports Linoleum, an ideal solid synthetic surface for sporting and community use. The Dance Studio was installed with a DYNAMIK sprung sports floor in Oak.

To ensure residents in this new luxury North London care home would feel entirely comfortable, the most efficient and futureproof materials were chosen. That’s why main contractor Wates specified Knauf Airless Finish for use throughout the development of the new Signature Care Home in Barnet.

It is hard to believe that this charming assisted living development for Northampton Partnership Homes is a prefabricated, pre-clad, panelised factory manufactured project.Designed by Maber Architects and manufactured by Accord's LoCal Homes business, this project demonstrates that prefabricated doesn't have to mean that aesthetics are compromised. Utilising both faces of the Wienerberger New Red Multi Gilt Stock brick, FastClad's factory bonded brick cladding system was by far the most natural brick façade without having to resort to a traditional brick skin. 

In the refined finishes and the elegance of the accessories, the design of the Luxury Design apartments located in the historic centre of Verona finds an informal dimension. Between the wooden elements and the natural stone details, the identity of the city's architecture comes to life. The choice of flooring respects these elements. The beautiful herringbone floor with Allura Hungarian point planks in different colours creates both an authentic as well as luxurious atmosphere.

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

Supplied by Kobel, in Italy Accoya was specified for the decking. The decking was wire brushed for a textured distressed looking finish and then laid around the swimming pool in the grounds of the residence. The client is pleased with the quality and overall finish of the decking and has the peace of mind that Accoya will be dimensionally stable, has outstanding durability and the added benefit of a guarantee of 50 years.

Situated in Portsmouth Historical Dockyard, the Boathouse was a development that required an acoustic raised batten system for hardwood decking, Oak plank flooring and a plywood substrate for the 1st floor. New Era Cradles were specified to provide a finished floor height range from 74-190mm and was fitted at 400mm centres. This proved a versatile and cost effective way to overcome all the different levels

We designed and installed 3 of our MG100 movable acoustic walls to a project in London to create flexible working spaces for our client. Their chosen panel finish included a magnetic wipe board along with our PanelHush PET acoustic wall panels. The PET panels help reduce the room echo/reverberation which gives a better working environment. PanelHush PET range is a 100% recyclable acoustic panel that is manufactured from recycled PET bottles. Weuse 65% post-consumer recycled fibres and our products are 100% recyclable.The PET panels come in 12mm or 24mm thick sheets with a choice of 14 different colours to match your design need The installation of our MG100 movable acoustic wall panels gives an element of flexibility which is suddenly added to your space. Therefore, the environment can quickly be manipulated to cater for any of your flexible space needs. Whether that be for meetings or a little bit of privacy. Our MG100 Series also has a strong fire rating of up to 1 hour. We believe that not only should our products look sleek and provide a practical option, but most importantly, they should be able to be called upon in times of emergency.

Pure Design – Bolidtop 525Colour – S 7500-N with textureless anti-slip1300m²Installation dates - July 2021 (10 days) Museums and performing arts venues are subject to intensive use by millions of shuffling feet, day in day out as well as heavy loads from equipment and installations. Stratum were chosen to prepare and resurface 1300m2 of the existing floor to the iconic main space of the Roundhouse, in Camden, which had endured 15 years of heavy use. The building is a heritage site, originally built as a steam engine shed, therefore our flooring needed to meet the functional requirements for the users but also sensitively fit in with the history of the space and its aesthetics. The surface needed to be hardwearing allowing for large scale builds for various productions, involving plant use, installation of temporary structures, staging etc. We sanded back the entire floor, repaired the damage and installed Bolidtop 525 over the top with textureless anti-slip coating. Challenge-      Working within an extremely busy venue with a tight time scale and no room for error.-      Being a heritage site we would need to be mindful of the original structure of the building-      Large footprint spanning across the main space of the venue.-      No dust creation allowed due to sensitive electrical equipment. Solution-      We agreed a slot and timescale to carry out all of the works in 10 days. We programmed out the works for the customer and provided them with daily updates.-      We used the highest grade dust extraction equipment. We ensured that labour and materials were all available in a timely manner.Benefits/Installation-      The customer was able to select the same smooth, matt appearance they had before but with a different colour choice and the addition of our new tried and tested textureless anti-slip coating.Result-      After 15 years of heavy use this magnificent heritage site has a seamless, durable and safe floor reinstated to provide the functional qualities required for many years of intense footfall and wear the performing arts industry creates. The floor sympathetically compliments the building with a simple, matt finish. "We used Stratum to floor the corridors and they did a great job. We chose them for the main space after James’ thorough prep before we committed to the job. The onsite team were a pleasure and worked tirelessly to resurface the floor in the allocated time. We’re over the moon with the result. It’s never looked better”. Ruth Butler| Head of Technical and Production| The Roundhouse, Camden

