"wood block and strip flooring"

Residential New Build apartment and spa area, consisting of 141 apartments.21 loft apartments required a design lead shower solution for which waterproof XPS round shaped floor shower elements, bathboards for tileable cladding of baths and XPS building boards were supplied in 12.5mm thickness for walls and 10mm thickness for floors.120 Apartments had XPS floor level shower elements featuring a drainage channel right next to the wall, a completely continuous slope right to the channel and more flexible adjustment for the channel. 12.5 & 10mm XPS building boards were used on walls and floors.This was the first installation that we know of in the UK where the boards in the shower area were fixed to the studwork solely by a versatile single component adhesive sealant (wedi 610), ensuring no penetrations through the boards. The special formulation is especially suited to waterproof butt joints of building boards, and has outstanding resistance to the elements; and to chemicals; and is also free of solvents, silicon and PCP.As an abP-approved system, the use of the adhesive sealant and XPS building boards reduces installation time by up to 50% because no further sealing is required, even in areas of high humidity.

The International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales is an extraordinary venue designed for world class conventions, events and meetings.The result of a joint venture between the Welsh Government and the Celtic Manor Resort, renowned construction company, John Sisk & Son, was the main contractor on this 3500m2 project which also included a permeable and sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS).AG’s premium granite block paving TerraPave® was the obvious paving choice for the convention centre as it offers a beautiful finish to complement a contemporary design. Additionally, it is a cost-effective, practical alternative to traditional stone paving. TerraKerb® also played its part in this high-profile hard landscaping project, adding a premium appearance to the ICC surrounding. With its widely recognised durability and weather resistance, it is now well established as a market-leading option.Tim Cave, Regional Sales Manager at AG, said:“A key challenge faced by AG was to create a high-quality permeable paving system for a large roof deck, capable of withstanding continuous heavy traffic. Our Xflo® Plaza was the perfect choice. AG’s Plaza block paviour is made using the most modern manufacturing techniques, ensuring it will stand the test of time and retain its high-quality aesthetics, whilst effectively managing the movement of water through the SuDS system. This is a pioneering but proven way of mimicking the natural movement of storm water and replacing conventional storm water drainage systems.”

Client: Canary Wharf Group Consultant: Adamson Associates Architects Main Contractor: Kilnbridge Construction Ltd Main Products Used: Emseal DFR-2 SystemsWood Wharf Development is certified as a BREEAM Outstanding rated, sustainable mixed-use development that covers a 23-acre site. It consists of 6 individually designed building structures that provide 2 million square feet of curated workspaces and offices, more than 3,500 new residential homes and 500,000 square feet of retail space. The site is being developed as a new 5G and Wi-Fi-6 enabled, London District to include more than 9 acres of interconnected riverside leisure space with boardwalks, squares, and parks to create an oasis of urban green space. The new multistory building structures were designed with 50mm wide structural expansion joints between floor slabs to accommodate the high levels of thermal movement anticipated, as well as the vibrations from traffic and other loadings. These joints also had to minimise any noise transmission through the floors and provide a minimum of 2-hours fire resistance, which is a key reason the consultants selected the Emshield DFR-2 System as it could easily meet all these stringent requirements. In fact the innovative Emshield DFR-2 System can accommodate more than 100% joint movement capability and is CE Marked to EN-1366-4 for up to 4 hrs fire resistance. This unique Emseal solution also has the advantages of not requiring any potentially damaging mechanical fixings into the structure, as it is easily bonded into the joint, with access only required from above. 

Georgina and Matt were undertaking a refurbishment to their family home in Surrey, including a new annexe, when they approached us about our range of timber windows and doors.The age of the original building dated back to the 16th century, with both Regency and Edwardian additions, and so finding timber windows that helped to retain and enhance the original character of the property was a priority.Spring Sash windows from the Conservation Range were recommended for most of the home, featuring concealed pre-tensioned balances. This offered Georgina classic period styling but also ensured the house benefitted from the high performance offered by a modern double-glazed window.Conservation Range Casement windows were used for the rest of the property, alongside Spring Sash products offering traditional sightlines - ideal for period properties.Georgina also wanted to ensure that the new outbuildings retained a traditional look, so we created a bespoke ‘sunrise’ feature window to give it interest and kept the styling in line with the rest of the renovation.Antique brass ironmongery and a ‘Wimbourne White’ paint finish, complements the classic look throughout.Georgina explains;“When I approached Mumford & Wood, I told them I felt a ‘Jane Austen’ period feel would fit well with the main era of the house. After witnessing the quality and elegant style of the Conservation Range at their London showroom, I felt confident that my Regency vision with a mixture of Spring Sash and Casement windows could be fulfilled, and I was thrilled with the end result. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Mumford and Wood to anyone.”

