The Business of Design February 2011 £5.50 www.widn.com
DEGREES OF CREATIVITY
Bangkok University’s Centre of Creativity, by Supermachine Studio
PERFECTING THE LOOK OF WOOD
Natural Touch's cutting edge embossed in register technology creates astonishingly realistic grain and beautiful colouration. So you can have the desirable look and feel of wood without the flaws of wood. Technical and aesthetic excellence- it really is the perfect combination. For a copy of our new Natural Touch brochure contact
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Wood, perfected
The new Citis-SN range. An elegant desk system at a price worth celebrating.
It’s not every day that contemporary style and outstandingly good value go hand in hand, so the launch of our new desk and bench range is a bit of a rare event. Flexible and practical Thoughtfully engineered with modular construction and shared components, it forms an elegant system that remains adaptable and responsive to the changing needs of growing businesses.
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Acting sustainably is what we do. With our beginnings in Australia, for over 26 years now we have been designing and manufacturing commercial furniture products and components for global workplace environments. With sustainability at the core of everything we do, we are dedicated to the minimisation of environmental impact from our products. We strive to continually innovate through our diverse products and services to UHGHĺQHDQGH[FHHGEHQFKPDUNVLQTXDOLW\ and design.
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Contents February 2011
Regulars
Projects
FX Focus
DIARY................................................................19
CORINTHIAN CLUB, GLASGOW Glasgow-based design practice Graven Images transforms a Victorian bank and former Hight Court into a luxury leisure destination ...........................36
SURFACES 20 pages on the latest thinking on surface materials, including designers on the importance of selecting the right material for the job, why felt is such a favourite in so many different projects, and how an interactive surface technology is adding another dimension to swimming..................61
FORUM Your letters ..........................................20 HEADLINER An installation shows the way to Hussein Chalayan’s creativity .........................23 NEWS Hand drawing courses; tax breaks for R&D; RCA launches new series of architecture lectures; world’s second-largest tower is underway; meet FX on the beach at MIPIM......................................................25 BUSINESS Met Studio for science centre in China; new ceiling system debuts .................29 TOP 5 Pick of the best new products ..............31 PROFILE Director of Woods Bagot Nik Karalis, who believes the recession is a good thing...32 ONE TO WATCH Acrylicize, which creates acrylic installations and artwork ......................35 IF ONLY ...bus stops could be more interactive, says MIT designers and engineers.............122
BANGKOK UNIVERSITY CREATIVE CENTRE Supermachine Studio has colourful ideas for a centre aimed at fostering creative thinkers .....43
Features ZAHA HADID The architect’s new school academy in Brixton, south London makes a bold statement for the pupils and the neighbourhood ................................................46 THINK PIECE Aidan Walker takes a look at the new book, New Demographics New Workplace, which should help send the openplan office on its way out, if only management would read it ............................51 ECOBUILD We preview Ecobuild, the three-day event at ExCeL devoted to all things – ideas and products – ecological and sustainable......54
Tech Spec TEST BENCH Ergonomics expert Levent Çaglar puts the new Airpad task from Interstuhl through its paces............................82 LIGHT + TECH Jill Entwistle looks at the latest lighting product launches from the Arc Show, held at the Business Design Centre...............84 MATERIALS Creative director of SCIN Annabelle Filer is happy to declare that less is more with this month’s selection of innovative materials ........................................88 COVER STORY: Page 43 Supermachine Studio creates an interactive wall for students to play with at the Bangkok University Creative Centre
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 17
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Welcome Diary WHERE TO GO THIS MONTH
Last year’s design of the year the Folding Plug, with its creator Min-Kyu Choi
Brit Insurance Design Awards 2011 entries 16 February- 7 August, Exhibition of shortlisted entries, Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1
TEFAF IMAGE: LANDAU FINE ART/JEAN DUBUFFET, DECHAUMAGE AU BRABANT, 1943
Some 100 shortlisted entries to this year’s Brit Insurance Design Awards go on show at the Design Museum, with the designer of the year award winner being announced on 15 March. Architecture, graphics, product and furniture are among the awards’ seven categories, being judged by a panel that includes design curator Janice Blackburn, graphic designer Mark Farrow, and Simon Waterfall, co-founder of digital agency Poke, and is chaired by Stephen Bayley. designmuseum.org
The Surface Design Show 15-17 February, Business Design Centre, London N1 Dedicated to interior and exterior surfaces for building design, this is a diary event for architects, interior designers and specifiers. This year’s show has the theme ‘Material Thinking’, highlighting the development of modern materials. surfacedesignshow.com
ISH 2011 15-19 March, Mese Frankfurt, Frankfurt The biennial ISH provides the biggest showcase going for innovative bathroom design, energy efficient heating and air-conditioning technology, and renewable energies. With a host of exhibitors plus support seminars. More than 200,000 visitors attended ISH 2009. ish.messefrankfurt.com
BSEC Building Schools Exhibition and Conference 23-24 February, ExCeL, London E16 With the Government’s closure of the £55bn Building Schools for the Future programme and the start of free schools, this exhbition and conference covering education projects from planning to building is particularly pertinent. buildingschools.co.uk
Tefaf 18-27 March, Exhibition & Congress Centre, Forum 100, Maastricht View and buy paintings from Brugel to Bacon as well as objects reflecting 6,000 years of excellence in the applied arts, as more than 250 of the world’s most prestigious art and antiques dealers from 17 countries attend this event. tefaf.com
Theresa Dowling Editor
I
know it’s still winter and these heavy grey skies make everything seem so miserable, but fancy meeting for breakfast, on the beach? I can’t wait to get a bit of sunshine in the south of France next month for MIPIM, and to jolly it all along a bit I’m organising an FX breakfast beach party in association with InterfaceFlor, when I hope to meet as many architects, designers and their clients as possible. You’ll need to let me know if you want to come along, as we have to organise security passes in advance of the bash, but if you can’t make it I’m setting some time aside the day before, so if we can meet up then that would be grand. Another show coming up just the week before MIPIM is Ecobuild, at the Business Design Centre. We have a sneak preview in this issue of some of the new products designed to enhance our efforts to be ecologically conscious and promote sustainability that will be at Ecobuild. Meanwhile the new academy school designed by Zaha Hadid for the Arc Schools initiative in Brixton, south London, is our feature of the month, and what a stunner it is. Full of signature angles, it is making a bold statement both for the pupils and the neighbourhood. And among many other good reads this month, I just have space to mention our 20-page focus on surfaces, in which designers have plenty of insightful comments to make on the subject. FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 19
Forum
BRAND SPANKING
Y
ou may recall that a few years ago there was a voguish interest in the idea of employer branding. The idea was popularised in the first book on the subject in 2005. By 2008 Jackie Orme, the head of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, was calling it ‘an integral part of business strategy’. It appears to have dropped off the radar a bit over the past couple of years, which we can put down to the effect of the recession. Firms certainly seem to have their mind on other things than attracting and retaining the best staff. Research published recently by PriceWaterhouseCoopers showed that in 2009, 54 per cent of businesses said they placed a special focus on retaining talent; this year that’s dropped down to 36 per cent. This is odd, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it seems perverse that in a knowledge economy firms are placing less emphasis on recruiting and keeping hold of the best knowledge workers. Secondly, it makes no business sense. The CIPD recently reported that more than a third of employees plan to change jobs once the recession is over. The recent report from PWC emphasises how costly this might be for employers. Despite the ongoing uncertainty in the economy, the proportion of UK workers resigning from their jobs has increased from 7.7 per cent to 10.4 per cent in the past year. This matters to us because there has always been a close link between the labour market and office design. In the wider business community, the conundrum that has dominated management thinking over the past 20 years is this: if your main asset is knowledge and that knowledge is largely locked up in people’s heads, how do you attract those heads to your organisation? Then, once they are in your employ, how do you make them stay there or at the very least empty some of the contents into computers and other people’s heads before they go? It is this riddle that has led to the dominance of ‘soft’ issues in management thinking and why workplace design has focused increasingly on softer business issues such as corporate culture, the environment and knowledge management. It has driven the growth of flexible work practices as organisations have tried to give people a better work-life balance. It has driven the softening of the workplace itself, the growth of breakout space and the focus on the team. And, of course, it has pushed on the idea of employer branding.