Pure Design – Bolidtop 525Colours - S 3500-N in Labs and S 4005-Y50R in Breakout/Circulation7000m2Architect – Hawkins\BrownMain Contractor - Laing O' RourkeInstallation dates - May 20 /Nov 20A repeat customerStratum have a returning customer in Oxford University. In 2008 we supplied and installed Resin Flooring throughout the Biochemistry Laboratories during Phase One. Some 11 years later they requested Stratum applied the same flooring systems again to Phase Two, the new extension. Stratum delivered the project in collaboration with Bolidt, our European partner, installing in excess of 7,000m² of resin flooring using three different systems, connecting seamlessly into the existing resin from Phase one. The requirements for the flooring were for hardwearing and functional finishes, that were seamless in nature and hygienic. Systems were selected to meet the specific demands of each space. ChallengeTo navigate around the core areas of a busy construction site with sensitive floor finishes, and to maintain the highest quality of finish. – To tie seamlessly back into the existing resin flooring at each level, whilst ensuring that the occupied building can remain fully operational. – To do so amidst all of the challenges of Covid 19.SolutionProduct selection was easy, to match and tie into the same Bolidt finishes that have served phase 1 so well for so many years. – Programming would be key to ensure that areas could be prepared and all personnel informed and vacated for the duration of the install. Laing O’Rourke were exemplary to that end. – Continual adjustment was required to ensure Covid compliance was maintained through an ever changing working environment.Benefits/InstallationThe University were able to select the same finishes that they were so familiar with in their existing building. Only Stratum could offer a seamless tie-in and the same level of performance in the matching flooring systems.ResultThe university can now operate at full capacity, safe in the knowledge that the floors will perform in meeting their demands. High quality, hardwearing, seamless, hygienic, flexible.“This would be a complex build, and with Resin Flooring running through the core areas and laboratories we would need excellent planning. Stratum & Bolidt were able to offer both the expertise and flexibility required to produce a first class finish throughout.” Rob Cooper | (PM) | Laing O’Rourke

