Toby Maxwell’s Flooring Focus Projects


Three projects on how to get flooring right. University of Surrey, Guilford; Insight Direct, Manchester; and StirrUps Bar and Restaurant, Eversham.


Words by Toby Maxwell

University of Surrey Guildford

HOME TO more than 17,000 UK and international students, the University of Surrey is one of the country’s leading institutions for research and innovation. When it came to creating its new wellbeing space – known as ‘MySurrey Nest’ – on the Stag Hill campus in Guildford, the university turned to flooring manufacturer Interface, alongside construction and fit out specialist Morgan Lovell, to deliver a unique solution.

The university already had a number of wellbeing services available to students, including on-campus breakout areas to relax and unwind in, but it wanted to go further. Neil Hornsey, senior project manager for planning and development at the University of Surrey, said: ‘We wanted to off er students a space diff erent to any other on campus; an accessible work-free area where they could fully switch off , recharge and temporarily forget about learning.

‘We understand that the key to student wellbeing is ensuring they have downtime and the opportunity to completely remove themselves from the pressures of university life, which is why the creation of the wellbeing space was so important to us.’

As a public space and learning environment, the University of Surrey’s flooring choices had not not only reflect good taste, but also reduced sound from footfalls. Image Credit: Philip VileAs a public space and learning environment, the University of Surrey’s flooring choices had not not only reflect good taste, but also reduced sound from footfalls. Image Credit: Philip Vile

A crucial part of this involved embedding biophilic design – the principle of increasing occupants’ connectivity to nature through the use of natural materials and nature- inspired aesthetics, with the ultimate aim of boosting wellbeing. Elevating student wellbeing has been considered in every aspect of the design of the vibrant space, from motivational neon signs and plant walls, to a range of comfortable seating and cocoon pods for students to relax and recuperate in.

Clearly, the fl ooring also had a key part to play, and Interface was chosen to supply the 450 sq m of fl ooring for the space. Pino Catalano, lead designer at Morgan Lovell, said: ‘Incorporating the principles of biophilic design was important to us as we wanted to create a positive and immersive space that would encourage students to reconnect with each other and with nature.

As a public space and learning environment, the University of Surrey’s flooring choices had not not only reflect good taste, but also reduced sound from footfalls. Image Credit: Philip VileAs a public space and learning environment, the University of Surrey’s flooring choices had not not only reflect good taste, but also reduced sound from footfalls. Image Credit: Philip Vile

We chose these Interface products as we could use the textures and colourways to create a natural, outdoor-like environment that boosts productivity and wellbeing.’

To create a dynamic space, the patterns of Interface’s Look Both Ways LVT were integrated into the design. A combination of Walk About, Walk the Aisle and Walk on By blend with the carpet tiles to create a series of combinations and off er pops of colour Th e LVT tiles come with Sound Choice acoustic backing, which reduces impact noise by 16 decibels to avoid distraction and disturbance for students who want to relax and tune out from the hustle and bustle of the campus Interface’s Human Connections collection was also used in the space to create interconnecting pathways that resemble moss, stones and paths. To implement zones and encourage wayfi nding, Touch & Tones carpet tiles were also introduced, using colour and texture to create engaging environments.

Chris Bavin, Interface account manager, said: ‘Together with Morgan Lovell, we’ve created a beautiful, inspiring and relaxing space which incorporates a variety of textures and colours to boost student wellbeing while supporting the university’s sustainability goals.

‘To complete the 450 sq m design, the teams had just four weeks during the summer holidays before the new term started and with exams going on, the installation had to be completed outside of standard hours. However, the design of our products meant the tiles were easy to fi t, so the fl ooring was installed in just two weeks and we were able to deliver the project on time. Students can now enjoy an immersive space where they can relax and take time out from their studies and we couldn’t be happier with the fi nal result.’

interface.com | surrey.ac.uk | morganlovell.co.uk

Insight Direct Manchester

A SELECTION of floor coverings from Forbo Flooring Systems, combining aesthetics, functionality and exceptional performance, has helped Maze Workplace to create a flexible workspace for Insight Direct’s new office in Manchester.