EDITORIAL:
I’d like to suggest that employer branding is a straightforward idea for those involved in workplace design and management to address, but it is anything but. As with many of the issues that we have to manage it is complex, multifaceted, ongoing and demands a multidisciplinary approach. It is likely to require input from FM, HR and IT and will attract the interest of general managers across the organisation. It incorporates a range of factors from working culture, working methods, interior design and the physical environment. My own firm works in only one of these areas, but when it comes to employer branding nothing can be achieved in isolation. That may have been the case in the past, when branding in the workplace focused on replicating a corporate identity, but now there is a far greater focus on reflecting important values to staff. Where once you had logos in the carpet and walls in corporate colours, now we have visualisations of how the company addresses business and environmental issues, the intelligent use of colours and materials to convey ideas and emotions, imagery from packaging and marketing campaigns and manifestations of the outside world. It is new technology that makes all this feasible, both in terms of the designs it makes possible and in the equipment and materials needed to deliver them. What is needed is a holistic approach. It demands people who can integrate and resolve the demands of its many elements and stakeholders, develop clear briefs and ensure delivery of complex and potentially conflicting objectives. Much of that will depend on the development of clear objectives and a clear brief in the first place. It is important is to understand how employer branding works in its many facets and recognise the role it can play in achieving organisational success. Creating the right environment to attract and retain the best staff has always been important but the growth of the knowledge economy and the recovery from recession will make it increasingly important in the coming years. It is a situation that is both challenging and an exciting opportunity for those of us involved in the design and management of offices to further demonstrate our value to the organisation. John Sulzmann Managing director, Artworks Solutions artworks-solutions.com
Editor Theresa Dowling
[email protected] Assistant editor Jamie Mitchell / 020 7336 5294
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[email protected] (include postal address and telephone number) Subscribe online at: www.getthatmag.com Single issue price: UK £5.50; EU €19.50; US $28.50 One year: UK £60; EU €135.50; US $235; ROW $245 Two years: UK £105; EU €240; US $419; ROW $434 Digital edition: £46 (Worldwide price, subscribe at www.getthatmag.com) FX is published 12 times a year by World Market Intelligence, John Carpenter House, John Carpenter Street, London EC4Y 0AN. All calls may be monitored for training purposes. The paper used in this magazine is obtained from manufacturers who operate within internationally recognised standards. The paper is made from Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp, which is sourced from sustainable, properly managed forestation. Printed in England. All rights reserved: No part of FX may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, mechanical, or photocopying, without prior written permission of the editor. ©2011. ISSN 0966-0380
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20 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
FX supports the aims and objectives of ACID (Anti Copying In Design)
www.acousticsatwork.co.uk
Research identified ‘noise’ as a likely cause of employee dissatisfaction with the work atmosphere in terms of low motivation to work, reduced performance and irritation* In the modern workplace, the emphasis is on teamwork, flexibility and communication. For most companies and designers, this means open plan work areas. But while opening up the office has many advantages, it has also meant a loss of privacy and the constant distraction of noise. Acoustics at Work have the solution. We can help you manage sound levels with a high degree of accuracy, ensuring that productivity and privacy needs are met. All of which means you'll no longer have to leave the office to get your best work done.
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www.osram.com/prevaled
OSRAM PrevaLED® Core Light Engines: the future of efficient lighting.
PrevaLED® : Creative Freedom for Luminaire Designers. Flexibility, greater freedom of design and high efficiency these are the main advantages of OSRAM’s new revolutionary PrevaLED ® Core Light Engine. Designed using a modular principle, PrevaLED ® is small, easy-to-use, and extremely powerful. With a range of lumen output options available (up to 3000lm) PrevaLED improves system efficiency by up to 75 lm/W and has outstanding light quality (CRI > 90). It reduces both development work and time to market for luminaire innovations thanks to fixed interfaces. With OSRAM’s latest LED solutions, the future of lighting has arrived. Get inspired at www.osram.com/prevaled, call 01744 812 221 or email
[email protected].
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News p25, 27 Business p29 Top 5 p31 Profile p32-33 One to watch p35
Reporter
INSTALLATION IS A GUIDE TO THE WORLD’S COOLEST PLACES FOR TRENDY TRAVELLERS A unique interactive installation has been created to showcase a collaboration between designer Hussein Chalayan, winner of the outstanding lifetime achievement FX Award in 2009, and trainer and technical sportswear specialist Puma. Multidisciplinary design consultancy Everyone Associates was called in by department store Selfridges to create a showcase in the London store for the Urban Mobility, a collection of clothing and footwear aimed at travel enthusiasts. The installation uses recognisable markings on a terrain map, such as distance markers and trigpoints, as design inspiration. Following the theme, the installation has been designed to imitate the constantly changing landscape
experienced while travelling, achieved by creating an undulating topography of triangular-section vertical rods, which act like a three-dimensional lenticular. As a metaphor for the changing time zones encountered while travelling around the world, the rods gradually change colour from black to white to a reflective 3M Scotchlite finish and then back to black as the viewer moves around the installation. Each triangular rod also features a QR code at the top that, when scanned by a smart phone, will link customers to maps of cool and interesting places in the world that have inspired Chalayan’s work. Everyone Associates as also added iPads to the installation, allowing customers to browse through the collection.
Chalayan’s creativity was not limited to Urban Mobility collection – he conceived that the hangers on which the collection’s pieces are uniquely displayed are suspended using magnets. The installation opens in Selfridges Spirit men’s fashion department from 1 February for four weeks. Words by Anna Lewis everyoneassociates.com husseinchalayan.com
Ecobuild Stand S350
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ROGERS STIRK HARBOUR + PARTNERS
News
A HAND-DRAWN AXONOMETRIC SKETCH SHOWS CIRCULATION AT BARAJAS AIRPORT, MADRID
DRAWING A TALENTED CROWD HAND DRAWING WORKS OUT IN A SERIES OF IN-OFFICE DRAWING GYM SESSIONS
TAX BREAKS OFFERED FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVESTORS Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that carry out research and development may find it easier to claim additional tax relief, thanks to a relaxation in the rules for claiming R&D tax credits. Companies will now be able to claim the additional relief on their activities, even if they don’t own the intellectual property that will result from the R&D. R&D tax relief is designed to promote investment in scientific and technical innovation, providing companies with an extra tax allowance to reduce their tax bill. The SME scheme is open to organisations with fewer than 500 employees, an annual turnover of less than £83m and a balance sheet not exceeding £71.5m. Annual spend on R&D must be a minimum of £10,000. The rule change – the removal of the intellectual property condition – became law in the Finance Act 2010, and SMEs will now be able to apply the new rule to any expenditure on R&D in an accounting period ending on or after 9 December 2009. This will particularly benefit sub-contractors carrying out research for larger companies. The Government is now reviewing the support R&D tax credits provide for innovation, as part of a consultation on reforms to the corporate tax system. The consultation document is available online. The closing date for comments is 22 February. hmrc.gov.uk/ct/forms-rates/claims/randd.htm hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_randd_tax_credits.htm
Drawing At Work is running courses to improve freehand drawing in architectural and engineering offices, with its Sketchmob programme listing some of the most distinguished British and American practices and organisations among its clients, including Desso, CABE, the Building Centre, Building Design Partnership and the Architectural Association, and American Insititute of Architects. Drawing at Work director Trevor Flynn is running ‘Drawing Gyms’ in offices throughout spring and summer, kicked off with an open session last month at the V&A. Flynn founded Sketchmob two years ago with the aim of ‘getting people out to draw more’. drawingatwork.co.uk; sketchmob.co.uk
Correction: In last month’s Headliner on the new theatre complex for the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon, we stated in error that Bennetts Associates also designed the Courtyard Theatre. In fact the Courtyard Theatre was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects, with no input from Bennetts Associates. We are happy to make this clear and apologise for any misunderstanding that may have been caused. ianritchiearchitects.com
FX is heading for the beach for the next MIPIM. In association with InterfaceFlor, FX is staging it first-ever MIPIM breakfast on the beach in Cannes on 10 March from 8.30am to10.30am. All visiting architects and designers and their clients will be welcome, but please advise the FX Editor Theresa Dowling if you’d like to attend as security badges will need be issued for admittance. She’d like to meet as many practices as possible, either at the breakfast party or at MIPIM on 9 March, Email her at