SOLID WOOD FLOOR SYMPATHETIC CHOICE FOR HERITAGE BUILDING Junckers Black Oak flooring has been installed as part of the restoration of Paisley Town Hall. Architects Holmes Miller transformed the Grade A listed building into a high-end venue and public space with careful restoration work to preserve the grand Neoclassical architecture. With a focus on future-proofing the venue in terms of environmental performance and adaptability, Holmes Miller’s design overhauled the existing building by stripping it right back and upgrading services to modern standards, including replacing the heating and ventilation systems with tempered air fed through concealed ducts hidden beneath the wooden floors and using destratification fans to recycle warm air, especially useful in auditorium which has a high ceiling. Accessibility was improved and new functions for previously unused spaces were introduced. As well as a live venue, the town hall now includes a dance studio, café and bar, wedding suites, banqueting, screening room and commercial catering. Junckers’ flooring was installed in several areas, including the main auditorium where the stage was entirely rebuilt to incorporate a rise-and-fall functionality. To introduce more flexibility to the space, the ground floor seating was replaced by a retractable system. The hard-wearing surface of a Junckers’ pre-finished solid hardwood floor is very resistant to the wear and tear associated with a retractable system and the sprung quality of the flooring system will remain intact. Junckers Black Oak Harmony flooring was identified by Holmes Miller during the design stage analysis as a sympathetic choice for the heritage building. The two-strip floorboards, also prevalent in the Black Oak Twin Herringbone installed in some areas, give a narrow parquet appearance in keeping with the original flooring and the dark colour is historically appropriate. Junckers Black Oak is made by mimicking the natural process where oak submerged in a bog takes on a dark hue which pen- etrates the tree trunk. The Black Oak stain is drawn deep into each floorboard which means it can be sanded and refinished without loss of colour. It also means the floor is much more resistant to superficial damage compared to a stained floor- board. Steven Coulson, Associate at Homes Miller added: “The flooring was specified due to a great mix of quality, sustainability credentials and sympathy to the heritage building aesthetic.” The £22M restoration forms part of Renfrewshire Council’s regeneration programme of Paisley’s historic cultural venues. Upgrading historic buildings, particularly public buildings, is a fast-growing trend towards re-use rather than demolishing and building new. By taking a long-term view to retrofit and restore Paisley Town Hall, the Council has secured its sustainable future whilst remaining sympathetic to its history. The flooring was installed by Partnership Flooring. The main contractor was Morrison Construction. 

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. 

Appointed to design Hammerson House, Wohl Campus, a new care building, P+HS Architects specified a variety of solutions from Forbo Flooring Systems’ large portfolio, to help bring the vision of a country house hotel to life. Offering 116 bedrooms, with communal lounges, a café, and an inter-generational activity room, Forbo’s Surestep, Safestep and Allura ranges have been installed throughout the building.Hammerson House was founded in 1961 by Sue Hammerson to provide care for older members of the Jewish community. From here Hammerson merged with Nightingale House to form Nightingale Hammerson who run both homes as a joint group. Located on the Wohl Campus near Hampstead Heath, the home is based within beautiful woodlands enabling residents to enjoy the local scenery. Offering medical services, including a visiting GP, a large communal hall, an onsite shop and a hair salon, the care home is able to provide for all of its residents’ needs.Martha MacKinnon, Senior Architect at P+HS commented on the project: “We were tasked with creating a welcoming space that delivered a contemporary vision of a country house hotel, where visitors, residents and staff could feel settled. Therefore, when it came to specifying floor coverings, we had to carefully choose products that could contribute to the warm and welcoming interior we wanted to achieve.“In the resident’s area, on the lower ground floor, it was important that we specified a vinyl flooring, as it needed to be durable, but also provide a warm and homely feel. Additionally, a low-level contrast between the carpeted areas and the vinyl flooring in the bedrooms was also vital, as some of the residents living at the home have dementia.”With the above in mind, and to connect the building back to its countryside roots, P+HS Architects specified Forbo’s Allura LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) in the natural looking Steamed Oak colourway “The wooden aesthetic of Forbo’s Allura really helped us to connect the indoors to the outside, whilst contributing to our design brief, thanks to its warm shades. We mainly used Allura in the household and staff dining areas, and the lower ground floor bedrooms,” Martha explained. “Not only this, but the chosen Allura design has also been accredited by the DSDC (Dementia Services Development Centre), which means it has been approved for use in dementia-friendly environments, making it the perfect choice for this project.“In the areas where spillages are to be expected and therefore slip resistance was a factor, such as in kitchens and the residents’ ensuites, we specified Forbo’s Surestep and Safestep safety flooring. Both ranges deliver guaranteed lifetime slip resistance and are available in a variety of bright, contemporary designs.”Forbo’s Step safety flooring collection meets all the European and HSE safety norms, delivering safety with minimal compromise on cleaning and maintenance, thanks to its PUR Pearl finish, and design.Sara Glaser, Head of Marketing from Nightingale Hammerson spoke about the finished project: “We’re delighted with the work P+HS has done; it looks lovely and really fits the design we had wanted to achieve. We’re particularly happy with how safety conscious it is, as our residents are our primary concern. They like the house and how it looks, so we couldn’t be happier with the end result!”Finished at the start of 2021, Hammerson House, Wohl Campus recently achieved a rating of ‘Good’ from a CQC inspection of the home. Additionally, the building was awarded the Best Social Care development at the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2021 and ‘Commended’ in the Forbo Escapes 2021/22 competition.