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.”

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

Access flooring once again was selected for this major £12 million building in Cheltenham. Bathgate Flooring manufactured and installed over 5600m2 of Panels to ensure that this Grade A office space offered the maximum flexibility. Products Used BGM 600 Steel Encapsulated Panels Constructing this Office Development is well recorded with a time lapse video of the entire project available through the Gloucestershire Live news story. Access Flooring is used in buildings like this to ensure that there is easy access to the services if needed. Simply lift up the floor panels and all the cabling is visible beneath.

In 2016 award-winning landscape designers, The Edible Bus Stop, were commissioned by the Brixton BID to deliver a legacy installation for the Brixton Design Trail as part of the London Design Festival.Their brief was to create a parklet at the entrance to this famously foreboding building. The space had been habitually populated by street drinkers and labelled an anti-social environment by the residents and neighbouring businesses. The brief was to challenge the notion that the addition of seating and creating a space to dwell would increase anti-social behaviour and, on the contrary, that good design could improve perceptions of safety and empower a sense of wellbeing in a community.During the summer, planting beds were refurbished and many edibles and herbs, including fruit trees, were planted. Several Vestre Stripes elements were installed to punctuate the space with communal seating. The parklet was an instant success and quickly populated by residents of all ages, passers-by and visitors to local businesses. As a result, the ‘test-bed’ has now become a permanent legacy; an exemplar of how local stakeholder commissioning and intelligent socially minded design can be an agent of social change to create spaces of genuine community value.Client: Brixton BIDLandscape Design: The Edible Bus StopAddress: Southwyck HouseColdharbour LaneBrixtonLondonSW9 8TX

Soundis supplied 3,265m2 of a shallow floating floor treatment, laid over an existing concrete structural deck, at Channelsea House in Stratford for City Square.The areas included the Ground, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Floors. Channelsea House is a former office block being converted to residential apartments, with a one bedroom flat being valued at the half a million pound mark. Located in Stratford, 1.3 miles away from the Olympic Stadium, Channelsea House is in a prime location for high quality accommodation.Soundis were required to provide a high specification shallow acoustic solution to achieve compliance with ‘Impact’ performance criteria when tested on site. The specification implemented by the Architect was 26mm Timber Floor Overlay Board, which was chosen to minimise construction height and to comply with Approved Document E Building Regulations.

The building was constructed using ICF blocks that are to have a rendered finish. Internally the ground floor is a concrete slab and the upper floor has timber posi-joists with the Lewis Deck and resilient strips laid above. 16mm underfloor heating pipes are then clipped into our new clip rail system with a free flowing screed then poured on top, 50mm thick. This then gives 20mm cover to the heating pipes, maximising the efficiency of the whole system.

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. 

Wood burning stoves are needed to offset the high energy prices.With a house building boom due to the lack of housing, plus the combined shock of energy prices – building houses with secondary heating, such as stoves, has returned to the forefront.Wood-burning stoves are now highly efficient and designed to offset any carbon they release into the atmosphere. Eco-friendly, modern stoves are why Rose Builders decided to add stoves and chimneys to their housing development in Lawford Green. In addition, various houses within the site had the option of adding a wood-burning stove with a built-in chimney.

On this high profile development project the Living Concrete team worked to very tight deadlines installing 580m2 of self-levelling FluidConcrete flooring throughout the house. FluidConcrete has a smooth, Polished-Concrete-like finish, that makes it perfect for a modern, minimalist design that can be easily combined with materials like wood and ceramic and it is also suitable for under-floor heating. It can be applied to interior surfaces, with no need for joins or breaks.The large format bespoke Plain and Corner concrete panels were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The panels were cut to fit around the staircase and walls and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof.The finished effect is a modern, spacious look that complements client’s design style and creates a truly unique and highly sophisticated space.

