Case Study
Friends of the Earth, London
Design Peldon Rose

Friends of the earth recently relocated to a new space in Stockwell, south London, with the aim of creating a space that enables the use of smarter technology, while reducing its environmental footprint.

It wanted to create a multifunctional workspace that allowed for more efficient working practices internally and greater collaboration with others, to achieve its vision and goals. It was looking for an option that made financial sense, so that the value of its previous building lease would be able to fund the rental of its new home for at least a decade.

The organisation worked with workplace consultancy Peldon Rose. A flexible working philosophy was the foundation for Friends of the Earth's new office, in a project inspired by the world's ecosystems. The office in this former printworks was divided from left to right into the Earth's latitudinal zones, from the North Pole to the Southern Hemisphere. To meet the desired criteria, flooring manufacturer Interface was enlisted to provide sustainable modular flooring from its biophilic-inspired Urban Retreat and Net Effect ranges as well as the Palette 2000 collection.

Mark Sparvell, regional director at Interface says: 'Our products have helped bring the design concept to life. The flooring used in the open-plan office space helps to represent different aspects of nature... Several colours from our Net Effect One and Two collections were also used in meeting rooms to capture the moment when sea foams on to the shore.'

The space was highly commended at the International Property Awards and was shortlisted for three awards in this magazine's own FX Awards. interface.com

Case Study
Dilijan College, Armenia
Design Tim Flynn Architects

Dilijan college opened its doors late last year and is the country's first international boarding school. It is part of the United World Colleges group and welcomes students from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences.

The architecture brief was to design an international boarding school for 600 pupils, comprising of main school and academic buildings, theatre and performing arts centre, gym and swimming pool, five boarding houses, staff accommodation and outdoor sports facilities.

Sustainable and responsible architecture and landscaping were an integral part of the project, all aimed at preserving the local eco-system and preserving the harmony of the natural setting the school is built on, near a national park.

The campus has been designed to ensure that the buildings are not only sustainable and efficient but also locally maintainable. Wherever possible, environmentally friendly and renewable technologies have been used.

For UK architecture practice Tim Flynn Architects, appointed to the project, the key criteria in materials choice was durability, quality, choice of colours and service. It specified Nora flooring, including both Noraplan sheet and Norament tiles, and accessories, that were specified all over the college and boarding houses, including classrooms, wet areas, circulation and stair cores, plus showpiece inlays in the main atrium area. nora.com/uk

Case Study
Maritime Museum, Helsingør, Denmark
Design BIG

Working closely with architecture practice BIG (Bjarne Ingles Group), Junckers created a custom-finished oak floor for the Maritime Museum in Helsingør, Denmark.

The floor acts a 'bridge' between the concrete, glass and steel in the interior, housed in a striking 150m-long dock of old concrete. The brief was for a solid hardwood floor with a rustic quality to match the raw and patinated concrete of the old dock, and the result is a solid, brushed oak floor that gives contrasting warmth to the overall impression of the museum. When natural light hits the surface of the floor at an angle, it creates a spectacular effect. junckers.co.uk