ROJECT NAME: RENOVATION PRODUCT SUPPLIED SUPPLIED: INSTALLER SELFBUILD CONTRACT FLOORS AEROMIX was chosen for this renovation project thanks to its many benefits of offering warmth, smoothness of finish and speed of install. This project came with a challenging access issue meaning a long pump distance and lots of services in the floor AEROMIX was the perfect solution. This was the perfect product, providing an ideal solution for the insulation for this project. Reducing CO2 due to reduced carbon emissions within the product. The installer who completed this project SELFBUILD CONTRACT FLOORS said AEROMIX was poured as insulated ground baring slab, installed at 250mm deep achieving the required 0.11 u-value, this allowed the customer to clip the UFH pipes directly to it before being topped with a 65mm C20 liquid screed AEROMIX provided the ideal solution for the insulation on this project, compared to the normal concrete floor and other traditional methods, the speed of pumping the insulation coupled with the high thermal properties has contributed in saving the customer both time and money. 

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

FORBO’S CONTEMPORARY PORTFOLIO HELPS TO CREATE INSPIRATIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONArchwood House, a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Peckham, was commissioned by the University of the Arts London (UAL) to house its students. Tasked with creating proactive and forward-thinking spaces for residents to live and study in, architects Nelson and Long specified an array of solutions from Forbo Flooring Systems’ contemporary portfolio to make this happen. Forbo’s Coral entrance flooring, Allura Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), Tessera carpet tiles, Eternal de Luxe Decibel general purpose vinyl and Surestep and Safestep safety floor coverings were all installed throughout the building.Comprising 343 bedrooms and 50 studios, Archwood House provides students with accommodation close to UAL buildings and is designed to provide students with the creative and inspirational spaces they need, to enhance their university experiences. Nelson and Long worked closely with UAL to develop a design that would create spaces which were flexible and would allow residents to flourish in their surroundings.Alicia Nelson, Co-founder of Nelson and Long commented on the brief they received: “Our client’s brief was to create innovative and inspiring spaces for UAL’s creative students to learn and grow in. It was also important that the spaces equipped students with the tools they needed to have a successful time at university, from studying to socialising. Sustainability was top of the agenda too, so we needed to carefully consider the materials we specified to ensure we met the requirements.”With the project brief in mind, Alicia set about sourcing materials that reflected the needs of the building: “Due to the variety of high-quality and sustainable products available within Forbo’s portfolio, as well as its reliable customer service, we opted for a variety of Forbo floor coverings for Archwood House, including its Allura LVT and Tessera carpet tiles.“We specified Forbo’s Allura LVT in a variety of colourways for a few different areas of the student accommodation, including the games room and common room which are situated in the street building – a separate part of the accommodation. The warm colours that Forbo’s Allura LVT are available in helped to provide a stunning backdrop for each space which then enabled us to build out, incorporating different textures and colours to the overall design. For example, we used the Smoke Cement shade for the ground floor corridors, games room and study room, to elevate the design and provide a nice neutral finish. As well as the beautiful designs available, Forbo’s Allura LVT is also easy to clean, which was an important factor for this project, given that lots of students would be using these spaces.“We then opted for various designs from Forbo’s Tessera collection, which are lovely, elegant and durable loop pile carpet tiles. Forbo’s Tessera Layout in the Graphine colourway was the perfect solution for the stairs, cluster corridors and other high traffic areas, thanks to its hard-wearing nature. The understated grey shade also complemented the neutral colour palette we were using for these areas.”Alicia also specified Forbo’s Tessera Chroma carpet tiles in the Pathway and Tuxedo colourways, which were installed in the bedrooms and the cinema room respectively to create a homely feel to the rooms. Not only this, but Forbo’s Tessera Chroma carpet tiles are made with 62% recycled content by weight, aiding in creating a more sustainable scheme.This was combined with Forbo’s Eternal de Luxe Decibel vinyl floor covering in the communal and studio kitchens. This solution served a double purpose: It reduced impact sound by 17 dB and provided an R10 slip rating, both of which were key to creating healthier and safer spaces for residents to live in.With safety in mind, Alicia also specified a range of Forbo’s safety flooring, as she explains further: “For the staff kitchen areas, toilets and prayer room, we needed to ensure maximum slip protection and that’s why we chose Forbo’s Surestep and Safestep floor coverings. The prayer room, in particular, which contains a wudu sink, needed to be a safe and neutral environment for residents to use, and Forbo’s Surestep offered the perfect solution. As a genuine safety flooring with guaranteed lifetime slip resistance, as well as an R10 slip rating and a 36 PTV score, it was the ideal solution to ensure the safety of residents. Not only this, but it comes available in a range of stylish colourways, such as the neutral wood décor we specified, which complemented the overall design.”In addition to this, to maintain the condition of the interior floor coverings, Alicia opted to use Forbo’s Coral Classic entrance flooring system in the Mouse Grey colourway. Alicia explains more here: “We wanted a solid barrier matting, that would reduce the walked-in dirt that you’d expect to see in a city centre university accommodation. With students coming and going all day, it was key to install an effective entrance flooring system to reduce cleaning and maintenance. Forbo’s Coral was just the solution we needed, with the Mouse Grey colourway matching the other grey textile carpets we’d specified, whilst also helping to reduce the amount of dirt and moisture from being brought in on the soles of shoes and treads of wheels.”Having opened in September 2022, Archwood House has been positively received by both staff and residents, who are delighted with the overall design and feel of the building.To find out more about Forbo’s offering for student accommodation, visit:WWW.FORBO-FLOORING.CO.UK/STUDENTACCOMMODATION