[email protected] At Ecobuild, at London’s ExCeL from 1-3 March, the Society of British Interior Designers and the Carpet Foundation are to launch a luxury carpet collection for the Campaign for Wool. Six SBID members have designed it: Vivienne Westwood; Ken Baker (of Gensler, London); Nina Campbell; David Collins; Nicky Haslam; and Vanessa Brady. SBID represented British interior design at Macef, the Milan home show, in partnership with the Italian Chamber of Commerce. sbid.org
FIT, the Furnishing Industry Trust, the independent charity helping those who work, or have worked, in the furnishing industry and who are now facing a financial or personal crisis, has had its funds boosted by £9,000 by the efforts of a crew of amateur sailors crossing the Atlantic. Tony Attard, group chief executive of furnishing textile designer and manufacturer Panaz, was crewing one of 233 cruising yachts taking part in the annual Atlantic Rally organised by ARC. panaz.com
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 25
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News THE 632M-TALL SUPER HIGH-RISE SHANGHAI TOWER IS SET TO BE COMPLETED IN 2014
MARKN OGUE
AWARD-WINNING THOMAS HEATHERWICK KICKS OFF NEW RCA LECTURE SERIES
The Royal College of Art in London is running a series of architecture lectures, starting 22 February, at 7pm, with Thomas Heatherwick (pictured above left), founder of Heatherwick Studio. His current projects include a monastic building in Sussex, a bio-mass power station in Stockton-on-Tees and the RIBA Lubetkin prize-winning UK Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo. An RCA graduate, Heatherwick was awarded the London Design Medal in 2010 in for his outstanding contribution to design. On 15 March, also at 7pm, the lecture will be delivered John Gray, Emeritus Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics. He has taught at Oxford, Harvard, Yale and the Autonomous University of Madrid. Now a full-time writer his books include The Immortalization Commission, Gray’s Anatomy: Selected Writings, and Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia. He writes articles and reviews for The Guardian, The New York Review of Books and other journals. Places for both lectures are free but seats need to be booked in advance by emailing
[email protected] The RCA’s Professor Wendy Dagworthy (pictured above right), head of the School of Fashion & Textiles, was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list for her services to the fashion industry. British Ceramic Tile has raised £1,000 for the 200year-old Devonbased Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, which helps young people. Fundraising activities included a bake sale and plant sale, and the raffling of a print of Dartmoor by BCT employee and photographer Maria Selley, which alone raised £120. Further contributions came from firms and associations visiting the factory during the year. BCT produces more than 20,000 sq m of wall tiles daily using locally sourced raw materials at its factory in Devon. britishceramictile.com
The Society of British Interior Design has awarded designers and developers for a new commercial upholstery textile. WoJo was designed for coffee chain Starbucks by The Formary, a New Zealand-based design company and blends 70 per cent New Zealand Laneve wool and 30 per cent jute fibre from recycled Starbucks coffee sacks. The sustainable nature of WoJo and its two years of R&D matches the ethical and quality standards promoted by SBID, it says. sbid.org
A detailed plan for an office-led scheme for London Wall Place has been submitted to the City of London for approval. Formerly known as the St Alphage site in London Wall, the plan is for a 46,450 sq m scheme designed by MAKE architects, delivering landmark architecture across two buildings by 2014. In addition to office space plans include new gardens set among historic monuments, including the City wall and the remains of the St Alphage church tower. makearchitects.com
SHANGHAI TOWER ON ITS WAY WORLD’S SECOND TALLEST BUILDING SET FOR COMPLETION IN THREE YEARS’ TIME Construction has begun on the Gensler-designed tower in Shanghai, which will be the world’s second tallest building when it is completed in 2014. At 632m high, the mixed-use building will anchor the city’s Lujiazui district which has emerged as one of East Asia’s leading financial centres, and complete the city’s super high-rise district. It is one of three towers which symbolise Shanghai’s past, present and future, with this tower, representing the future, being the last to be completed. The new tower takes inspiration from Shanghai’s tradition of parks and neighborhoods while its curved facade and spiraling form aims at symbolising the dynamic emergence of modern China. To carry the load of the transparent glass skin, Gensler designed an innovative curtain wall that will be suspended from the mechanical floors above and stabilised by a system of hoop rings and struts. Some 61,000 cu m of concrete has gone into the foundations, and when finished it will have a total floor space of 5231,000 sq m and 106 lifts. gensler.com FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 27
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Business THE GALLERIES PROJECT IS THE BIGGEST FOR MET STUDIO TO DATE ON THE CHINESE MAINLAND
NEW CEILING SYSTEM HAS NOW LANDED AT DUBLIN AIRPORT A new ceiling system has been created, inspired by the landmark architecture of Dublin Airport’s new Terminal 2. The unique modular tensile fabric ceiling system Archiclad, created by award-winning design team at Fabric Architecture, was in response to the front-to-back and left-toright curvature of the airport’s roof. The demanding architecture designs by Pascall +Watson specified a tensile fabric mesh ceiling to span 15,000m and echo the form of the exterior shell while allowing access for lighting and services. ‘We designed a lightweight, self-tensioning frame system that requires minimal support fixings. The system can be installed rapidly with minimal labour, even over large areas. For Dublin T2, our solution cost a million euros less than the alternative system available,’ said Fabric Architecture’s design director Nigel Browne. ‘Aesthetically, ArchiClad has performed magnificently; the crisp lines soar above you, while the expansive panels, with no visible seams, give a human scale to this massive space.” At Dublin Airport the 850 panels were off-set by 600mm from the main trusses to allow for lighting and access for services, while also articulating the geometry of the ceilings. fabricarchitecture.com
Brintons has used its extensive design archive – dating back to 1791 – for inspiration for new carpet designs by Marcel Bequillard Interior Design (MBID) for the Renaissance hotel in Moscow. The design inspiration for the hotel’s interior was the Ballet Russes dance company that captivated audiences in Paris, London and New York between 1909 and 1929, and Bequillard worked with Brintons to create contemporary Axminster carpet designs for 22 separate areas at the four-star hotel. brintons.net
New colour families have been developed by the Formica Group following extensive research for its Formica Colors High Pressure Laminate (HPL) range. Selected to offer a wide variety of ontrend shades the Formica Colors range provides an inspirational choice of architecturally inspired subtle, neutrals, accent colours and atmospheric hues. The new colours offer designers the flexibility to create coordinated, contemporary designs. formica.com
A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH MET STUDIO TO CREATE NEW GALLERIES FOR CHINESE SCIENCE CENTRE
iGuzzini Denmark has opened a new HQ in Copenhagen. With a 10-yer presence in the capital, the lighting company intends the new space to be a venue for meetings and training, and allowing visitors ‘to view the ... expressions of artificial light and discuss in depth the culture of light’. The new HQ is to be equipped with a ‘laboratory of light’, used to test the effects of artificial light, and will host events and initiatives to raise public awareness of the use of artificial light. iguzzini.com
Multi-award-winning masterplanner and exhibition design practice MET Studio has been commissioned to create three galleries for China’s new Ningbo Science Exploration Centre, due to open in spring 2012. The 50,000 sq m new-build centre will house six permanent galleries in total, across two storeys, and MET Studio (in a joint undertaking between the company’s London and Hong Kong offices) won the pitch to design three of the galleries after taking part in an international pitch involving design companies from Europe, the USA, Japan and China. ‘MET Studio has worked on a number of important museum and gallery projects in Asia since the company’s inception in 1982’, commented MET Studio chairman Alex McCuaig, ‘but mostly in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Although we have worked in mainland China before, this is the largest such project and we hope it will be the first of many.’ The three large-scale galleries, each measuring between 2,000 sq m and 2,500 sq m, are entitled Universe, Harmonious Home and Ocean. The MET Studio London team has designed the first two under the direction of design director Lloyd Hicks, while the company’s Hong Kong team is overseeing the Ocean gallery, under the direction of design director Neil Williams, with Lloyd Hicks and Chinese adviser Dr Tai overseeing the delivery of the whole three-gallery project. The galleries’ graphics and communication (also to be created by MET Studio) will be in Chinese and English. metstudio.com FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 29
80% recycled. commercial tiles Solus Ceramics are proud to unveil four new tile ranges that combine the highest technical and aesthetic qualities with up to 80% recycled glass salvaged from discarded cathode ray tubes. Perfect for use in any project but especially relevant to greener projects which are designed with sustainability in mind.
Please contact us for details on the wide range of sizes, colours and ¿QLVKHVDYDLODEOHLQWKHIROORZLQJ ranges; Greenway, Eco Mosaic, Eco Touch and Sunstone.