2175 Market is designed to meet LEED Platinum Certified standards. That means sustainably-sourced materials and energy-efficient building systems, from appliances to solar water heating. As a mixed-use, transit-oriented development, 2175 Market has taken the highest steps to utilise environmentally sustainable products and materials, and to minimise waste and pollutant. This is why Accoya was selected by Forest City and distributed by National Wood Products. The result is a beautifully-designed community, both inside and out.

Lomax + Wood, the Essex-based designer and supplier of high performance, made-to-order timber windows and doors, have provided bespoke acoustic products for a prestigious London development. The hotel in the heart of London, combines a traditional exterior with an electric and vibrant interior. Timber casement windows made-to-order Bespoke sections to match original designs Knot-free engenineered timber 31 number Tested by BM TRADA with a certified result of Rw 40dB to meet BS EN ISO 10140-2:2010

The legacy PVC-U windows, doors and curtain walling at 15 high and low-rise blocks owned by Bristol City Council at Eastville, Easton, Clifton, Redcliffe, Shirehampton and Ashton Gate needed to be replaced to improve thermal efficiency, security and aesthetics. An experienced company was required to carry out the complex, high profile, multi-phase works required. The contract was awarded to longstanding Profile 22 Approved Window Manufacturer Emplas. The Optima 70mm fully reversible window system provides high security locking, child resistant safety catches and achieves a weather performance of 2400pa for wind, 1500pa for water and 600pa for air.

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.

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.

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.

The Royal & Derngate Theatre is a mult-purpose space which can be configured for a variety of performances. Harlequin’s stage refurbishment project was the first restoration undertaken since 2005 when the theatre was first re-developed.A comprehensive multi-layered Harlequin Stage System. Harlequin fitted new battens to strengthen the stage over which a further double-layer of wood ply was installed. The stage surface was finished with a black Harlequin Standfast vinyl performance floor. The complete refurbishment project covered the entire stage area incorporating wings, lifts, orchestra pit and retractable removable seating.

Our White Stone Impervia® Marble Tile is 100% waterproof and is finished to a commercial grade. This tile also has an MGO core and is reinforced with tough fibreglass for stability and durability which also means it's fireproof.Some of the benefits of our White Stone Impervia® Marble Tile include:The rigid core helps to prevent warping when exposed to moisture.Great at resisting damage from impacts like high heels and heavy objects.

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

La Roche Staircase & Cabochon Flooring.This magnificent staircase has been made in our masonry factory. Stoneworld use a digital templating system to record the necessary data from the site. This is then programmed into our water jet cutter, which precision cuts each piece of the staircase for a perfect fit. The staircase is made from La Roche Limestone in a brushed and honed finish. Note the bullnosed edges of the step treads, the matching risers, and the statement bottom step and riser.  Here the elongated step tread has curved ends and curved end blocks on the riser.The beautiful hallway floor has been made from La Roche limestone floor tiles in 900 x 600 format. However, in another part of the house a bespoke floor design has been created. La Roche has been used again, but with an accent tile incorporated into the design, made from Spanish Black Marble. The pattern has been achieved by water jet cutting every tile to the correct shape and size. i.e. each La Roche tile is 700 x 700 with corners cut off, and the Spanish marble tiles have been cut to 100 x 100.

This is a very exciting time for residents of South Shields as the first of its kind is being constructed - a million pound penthouse apartment spanning the entire top floor of the apartment block.Genesis products have been used throughout this project to create stunning finishes.Every bathroom in the executive apartment block features ESA100.94 to create stylish niches and tile edges. The brushed effect surface beautifully compliments the tiling around many of the baths.MHS100.35 movement joints and TDP100.91 have been used to create subtle transitions between doorways where discretion is key and a traditional transition strip is not requested.

Sevenoaks School’s Science & Technology Centre, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, brings together a diverse set of disciplines and “puts learning, education and experimentation on display”. Daylit and naturally ventilated throughout, the £23m development has a robust interior of expressive structure, evident construction and natural materials, yet feels highly transparent, with views to the landscape and beyond.

School hygiene roomThe height adjustment of the basin, toilet and shower seat is all electrically powered making it quick, easy & effortless.The room can be configured to suit multiple and individual childrens' height requirements, which will inevitably change as they grow.Working heights for different carers can be optimised.The powered toilet and shower seat also act as ‘motorised lifting aids’ helping to protect carers' backs during assisted transfers, whilst enabling the more independent children to self-transfer independently.