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.

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.

Architects Dixon Jones specified 600m2 Junckers solid oak flooring for Marlborough Primary School, a multi award-winning building on a densely populated urban site in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The brief to create a primary school much larger than the original Victorian building on the existing site challenged Dixon Jones to design a school where teaching accommodation is arranged vertically around a series of cascading roof terraces. With nursery and reception classes on the ground, children progress upwards through the building the older they get, with the junior years arranged on the upper floors. The interior forms an equally dynamic environment for students and staff with teaching spaces arranged around communal halls and generous circulation areas. A large main hall and multi-use space, flooded with natural light from two central roof lights, features Junckers wide board oak flooring throughout, providing a natural, unifying backdrop. Junckers’ FSC and PEFC certified floors are a durable, long-lasting choice with low lifecycle costs. Made in solid wood, the floor can be sanded and refinished multiple times without losing its good looks or performance, ideal for a thriving community school. Main contractor: Mace; Joinery contractor: Swift Crafted; Photography: Paul Riddle. 

Since 201, CAST in Morpeth, Northumberland, train 350 students a year in all aspects of performing arts. Their studios are equipped with over 130 square meters of Harlequin Flexity sprung panels with Harlequin Fiesta and Harlequin Engineered Oak. ‘Ever since training at Italia Conti and rehearsing in and around London, my favorite studios and performance spaces to work in were all kitted out by Harlequin! I knew I had to have Harlequin supply and install the mirrors, barres and flooring in my own performing arts school.’

"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.

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

Examples of the martec Premier E door and side screens.

Over 7,500m² of BEMO standing seam profiles were supplied to this unique facade. Coated in metallic silver to both sides, the panels were a combination of smooth curved and MONRO forms, incorporating extensive perforations