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[email protected] Supplying your imagination enq 114
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BERTA BENCH BY VILAGRASA This indoor/outdoor public seating designed by Franc Fernández and KXdesigners is made of an aluminum plate in a polished and anodised satin finish. Berta bench can be fitted with LED lights to highlight the bench’s graphics at night. vilagrasa.com
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M10 BY FORMA 5 Forma 5 chose this year’s Orgatec show to launch its latest range of contemporary office furniture designed by star designer Mario Ruiz. The new range of reception furniture, called M10, includes tables, benches, single desks and storage. forma5.es
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NUANCE BY BRINTONS The designer and manufacturer of woven Axminster carpet has worked with New York product designer Stacy Garcia to launch its new Nuance collection, with colours and moods taken from natural elements: light, sound, sand and the ocean. brintons.co.uk
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FOLIO BY ENEA Designed by Josep Lluscà for Enea, the Folio table is suitable for contract environments being detachable, foldable and stackable. Its stand is painted or chrome steel tubes with cast aluminium feet, while the table top is made from melamine. eneacontract.com
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 31
‘Covention centres are the new museums,’ says Nik Karalis. With the Melbourne Exhibtion and Convention Centre, Woods Bagot persuaded the client to redefine convention centres
32 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
Profile
NIK KARALIS
This director of a multinational architectural practice has some pretty unconventional views about how business should work, but its successes bear them out, reports Jamie Mitchell
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he recession is the best thing that could have happened to architecture,’ says Nik Karalis, a director of multinational architecture practice Woods Bagot. Karalis remembers an architecture conference in Dubai shortly before the financial collapse in 2008. ‘It was unbelievable, he recalls, ‘like something from a science fiction movie. Architecture had become so implausible, architects so arrogant. You could see that something had to change.’ It’s not that Karalis is against innovation – quite the opposite – but the plain-speaking Australian, who now lives in London, doesn’t have time for audacious or egotistical architecture. ‘I think the practices that come out of this [recession] are going to be more responsible in the way they design buildings,’ he says. Karalis did his BA in interior design before moving into architecture, and interior design has heavily influenced his approach to designing buildings. He’s adamant that architecture and interior design have to break free from their stereotypes. ‘That cliché of male architects married to female interior designers is ridiculous,’ he says. ‘It’s strange, too, that interior design is sometimes seen as a non-intellectual experience compared to architecture.’ Some years ago, Karalis became concerned that architecture was ‘dislocating itself from the social issues of the day’. His response, in 2006, was to set up a research arm of Woods Bagot called Public, which produces papers, seminars, books and podcasts in which the firm’s staff get to air their views alongside those of leading academics. ‘A lot of our staff wrote articles about what they thought were the moans and groans of the planet, and understanding these things helped us to design better buildings,’ he says. ‘What we’re trying to do is look for greater and wider influences into what architecture should be.’
One such publication was Spatial Tactics, published in 2006, in which Karalis predicted ‘the death of the corporation’. That’s a pretty surprising prediction from a director of a multinational company employing 500 people, isn’t it? ‘Basically, when corporations get to a certain size they begin to survive for themselves,’ he explains, ‘and we need to dissolve that and break it down.’ In Spatial Tactics, Karalis argues that during Woods Bagot’s 137-year history, the practice, despite being very successful, was in danger of losing ‘the one thing that [makes] us all get up in the morning – our creativity’. ‘We had become the yes men (and women) that we ourselves had vehemently criticised,’ wrote Karalis, ‘and we didn’t like what we stood for. We were, and are, better than that.’ Five years on, Karalis explains what that realisation meant for the practice: ‘What I tried to do at that point was say that Woods Bagot is not about the name. It’s about all the people in the organisation. So it’s not like you’re working for this giant, faceless, global super-entity. That’s the transition that took place at Woods Bagot from 2006 onwards.’ Karalis sees this transition as nothing short of a rebirth, and since 2006 his mission has been to transform an architectural behemoth into what he describes as ‘one global studio’. Communication, he says, is key. ‘A lot of companies call themselves global, but they’re actually a collection of separate practices. There’s a difference between a collection of practices that are located all over the world and a truly collective way of working.’ What makes Woods Bagot different, says Karalis, is that the project is king, rather than the company. ‘It’s not just one person, or one particular region, working on each project,’ he says. ‘We have people all over the world working on each project – we’re the architecture practice that never sleeps.’
The foyer of the award-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, left, is a shining example of the Woods Bagot philosophy of the project being king, not the company. Above, Nik Karalis
Another tenet of the Woods Bagot philosophy is that the practice must have no house style. ‘When I look at the work we do I’m checking to see that there is no evidence of a signature style, that each project is contextually specific to its own area, both geographically and in terms of the building’s function,’ says Karalis. It all sounds great in theory, but the buildings that spring from this approach to architecture, such as the multiaward-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, which Woods Bagot designed as a joint venture with NHArchitecture, speak for themselves. According to Karalis, Woods Bagot persuaded the developer to do something really different, to redefine what a convention centre should be. The triangular building, which recently won a National Award for Public Architecture from the Australian Institute of Architects, has a 18mhigh glass facade, which gives passers-by a glimpse of the activity within the centre and creates a foyer full of natural light, as well as offering views out across the Yarra River to the city beyond. Inside is a 2,500 sq m banquet hall that can be subdivided, a fanshaped auditorium which seats 5,000 and which offers spectacular views unencumbered by supporting columns, and 6,500 sq m of meeting rooms. The building also sets a global benchmark for sustainable design, having been awarded a top environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. ‘Convention centres are the new museums,’ says Karalis. ‘They shouldn’t just be about processing however many hundreds of people. They are cultural buildings, so why do so many look like airports?’ FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 33
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One to watch
ACRYLICIZE WHO: Founded seven years ago by university friends James Burke and Paul Arad, design agency Acrylicize creates acrylic installations and artwork for commercial and residential spaces.
WHY: Creating oneoff artworks for homes, offices, restaurants and football stadia, Acrylicize has grown from a university final project to an awardwinning design agency whose diverse work includes a map of the London Underground made of ribbon, and a globe made entirely of Monopoly houses.
WHERE:
www.acrylicize.com
1 Acrylicize designed and curated an interior art scheme for the refurbishment of Warnford Court, a prominent Victorian building in the City of London which once once served as the offices of the Bank of England. Acrylicize produced artwork using an eclectic mix of styles, materials and artists throughout the interior, including a representation of a powerless banker.
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Acrylicize collaborated with Jump Studios to create this one-of-akind light wall at the headquarters of communications company Engine in London. The installation was custom made for the space using bespoke acrylic boxes and LED lighting.
Office space provider The Office commissioned Acrylicize to come up with an entire interior design scheme for its site in Rivington Street, east London. The project involved a custom-designed installation in the reception consisting of laser-cut MDF shapes referencing the area’s culture. In the communal lounge Acrylicize designed a neon installation that was commissioned exclusively for the space.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 35
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RENZO MAZZOLINI
PROJECT 1
Corinthian Club // Built as a bank in the Victorian era this grand old building in Glasgow is getting a new lease of life while reclaiming much of its splendour in an design by local practice Graven Images Client: G1 Group // Design: Graven images // Size: 4,000 sq m // Completion time: 8 months
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U N D E R S TA N D I N G L E D s
PROJECT 1
Built as a bank and subsequently used as the city’s High Court, the Glasgow Ship Bank’s 1884 building has a long and distinguished history. It is now the Corinthian Club, a fourfloor ‘pleasure palace’ comprising bars, restaurants and a casino, which recently reopened after a refurbishment by local design practice Graven Images. According to Graven Images design director Jim Hamilton, striking the right balance between the building’s history and its modern function was the key to designing scheme. ‘The building has already enjoyed several different lives, as a private home, a bank, a courthouse and as a nightclub, and this is another episode in its history,’ says Hamilton. ‘An important part of creating a more attractive, modern and multipurpose venue was to accept and recognise that history and at the same time move the building on.’ Instead of focusing on its courthouse past, Hamilton and his design team went back to its roots as a bank. The Bootleg bar, for example, which used to be the banking hall, has a bar made from old safes, and a mosaic floor by Scottish artist Nichol Wheatley made from more than half a million tiles with a design based on Scottish banknotes. Loose furniture here is an eclectic mix of chairs In Tellers Bar & and tables by Graham Brasserie, topped by and Greene, Pols Potten a magnificent ceiling and dome, features and One World. original French porter The grandest space in chairs and padded the Corinthian Club is the banquettes in purple. Tellers Bar & Brasserie, Previous page, the bar front in this space which has a 7.5m-high is padded leather cast glass dome. A previous in concrete scheme had not lived up to its potential, so Graven Images added some glamour with original French porter chairs, padded banquettes upholstered in purple, and zinc tables. There are two bars to be found here: one finished in cut-glass mirror tiles and topped with crackle-glazed lava stone; the other with an unusual front which looks like it is upholstered but has actually been made by casting padded leather in concrete. ‘It was a bespoke product from a Glasgowbased company called Gray Concrete,’ Hamilton explains. ‘We had seen a small sample of fabric cast in concrete, and we thought it would work really well with padded upholstery.’ 39
Gray Concrete also created a full concrete sofa for outdoors, which looks so realistic that customers have occasionally sat down a little too hard on it. ‘They’ve had to put a sign up to warn people. In Glasgow, even the sofas are hard, jokes Hamilton. The chandeliers here are reproductions of the ones originally used in the bank, and made by the same Bristol Right, the bank’s company. Surface original chandeliers specialist Rearo supplied were reproduced – specially designed by the company that made the originals. curved booths in white Far right, curved Corian for the Tellers Bar. booths in white Corian Hand-cut and shaped are paired with they are accompanied by bespoke zinc-base tables with Corian bespoke tables designed tops and oversized by Graven Images with standard lamps zinc bases and white Corian tabletops, oversized standard lamps –also designed by Graven Images – and classic wooden Cherner Chairs, a product originally designed by Norman Cherner in the Fifties and recently reissued. The building’s exterior is Grade A listed so there was very little Graven Images was allowed do with it, but the designers were keen to make the Corinthian Club more visible from the street. ‘One of the issues in the past was that the windows didn’t give any views inside the building,’ says Hamilton. ‘We looked at how we could create certain internal focal points within