The IT solutions company has relocated from an existing office in Salford, to a smaller, but more central 9,000 sq ft premises in Manchester. The new office space offers employees a mix of alternative coworking environments and includes open plan hotdesking for 44 people, arranged in smaller ‘neighbourhoods’, two hot offices, five meeting rooms, two open/soft meeting areas, as well as a wellbeing room and a large games area.

A selection of Forbo floor coverings were used at Insight Direct, combining aesthetics with functionality. Image Credit: Jefferson SmithA selection of Forbo floor coverings were used at Insight Direct, combining aesthetics with functionality. Image Credit: Jefferson Smith

This is the latest project that Maze Workplace has delivered for Insight Direct in collaboration with fit-out company Office Principles and follows an earlier fit-out of the company’s Uxbridge office. Kate Weston, senior interior designer at Maze Workplace, said: ‘The design brief was to create an open plan office that drew inspiration from Insight’s Next Gen workspace in Uxbridge, but to adapt it to the requirements of the Manchester-based teams. Although there is a significant reduction in the number of fixed desks than their previous office in Salford, the new office features over 30 alternative work settings in the form of dining booths, focus rooms for quiet working, work benches, a collaboration area, training area with tiered seating and a large, flexible breakout area for all-hands meetings.

‘Both colour and texture have played an integral part of the interior design,’ Weston explained. ‘The client’s brand colours are very strong, so this forms a major part of the concept. The team wanted to reflect the urban materials that surround the site with concrete textures as well as other architectural materials. The client is very keen to create each of its offices as a development of its past projects, not a carbon copy. This allows us to play with finishes and materials to create something that’s one of a kind.’

The office’s urban location is represented throughout by Maze Workplace’s clever and creative choice of products. This is especially clear in the reception area, where Forbo’s Allura LVT have been used to visually connect the outside pavement area with the interior of the building, by using a concrete aesthetic. Weston said: ‘We used Forbo’s Allura in the warm concrete dots colourway in the reception area, which added a nod to the urban location and offered something different from the standard “concrete” look.’

The dark vintage gym floor, featuring coloured confetti blocks from Forbo’s custom vinyl wood range, has been used to create a vibrant and contemporary look in the kitchen, breakout spaces and the individual focus and meeting rooms. The different colour blocks within the flooring tie in with Direct Insight’s strong brand colours and the variety of furnishings used throughout each of the different areas.

Forbo’s vinyl wood range uses high-definition printing technology to create realistic wood-like floors in a variety of colour and plank structures for a modern, contemporary, rustic or authentic look, whilst still meeting the functional demands of the differing applications.

Forbo’s Sphera Energetic homogenous vinyl flooring in the vivid morning dew colourway has been installed in the kitchen. Weston added: ‘The main criteria for selecting flooring for different working environments was primarily aesthetics and colour, but, of course, quality and performance. The entire project has been very popular with the staff. In fact, the office has often been “full” which, as a designer, is amazing to hear – especially in these post- Covid times.’

forboflooring.co.uk

Thomas & Adamson Edinburgh

Exposed stone walls and open ceiling ducting contrast with the floor coverings and furnishing.Exposed stone walls and open ceiling ducting contrast with the floor coverings and furnishing.

WHEN UNDERTAKING a business modernisation program, construction and property consultancy Thomas & Adamson appointed Form Design Consultants to refurbish its Edinburgh head office and Glasgow office spaces. The new Edinburgh site is based on the ground floor of 13 Lister Square in the heart of the city’s Quartermile district.

The design brief was to create an open plan, agile, innovative and modern working environment in which staff, clients and peers would enjoy collaborating. As a progressive, flexible work environment, the design team were also challenged with reducing the number of office workstations.