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. 

Built on a self-build development site at Graven Hill in Bicester, where every property is different, this house utilises a number of different design styles and is constructed from an ICF system called Durisol Blocks. The first floor is constructed using the Lewis Deck and includes sound separation, underfloor heating and wet-rooms. It is common for the 1st floor to see a liquid screed installed over the deck, however for this project the client just ordered a little additional of the concrete being poured down the walls to complete the floors.

Riverside Campus at City of Glasgow College has won a multitude of architectural awards for its outstanding design. Home to the world-leading Maritime College, the building features a grand atrium where Junckers 22mm Oak Harmony finished in Ultramatt lacquer was specified for the expansive staircase and walkway. Designed in a joint venture between Reiach and Hall Architects and Michael Laird Architects, the building is BREEAM ‘Excellent’ with many innovative on-site energy generation measures. Junckers solid hardwood flooring is made from renewable, sustainable forests and the entire manufacturing process is powered by Junckers’ own on-site power plant, which uses the residual wood of the forested timber. The Oak Harmony floor adds natural warmth to the large, open space and provides a hard-wearing surface for a busy college environment.

"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.

Nike has transformed The Regal basketball court at the Black Prince Community Hub in South London, using Junckers Beech SylvaSport floor pre-finished with black oil over a New Era fully sprung sub-floor system.

A huge regeneration project site emerged in Croydon which involved the construction of 514 apartments.The whole project covered approximately 34,000 square meters including ground-floor retail and office space.Soundis supplied a Soundis Cradle & Batten system on all 4 tower blocks which make up the 34,000m2 development. This system was installed directly on the concrete subfloor and was chosen due to its acoustic performance incorporating levelling capabilities.The Soundis Cradle & Batten system helps to improve both airborne and impact performance and is compliant with Robust Detail FFT2.

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.”

A beautiful timber frame house, made of Western Red Cedar based in Kings Langley. Kings Langley, Hertfordshire is the birthplace of Ovaltine, the soothing malt drink. The village is divided by the River Gade and endowed with a couple of beautiful lakes.It is here, at one of these lakes, that a charming timber garden house is fitted with beautiful wooden louvres. By Sunshield, in collaboration with Contrasol. We were delighted to assist the owners with custom made external louvres to provide the a much needed perfect solution to reduce glare. Our client is sensitive to light and needed an effective shading product to specifically reduce sunlight entering the internal space.Our client was looking for something to be able to control light as well as a solution to fully block out light at night. The windows are South facing; therefore the louvres were also perfect for shading purposes and heat reduction.The Sunshield team applied the popular 98W which is made from Western Red Cedar to compliment the overall building.

Made-to-order timber windows and doors from the Kensington & Chelsea range by Lomax + Wood have been specified for a high specification new build Georgian-style villa in fashionable Lancaster Gardens, Wimbledon, London SW19.

Baptist Health and MD Anderson have partnered to create a new $184 million cancer centre in Jacksonville, Florida, focused on treating all forms of adult cancer. The building is situated overlooking St John’s River in a beautiful and serene environment. The new nine-storey 332,000-square-foot center is designed to provide state-of-the-art care and will also host clinical trials for new drugs. The facility has a contemporary design enclosing a central courtyard. With open views to all aspects, abundant natural light streams into the interior, creating a warm uplifting atmosphere. The frontage of the L-shaped structure, facing south, is flooded with light, requiring extensive passive solar shading. The teams involved in the project design and construction, which included HKS Architects (Dallas), adopted an holistic approach ensuring that all aspects of the design, both exterior and interior, reflected the goal of creating a positive, calm and caring environment focused on the individuals who inhabit it, namely the patients, their families, and the staff. Levolux elliptical aluminium fins form the horizontal bands of solar shading running across the front of the building. In keeping with using materials to create a calming feeling of warmth and comfort, Powdertech Wood Finish™ was specified for the solar shading. Back in the UK Powdertech coated 2000 linear metres of 150mm by 50mm extruded aluminium in PWF 31, Black Walnut, a “warm” finish, which were despatched to Florida as a single delivery.