PROJECT 1
the windows with a range of lighting techniques. We also added various ceiling and feature wall treatments in rooms to the front of the building to make them more eye-catching from the street.’ For example the Boutique bar on the ground floor has a cut-glass mirror-tiled ceiling and is lit by art deco chandeliers supplied by Du Bote Du Monde. To catch the attention of passers-by Graven Images placed by the windows cutglass mirrors with a pattern loosely based on some of the building’s original decorative features. A 5m-long glass and steel table designed by Graven Images and made by EK Metals and Glassage dominates the space, but this can be relocated as the room is sometimes used to stage fashion shows or pop-up shops. ‘A wall of LCD screens opposite the windows is a deliberate move to grab people’s attention with moving light and imagery, as well as acting as a large screen for fashion shows and product advertisement,’ says Hamilton. The Boutique bar has a surround decorated with a thousand exquisitely crafted acanthus leaves, hand-moulded in plaster by Glasgow company Halcyon. ‘As a designer, a big part of your job is experiencing new things every day,’ says Hamilton. ‘On this job we were able to observe at close quarters all of these fantastic craftspeople using their skills to pull together a very testing interior. We take our hats off to them all.’ Words by Jamie Mitchell
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[email protected] PROJECT 2
Bangkok University Creative Centre // Creativity was given free rein in this scheme at a university centre aimed at fostering creative thinkers, and design consultancy Supermachine Studio gave up trumps
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Client: Bangkok University // Design: Supermachine Studio // Size: 600 sq m // Completion time: 10 months
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PROJECT 2
Thailand’s economy has traditionally relied on agriculture and manufacturing, but, as with many Eastern economies, things are changing. Talking to the Bangkok Post in 2009 the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he wanted Thailand to become ‘a country of thinkers’ and that he hoped to see the value of the country’s creative industries rise from 12 per cent to 20 per cent of gross domestic product by 2012. Bangkok University is central to that vision, and the Bangkok University Creative Centre (BUCC), designed by Supermachine Studio, has been conceived as a place where the country’s next generation of creative thinkers can come together, pool their talents and inspire one another. Located on the first two floors of Bangkok University’s new four-storey BU Landmark Complex, the centre provides a workshop, library, exhibition space, viewing room and office for use by students from across all of the university’s creative faculties. ‘The facility is meant to be very open, playful and expressive, to encourage students to communicate within a creative environment,’ says Pitupong ‘Jack’ Chaowakul, one of Supermachine Studio’s four architects. One of the standout design features of the scheme is the ‘lo-fi pixel wall’, which covers 180 sq m of wall space in the building’s lift core and is made up of 10,000 individually rotating plastic ‘pixels’, each with four different coloured faces – pink, blue, green and yellow. Students can change the colour of the wall and create patterns simply by rotating the pixels by hand. ‘They can leave messages for their friends on the wall, as well as experimenting with its colour pattern, so the wall will be constantly changing,’ says Chaowakul. The floor in the lift core, made of selflevelling epoxy, is a shocking pink colour to match the pink faces of the pixels. According to Chaowakul, the facility for students to alter the look and function of the centre is crucial to its role as a creative space, and many of the other elements in the BUCC have been designed to support this principle. In the workshop, for example, workstations where students can use their laptops have been
housed inside a Supermachine Studiodesigned unit made of steel with a lime green laminate finish, which Chaowakul calls the ‘spaceship’. Furnished with Palladini Frame Chairs in lime green and Ultra Modern Pendant Lights by Lightscape 360, the spaceship can be moved into different corners of the room to make space for presentations and other group activities. Supermachine Studio designed most of the
Previous page, and below, the lift lobby self-levelled resin floor and multicoloured, interactive pixelled wall (also bottom). Above right, the mobile ‘spaceship’ laptops port has Palladini Frame Chairs and lighting by Lightscape (both detailed above left)
furniture for the workshop and the BUCC office, including curved bookshelves made of oriented strand board, and the designers were keen to give the space as much flexibility of usage as possible. ‘The idea of flexibility and collaboration extends to the centre’s office too,’ says Chaowakul. ‘The staff worktable is designed as a continuous plane attached to the leaning wall. There are no divisions and no clear definition of owns any particular area on the table.’ Words by Jamie Mitchell Main suppliers: Furniture: Palladini (procured through VIVI Home Decorative Co, Bangkok) // Lighting: Lightscape 360
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A five-lane, 100m running track that passes right by the academy’s reception and underneath Zaha Hadid’s signature angles of the school buildings anchors its sports focus
46 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
ZAHA HADID
FAST TRACK TO THE FUTURE Zaha Hadid’s Evelyn Grace Academy is a bold statement of ambition at the heart of south London’s most crime-afflicted residential neighbourhood. Veronica Simpson finds form, function and aspirations working in harmony
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 47
F
or a community that may have lost faith in the ability of schools to transform their kids’ futures, a school that looks nothing like any other school – and which transforms the landscape – packs undoubted symbolic punch. All streamlined curves and sharp angles, Evelyn Grace Academy sits boldly at the centre of its narrow site, very much like some sculptural sports trophy, with a five-lane, pillar-box red running track streaking from the main entrance past reception and beyond to the far fence. One wonders how many pupils or visitors can resist breaking into a jog as they approach... Surrounded by a mixture of Brixton’s sink estates, boxy post-war terraces, faded Victorian townhouses, and a rubbish depot, the impact is visceral. It speaks of ambition and determination – and looks every penny of its £36m budget. Those kind of angles and curves don’t come cheap. As Rowan Moore, writing of it in The Observer said, it’s ‘a one-off from an age that has already passed’. But far from being some empty statement of educational or architectural ambition, its form follows a complex functional blueprint laid down by the head teacher and the school’s sponsors ARK (founded by hedge-fund billionaire Arpad ‘Arki’ Busson, with its sole aim of raising educational prospects for inner city children). With extremely high standards expected of pupils both academically and behaviourally, the school is designed as four interlocking small schools – two middle schools for 11to 14-year-olds and two upper schools for 14 to 19-year olds, with their own separate entrances, classrooms and recreational spaces. When full, each small school will have no more than 270 pupils, and they are expected to stay at school from 8.30am to 5pm. School principal Peter Walker explains: ‘We are developing this approach to ensure that personal relationships between students and staff develop quickly and that a culture of excellent behaviour can be maintained.’ Each individual school has its own head teacher, working under the direction of Walker and responsible for ensuring that ‘individual students make consistent progress across all subjects’ as well as developing strong relationships parents. To achieve this design objective while breaking down the massing, the building has been designed like an intersecting jigsaw. The schools are organised horizontally to minimise 48 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
vertical circulation, with the middle schools spread over levels 1 and 2, the upper schools on level 3. The ‘Z’ ends announce, to those both inside and outside the building, the demarcation between one small school and another. Sports, science and music facilities are shared and arranged on the ground floor to also maximise their potential out-of-hours use by the wider community. Classrooms maximise daylight, are bright and well-ventilated. Views into and out of school spaces are plentiful, reinforcing a feel of clarity and transparency. The school has a sports specialism, and by arranging all the pitches, courts, gyms and studios around the building, visible from every
Top, the 70-degree slant of the architecture is apparent in the interior open spaces. Above, internal feature colour is not widespread in the schools, apart from pupil lockers and school boundaries
window – and from the neighbouring streets – its sporting focus is drummed home very clearly. Contractor Mace declares that the school ‘is up there with the three or four highest-quality finishes we’ve ever done. With a building at predominantly 70 degrees, it’s very important to get the finishing and detailing right.’ Interior spaces are neutral – grey paint, sealed concrete, a corridor of sparkly deep-green metallic paint in the middle school – and very grown up. Feature colour rarely appears, apart from the ‘Evelyn’ schools’ (middle and upper) yellow lockers or the ‘Grace’ schools’ green. It feels like a very grown-up building – aided by the quality of the public
ZAHA HADID
School trust: ARK Schools Government: DFSF Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects Construction cost: £36m Size: 1.4ha site Building: 10,745sq m Main contractor (design and build): Mace Structural and Engineer Services: ARUP Quantity surveyors: Davis Langdon Landscape: Gross Max Acoustic Consultant: Sandy Brown Associates Main contractor’s architects: Bamber & Reddan Specialist frame contractor: Atlantic Contracts FF&E: Favourite Cat Planning consultants: DTZ
area furniture. Project architect Matthew Hardcastle admits that ‘we spent far more time on this than we should have’. Classroom chairs are basic, serviceable and plastic to allow a higher spend on public-area furniture. But why the angles? Hardcastle says: ‘Zaha’s architecture is very challenging – it challenges you to think differently. Visually, externally, it is a different relationship. Yes, angled corners add a bit more to the cost, but it’s a question of value for money. ‘There’s the added drama to internal and external spaces. When you experience these angled spaces from the inside, they are very rich.’ And there was the problem of creating a
building that made sense in such a mixed urban environment. ‘With inclined edges, the building has a very different relationship with the street,’ says Hardcastle. So what difference will this building make to its pupils? Walker says: ‘There are some subliminal things a building like this says about how you value people.’ Lucy Heller, managing director of ARK Schools agrees: ‘I’ve changed my mind over the past six years of being involved in schools. We’ve always said good buildings are great, but you can run a school in almost any building. Having seen the impact on children who have been in unsatisfactory or grotty accommodation... you see what it says
about how we value education to them and to the community. ‘Also, we are doing something radically different with our small schools; you couldn’t physically do this without a building to support that.’ Walker adds: ‘This Building embodies our expectations. It’s a dramatic statement in this landscape.’ However, he says: ‘You can have the most amazing building in the world, but if the education we were providing was not special then our students wouldn’t get what they deserve.’ One only hopes his ambitions are met – and that in 10 years time the school stands as a proud symbol of what is possible, both for inner city education and educational architecture.