Perhaps the first thing to strike visitors is the retained features of the original building; exposed stone walls and open ceiling ducting provide a contrast with the floor coverings, rich paint colours and new furnishings. Two designs from Milliken’s Artistic Liberties modular carpet collection – Without Reserve and Outspoken Tradition – provide a complementary aesthetic to the hard structural features of the scheme.

Inside the office, there is an ‘arrival space’ rather than a formal reception area. Milliken’s Without Reserve in Antique is installed in the main workspace. Form Design Consultants’ creative team have incorporated a mix of formal, private meeting rooms, booths, informal meeting lounges and a relaxing coffee bar to support Thomas & Adamson’s range of business interactions. The Outspoken Tradition range has been chosen for the floors in some of these spaces, with the decorative scrolls of the design intended to create a fun juxtaposition with the unfinished look of the peeling plaster and visible brickwork.

Employee wellbeing was a key element of the design brief for the workspace. From a functional perspective, Milliken’s modular carpet’s Comfort Lite cushion backing helps in achieving the wellbeing aspect of the brief. As well as providing additional underfoot comfort, its acoustic properties also help by absorbing distracting noise in this open office design.

floors.milliken.com

StirrUps Bar and Restaurant Evesham

A mix and match of wood designs have been laid in a herringbone pattern alongside a striking geometric designA mix and match of wood designs have been laid in a herringbone pattern alongside a striking geometric design

BRINGING NEW life to an old inn in the market town of Evesham, StirrUps Bar and Restaurant aims to make a stir with its offering of gourmet burgers and cocktails. Evolving from a successful event gin bar, which operated out of a converted horsebox, the business adapted and expanded during Covid-19 restrictions to offer a takeaway service, including burgers made with locally sourced ingredients. This operation was so successful that they looked for a permanent venue in the town.

The same herringbone pattern, from above, in addition to the subtle pink tones in the busy bar areaThe same herringbone pattern, from above, in addition to the subtle pink tones in the busy bar area

When it came to designing the interior, owners Darren Strickland, Stuart Bailey and Dan Walker knew that a bespoke floor would complement the history of the building and reflect their ethos of doing things differently. Understanding that attitudes to entertainment, eating out and personalised service are changing, both the menu and the interior aim to offer a blend of the familiar with the indulgent and unexpected.

Strickland said: ‘We’re all about creating a drinking and dining experience like no other. We wanted the floor to express this and help us stand out from the crowd. Our customers are looking for something a bit special, so we wanted to make our bar restaurant somewhere that people will tell their friends about and come back to time and time again. We wanted to design a unique floor that combines the traditional warmth of a wood floor with spectacular geometrics and the very latest colour palettes.’

The same herringbone pattern, from above, in addition to the subtle pink tones in the busy bar areaThe same herringbone pattern, from above, in addition to the subtle pink tones in the busy bar area

The industrial nature of the building has been enhanced with exposed black metal beams and supports as well as feature lighting. The floor design softens these hard lines and adds a welcoming natural feel whilst also helping customers navigate the space safely.

Clearly demarcating the busy bar area, Clifton from Karndean’s Heritage Collection provides a classic tile pattern but in a custom colourway using Blush that picks out the subtle pink tones of Smoked Butternut from the Korlok range. The enhanced acoustic benefits of the Korlok range means that, even when the bar is full of people, noise is kept to a minimum.

In the raised restaurant area, a mix and match of wood designs have been laid in a herringbone pattern alongside a striking geometric design to provide character. The bespoke herringbone floor features Christchurch Oak, Walnut and Lancewood from Karndean’s Van Gogh range. Set into this, circular rug patterns have been created with a hand-cut ‘houndstooth’ design using Cool Grey Oak, Ebony and Nimbus Oak, also from the Van Gogh range, to give each table its own defined dining space.

Strickland added: ‘The floor has really become the star of the show! Everyone comments on it but what we like most is that it helps our customers use the space and feel safe. Of course, the fact that the floor is hard wearing, waterproof and so easy to keep hygienically clean is also key for us.’

karndean.com








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