Above, the ‘Z’s in the building marks the beginning of one school and the end of another, with four small schools in all, each with their own headteacher, staff and facilities, forming the academy
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 49
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THINK PIECE
WORK ETHICS
While impressed by a new book that looks at how changing demographics should be changing the way offices are designed and the way work is done, Aidan Walker, wonders how you get management to read it
O
ne of the most interesting – and perhaps depressing – things about Jeremy Myerson’s recently published book New Demographics New Workspace, co-authored with anthropologist Jo-Anne Bichard and psychologist Alma Erlich, is that throughout it assumptions are made about the readiness and willingness of managements to engage with the current zeitgeist of workplace design theory. The managements I have come in direct contact with, God help me, have for the most part been far more interested in how many people they can cram into a space, and how cheaply, rather than taking the a la mode design route. All workplace design theory becomes more or less redundant when there is no client. It’s an overstatement of course; most reasonable people would agree that a better environment will contribute to better work, and a worse one is damaging to productivity. It’s also true that the admirable book by Myerson et al does not ignore the sort of management that stays firmly outside the definition of ‘design client’. A small example, from the chapter where
the authors get stuck into the reassessment of open-plan working (it’s not all good, folks – something I think we’ve known all along, haven’t we?): ‘It seems in the rush to break down walls, confidential work has become synonymous with non-transparent and nonproductive work. Closed-off spaces are assumed by management to be misused for private, nonlegitimate purposes…’ It’s refreshing that the book recognises and includes ‘unenlightened’ management, depressing that it’s still there, managing away – and, although well-nigh impossible to quantify, it’s my personal belief that in the UK, it’s in the majority. This is probably because the majority of UK businesses are SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) employing fewer than 250 people. I say majority; how about 99.9 per cent? And that’s not all. The 2009 statistics from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills tells us what we need to know: ‘4.8 million UK private sector enterprises employed an estimated 22.8 million people. Almost all of these enterprises (99.3 per cent) were small FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 51
THINK PIECE
52 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
colleagues, is demographic. ‘Demographic trends, which can be predicted with a measure of accuracy and confidence, provide a more stable basis to plan for change than either technological trends… or economic ones…. Demographics have a clear-cut, profound and entirely predictable impact on the workplace.’ The book’s thesis hinges on the two clear-cut and entirely predictable characteristics of today’s workforce (SME or not): a) they are older and b) more and more of them (us) are ‘knowledge workers’. The research was done in Japan, where the ageing of the population is more marked than anywhere else in the world – by 2050 the average age will be 55 (in the UK the number of people of pensionable age has just exceeded the number of those under 16; Australia, which although seen as a ‘young’ country is following the same demographic trends and one in four Australians will be over 60 by 2025). As for knowledge work (as opposed to process work), which depends on cerebration rather than manipulation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines knowledge-based industries as medium to high-tech manufacturing, financial services, business services, telecommunications, education and health services. Plus let’s add ourselves in there – the creatives, the communicators. OECD data indicates that 43 per cent of the national income in the USA and Germany is from knowledge-based industries; in the UK it’s 41 per cent, and bizarrely, top of the list is Ireland at 48 per cent. Not quite a majority in any terms, but enormously significant, enough so to spark a whole new set of workplace design parameters. To cut a long story short, knowledge workers, who are usually older, not only need recognition from those old-fashioned managers we met earlier who often don’t understand what their people do for a living (one of the book’s cartoons has a manager observing someone at a desk saying: ‘He’s unusually quiet, even for a knowledge worker. How do we know he’s not asleep?’) but also a range of work environments depending on which bit of their work they happen to be doing. Concentration, collaboration, contemplation are the names of the knowledge workers’ games. And in many ways, concentration is the most important. An open-plan office, where even though you might not be able to hear exactly what someone is saying on the phone two desks
away, it is audible enough to destroy your thought process, does not make for good concentration. Likewise, collaborative spaces are important and necessary – when they are needed; and contemplative spaces, where traditionally we can go to stare at the wall and be productive in a way a traditional manager will never understand, will also make the knowledge worker more productive (though how productivity is actually measured in this context remains to be seen). We can design flexible offices, and move not only tables and chairs around, but also walls and corridors; we can even disassociate ourselves from being fixed in one building and adopt a more light-footed, ‘networked’ approach to office accommodation; we can facilitate mobile and home working (although traditional management’s fear of people skiving off has to be overcome); we can install smart furniture systems like Pearson Lloyd’s PARCS for Bene, whose unusual and eccentric forms can support the three Cs, as long as the floor plate is big enough and management’s attitudes are flexible enough. We can even head, as Frank Duffy has been telling us, towards a world where office
buildings themselves are more or less redundant and work, for the most part, is done on the fly. We can do all of these things, and a significant minority of enlightened management will push the process forward. That’s why books like this one are crucial: they set the agenda. If Myerson and Turner were indeed successful in helping management see their responsibilities towards their workers’ wellbeing and productivity in new ways in 1998, then New Demographics New Workspace will, without a shadow of a doubt, perform the same function in 2011. It’s meticulously researched, accessibly written, and properly supported in true academic (and journalistic) fashion with references and closely reasoned argument. Any workplace designer needs it – but not as much as those legions of managers of 20 million or so people and who are not, nor perhaps ever shall be, that workplace designer’s clients. That’s who we need to reach. Lord knows how. New Demographics, New Workspace: Office design for the changing workforce, by Jeremy Myerson, Jo-Anne Bichard and Alma Erlich. From Gower Publishing, £49.50. Cartoons by Roger Beale
ROGER BEALE’S CARTOONS ARE FROM NEW DEMOGRAPHICS NEW WORKPLACES, FROM GOWER PUBLISHING. WWW.GOWERPUB.COM
(0 to 49 employees). Only 27,000 (0.6 per cent) were medium-sized (50 to 249 employees) and 6,000 (0.1 per cent) were large (250 or more employees). So that means 22.64 million people in the UK work in companies with less than 50 people. No surprise that management are more concerned with how they’re going to pay the wage bill at the end of the month than giving everyone £500 chairs. It’s a bit backward to start with one single observation of course, and I do not intend to detract from the book, which I repeat is an admirable piece of work from one of the UK’s most respected design theorists and academics (and journalists – Myerson was the launch editor of Design Week, having edited Design magazine for some years). He often quotes another workplace theory giant, with a reputation to equal, if not outstrip his own – Frank Duffy, long of workplace architect DEGW – but the truth is that although Duffy’s thinking is deep and wide on these matters, it is the estimable Myerson who has pursued this line of enquiry in strictly academic research terms for a generation now, and most enlightening it is. As long as you remember that his best and brightest workplace ideas, in UK terms at least, are unknown to 20 million or so people. It all trickles down though, doesn’t it, (or at least we hope it does) like the anti-lock braking systems that used to be found only on Formula 1 racing cars and are now pretty much universal. Whether that argument holds or not, it is certainly the job of the researcher who strives to define a workplace design template for modern management to follow to track the latest ideas and match them against the reality. And that is the express intention of the book, which is by way of being a ‘sequel’ to Myerson and Gavin Turner’s 1998 work New Culture New Workspace – which, says Myerson, ‘aimed to persuade senior managers in business and government to tear down walls, eradicate bureaucratic structures and remove cultural barriers to create more open work environments.’ Enter the open-plan office. ‘We felt we’d helped win the argument,’ continues Myerson, ‘about the direct impact of physical conditions on how people work, an issue often overlooked in management.’ In 2011, of course, that’s all changed. Open plan is heading for the pile marked ‘Unfashionable’ – and worse, ‘Ineffective’. But the new signifier, say Myerson and his
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TAPPING INTO ECO
As the final touches are being put to next month’s Ecobuild show, featuring the latest thinking on eco products and services, Anna Lewis takes a sneak peek at what’s on offer
Roca Water conservation has always been regarded as an important issue at Roca. With this in mind, Roca has created the Singles-Pro, a single-lever mixer tap with a water flow limit of 9ltr a minute – saving 25 per cent more water than standard single lever taps. uk.roca.com
Desso Desso has created a carpet tile Take Back programme, which is now fully operational across the UK. Through the Take Back scheme of collection and recycling of much old carpet on a project basis, the amount being sent to landfill should be significantly reduced. desso.com
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E
cobuild, the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the build environment, is once again opening its doors to those looking for eco ideas and products. With nearly 1,000 exhibitors, more than 41,000 attendees and 100 seminars, last year’s Ecobuild was a roaring success and has become one of the biggest events of its kind, even having to change venues this year to allow for its growing popularity. This year’s Ecobuild is being held at London’s ExCeL and will take place over three days from 1-3 March. Along with big names exhibiting, including Roca, Dulux and Dyson, new companies will also also be there. In addition, every conceivable product and service for low and zero-carbon construction will be represented. More than just a chance for companies to exhibit their wares, Ecobuild 2011 also offers in excess of 130 seminars plus a wide selection of events and attractions. A great place to start is the Cool Workspace installation by Capita Symonds, which will provide visitors to the show with an insight into the sustainable office of the future. This unique 10m x 15m structure is built around the show’s themes of ‘Light, Surface, Space’, and will feature a variety of sustainable technologies ranging from smart meters and energy-usage monitoring software to the very latest in phase-change material. All of this will demonstrate energy reduction solutions that promise 50 per cent lower energy bills with little or no investment. Kingston University will be launching Rematerialise, the institution’s new library of 1,200 samples of sustainable materials that use fewer virgin resources and which can be easily renewed. The Rematerialise launch hopes to draw attention to sustainable materials used in other sectors but rarely used in design construction. Kingston’s other goal is to inspire further collaboration between academia and industry, such as with its recent project in which it advised Marks & Spencer on the use of appropriate sustainable materials for its new headquarters. Another highlight will be the ‘A Space of Waste’ stand, by the students of Chelsea College of Art & Design. They will be celebrating waste materials by creating architectural furniture from obsolete Speedo swimsuits and packaging. www.ecobuild.co.uk
ECOBUILD PREVIEW
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FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 55
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The unique Freewall system gives you the chance to create modern, bespoke storage areas individually tailored to suit your needs. Whatever the size or shape of your office environment these unique, versatile units will be an integral part of your design plan, right from the start. The wide choice of styles and finishes available, utilising the most up-to-date manufacturing techniques, gives you the opportunity to create a distinctive working environment, designed to satisfy all your requirements and also reflect your company’s individuality.
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ECOBUILD PREVIEW
Swedecor Wall and floor tile supplier Swedecor now offers a number of products which have been awarded Eco Label certification. They include new thinprofile tiles made from up to 100 per cent recycled materials, which reduces CO2 emissions during the production process. swedecor.com
Milliken Milliken’s range of carpet tiles feature a unique 85 per cent recycled content PU cushion backing that helps to absorb wear for an increased life-cycle. The company has also reduced its total waste production by 70 per cent and water consumption by 60 per cent since 1995. millikencontract.co.uk FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 57
ECOBUILD PREVIEW
InterfaceFLOR Innovative and sustainable modular flooring specialist InterfaceFLOR will be demonstrating its leadership in transparency and sustainability through its Let’s Be Clear campaign at Ecobuild 2011. interfaceflor.eu
Dorma UK Dorma, a market leader of door controls has created MOVEO Glass, which offers the best of both worlds – the ability to have both open-plan office space and segmented area for privacy when required. Unlike other movable wall systems, MOVEO Glass offers complete transparency. dorma-uk.co.uk
Dulux
Polyflor Polyflor is a leader in environmental progress, with all of its five Luxury Vinyl Tile ranges earning positive assessment from the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Polyflor LVT products can be recycled through the Recofloor Vinyl Take-Back Scheme, of which Polyflor is a founding member. polyflor.com 58 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
Dulux Trade Paint Solidifier is a revolutionary waste management product for dealing with unwanted water-based paint. Once the paint has been treated, the solid waste can be disposed of, leaving a paint clean enough to recycle. duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk
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STAND 214
Online inspiration. The essential design tool for architects, interior, furniture and product designers. No registration, no advertising, no charge. Simply search, select and compare veneers on screen. enq 124
FX FOCUS
Surfaces Johnny Tucker presents 20 pages dedicated to the latest thinking on surfaces
p58 Using the right material – Six designers give their opinion on the importance of correct selection p69 Felt – Why everyone loves it p74 Why an interactive surface technology is making swimming a few lengths of the pool seem a lot more appealing FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 61
Material gain The right use of material can make or break a scheme. We went to six designers from across the design spectrum and asked them what constitute the right material and how important are they?
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FX FOCUS
Pernille Stafford,
interiors director, Scott Brownrigg Materiality is the context that all visitors appreciate first when entering a space. The juxtaposition of carefully selected finishes and textures make the language of a space. In some projects if the overall feel is corporate and subtle, a series of finishes would be selected to reinforce a message, that is, a
number of materials in the same colour tone but in a variety of textures which give depth and substance to reflect the occupier, In contrast, for a media client who may require instant wow factor, colours and tones will be deliberately opposed to create stark distinction and a sense of vibrancy. Sourcing materials that work together, but can also be applied to unusual surfaces, is part of the creative process. At Scott Brownrigg we constantly push the boundaries to research new products and their application. The finishes must also be considered in terms of fit for purpose, longevity, sustainability, and
maintenance. Successful interior design at its best encompasses all these elements to provide a palette that will stand the test of time and reflect the personality of the occupier. Case in point: Almacantar This is a boutique office environment that reflects the personality of the occupier through the finishes selected. A black spray-on rubber finish is applied to the reception feature wall, and the desk is finished with a metallic lacquer with more than 10 layers to provide depth and shine. The glazed panels again contrast in gloss and shimmer.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 63
JustWoodFlooring.com Top Quality Hardwood Flooring Direct
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[email protected] [email protected] Email: Web: www.justwoodflooring.com www.justwoodflooring.com Web: enq 125
FX FOCUS
Paul Jones,
associate director, JHP Materials and finishes are the face of design – without the right textures and colours design schemes can seem lifeless. Our approach to design always starts with analysing the brand, its customers and the product being sold. This helps us to create a complete understanding of the brief, and then we are able to develop a thematic platform on which the rest of the project will be built around. Materials, finishes and design concepts are then overlaid to create a physical incarnation of the thematic platform. This will be the first visual material that clients will see and it is therefore
critical that materials and finishes are carefully matched to the concept. Customers will always judge a built scheme on visual impact and so material selection and finishes are critical to the commercial success of a project. Where customers physically touch the brand it is imperative that the right materials are used. The perceived quality of surfaces can add a great deal to the customer experience and their satisfaction, thus helping customer retention and loyalty. Poorly selected materials and finishes can just as easily turn customers away from a brand – there is nothing worse than seeing the exposed cracked edges of HPLs on a cash desk. Cash desks are the key moment of interaction between brand and consumer, and poor experiences here are taken away and remembered.
Case in point: O2 retail Central to the new O2 store design is the creation of a newly appointed ‘O2 Guru’ in each store. A futuristic bar of white Hi-Macs starts in the window and sweeps around to form a service area in which the O2 Guru can operate. Customers will be able to seek free technical help from the O2 Guru on products or services or simply to discover what’s new or planned to be launched. Live phones and technology are displayed on bespoke pieces of furniture constructed from HiMacs. The store environment seamlessly links the worlds of the contemporary home and future technology without alienating the everyday customer. Contemporary concrete-effect ceramic floor tiles and dark, solid-oak flooring define zones within the store. Overhead, the unique aluminium ceiling features sinuous interlocking blades, reflecting the form of sound waves.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 65
The Natural Stone Show 2011 7 Regent Street Nottingham NG1 5BS United Kingdom
Be inspired at the showcase event for the UK stone industry
t: +44 (0) 115 945 3889 f: +44 (0) 115 958 2651 e:
[email protected] Bring your ‘grand design’ to life. From granite worktops to limestone flooring and slate tiles to marble wall linings, benefit from the attractive and hard wearing properties of stone to add both quality and value to your interior design project. Choose from more than 5,000 materials under one roof at the same time. Sample different finishes and textures ranging from polished to honed, chiselled to bush-hammered and tumbled to antiqued. Create any ambience, mood or environment your client demands delivering exclusivity and opulence to a new restaurant, bar, hotel reception, kitchen, wet room, or refurbished office scheme.
www.stoneshow.co.uk The show is officially supported by:
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Enjoy a range of exciting visitor attractions including the Marmomacc Meets Design Architecture Zone and the Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference 2011. Contribute to the debate on how to overcome the challenges facing designers in fulfilling sustainability criteria when specifying with stone and how to source stone ethically and responsibly. To keep up to date with all the latest news from the Natural Stone Show and to register free of charge for your ticket to the event visit our website.
FX FOCUS
Lee Grosvenor,
creative manager, Sheridan&Co Materials and finishes are very important – the visual and tactile qualities of a material influence the design and define the brand as much as the form and function. Sometimes a specific quality may be the inspiration point for a concept – for instance, the way light diffuses through a material or the tactile quality of engraved wood. Our material selection begins in the conceptual stage by using performance specifications – that might be, say, do we want this to be a reflective material, or do we want this to have a masculine feel? This evolves to considerations of manufacturing costs, function and practicalities such as fire rating. All factors are considered before we make the final material choices. Our biggest challenges are in the travel retail sector where everything has to be Class O fire-rated. Creating concepts for premium brands can be particularly demanding here. For a recent project for Absolut Vodka we needed a material capable of forming a complex faceted shape that resembled dense frosted ice. It also had to be suitable for a high-traffic area and be fireproof. The team investigated quite a few materials before we came across GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester) that fitted the bill. Case in point: Laura Mercier, Selfridges For cosmetics brand Laura Mercier we developed a palette of materials that gives it a stylish and distinct presence in the retail environment, here shown at Selfridges in Oxford Street. Counters and walls are clad in rosewood veneer finished in a high-gloss lacquer. We chose rosewood for its rich colour, which shares tones with the brand’s signature colour of chocolate brown. The countertop is a glacier white Corian, chosen for its visual impact, quality and durability. Accents of polished steel, gold and mirror are used throughout to add glamour and movement to the scheme.
Giuseppe Boscherini,
Director of consulting, Europe, Woods Bagot The importance of materials, their fashioning and textural quality is defined by their physical and cultural context. Exploiting this to effect adds value beyond the obviously functional and decorative. Koziol produces an acrylic tile which typically combines to form a hanging curtain, reminiscent of a printed Liberty pattern, and it introduces a lightness to theT5 project, echoing the bold pattern of the airport’s lighting ‘discs’ and contrasting with its engineering rawness. Case in point: Global Management Consultant conferencing suite at T5 This comprises a reception, work area, cafe and a cluster of small and medium-sized meeting rooms. The Koziol screen combines with Metamorfosi Artemide lighting to create an abstract graphic and ever-changing backdrop.
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FX FOCUS
Phil Hutchinson,
managing director, BDGworkfutures The correct selection of materials and finishes is paramount for us in our design solutions for clients. With other key aspects of the design they are critical to a comprehensive design scheme. For example, finishes and materials can highlight or provide a backdrop to a working environment and play a key role in setting the tone for the look and feel of a space. They are often the most overt
manifestation of a company’s brand within a space – not just in terms of quality but also in terms of quality and texture. Finishes also provide an opportunity to introduce detail that can add personality and sometimes a fun element – such as counter tops made from recycled yoghurt pots. Practical applications need to be considered both in terms of durability and how easy it is to repair or replenish if a space begins to look tired. Colours can also aid orientation by delineating space, which assists with wayfinding and brand reinforcement. When we specify finishes, BDGworkfutures always reviews the supplier to ensure that we are using the most sustainable solution. It is important to look at what can be
Lee Penson,
CEO, Penson Group Materials have to be one of the first thoughts that triggers the design process for each proposal. We think about the proposal’s design angle, budget, branding, personalities involved and timing. It differs for a restaurant, bar, office or a bus depot. Function, durability, lifespan, cost, supply chain, level of adventure, atmospheres all impact internally, but we also need to consider the impact through openings. Using materials intelligently is critical in most schemes. We think commercially while considering how the material can be tactile and react with lighting. Touch is key, and acoustics, reverberation levels all apply. The look is actually the easy part. It’s not just a case of choosing something we’ve used successfully in the past. We apply very non-lateral thinking, listening to the clients views while giving them a solid creative steer. Softness, squishiness, reflections, shimmer, shine, gloss levels, matt, semi-gloss, junctions with
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reused and/or recycled and not replace just because we can. Case in point: Department for Communities and Local Government The design is transparent and flexible, creating a clean and simple open office. Reuse rather than renew – a significant study was made on how the existing furniture could be reused in the new flexible design. Careful re-engineering allowed for the structure to be reused and enlarged, while the existing tops were resized to provide a worksurface in keeping with the working solution. The scheme featured recycled glass worksurfaces and recycled metal fabric on chairs.
adjoining finishes, panels – are all considerations. Even the public-relations aspect of materials plays an important role – is it sustainable, is a material going to be seen as being too opulent, wasteful or resourceful? Even the smell matters. Case in point: CISCO EM Our best commercial example is for the Emerging Markets HQ we completed for Cisco. We have fabric panels to portray the specific EM regions. The fabrics were sent from all parts of the world. They are genuine, soft and uplifting and helped us to inherently resolve an important acoustics issue as the fabrics absorb noise. If the EM regions change, it’s easy to change a fabric panel. When EM clients visit, they spot their own regional tone, and so it’s personal. The benefits are endless, while providing something different for a minimal cost. The same goes with carpeting for this scheme. We were presented with a fairly minimal list of pre-approved interface carpet tiles. We mixed them up to create rugs. The floors cost a mere £14/sq m. It’s all about being clever and commercial while also being highly creative. By doing that with materials, we save money while giving ourselves that designer fix.
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About Nike Reuse-A-Shoe and Nike Grind Reuse-A-Shoe program is a unique initiative by Nike that collects old, worn-out athletic shoes for recycling. Through this one-of-a-kind collection program, anyone is able to drop off their old worn-out athletic shoes (of any brand) to a participating Nike Reuse-A-Shoe location or event to be recycled into Nike Grind, a material used in creating athletic and playground surfaces as well as select Nike products. Since its inception, more than 24 million pairs of shoes, plus thousands of tons of scrap material from footwear manufacturing, have been rescued from landfills across the world. Reuse-A-Shoe stands as one of Nike’s longest-running environmental programs and is an integral part of the company’s goal of closing the loop on its manufacturing process. Further, the program engages people around the world in helping to reduce waste in landfills while providing new life to old shoes in high-quality sports and play surfaces, apparel and equipment Athletic shoes collected through the Reuse-A-Shoe program are transported to one of two facilities located within the United States and Belgium for processing. At
the U.S. facility, shoes are sliced into three sections and ground into the respective usable raw material. The Belgium processing plant takes a slightly different approach where by the entire shoe is ground and then separated into the three different types of Nike Grind. Industry-leading sports and playground surfacing companies utilize Nike Grind to manufacture high-performance athletic surfaces such as tennis and basketball courts, running tracks, athletic fields, playgrounds and turf infill. Additionally, Nike has discovered innovative uses for Nike Grind in various products such as footwear, apparel and equipment. We hope you will join us in exploring how you can contribute to using Nike Grind in your products or use one of our high end surfaces from our Nike Grind partners and leverage it for your own use. To learn more about Nike’s commitment to the environment, connect with our Nike Grind partners about their products or inquire about becoming a Nike Grind partner, please visit us at stand 329 at the Surface Design Show, London.
Current Nike Grind partners:
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HOURGLASS THE GLASS SPECIALISTS Unit 14 The Tanneries Brockhampton Lane Havant Hampshire PO9 1JB T 023 9248 9900 E
[email protected] W www.hourglass.uk.com
The developers of the site at Royal College Street, London NW1, were given planning permission for this building on the basis that it would provide a visual break between the two existing terraces. The architects, Patel Taylor, were faced with the challenge of creating an ultra modern building faced in glass. They decided on an unusual decorative finish. The process began with an image of agate, provided by Professor Richard Weston, of Cardiff University. The original stone was only 30 x 70mm, and the image was enlarged to the size of the building without losing any of the detail. The image was then printed onto silk. This gave a lightness and depth to the final result, which was not obtainable with standard printed glass. Hourglass used their glass laminating process to encapsulate the silk print between two pieces of toughened glass using EVA film. The resulting 42 panels were then installed to re-create the original photograph of the sliced agate. Hourglass provided a complete service including surveying the site, manufacturing the glass panels and metal framing, drilling the steelwork and installing the panels. Hourglass specialise in the challenge of the unusual, as well as all the standard glass processes. The factory at Havant, Hampshire has facilities for bending, sandblasting, coloured enamels, brilliant cutting, toughening and laminating, as well as the construction of furniture and showcases using UV adhesives.
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In the past 15 years, Jetstone has grown at a very steady rate into a renowned specialist in natural stone and quartz composite for the kitchen retailer.
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Unit 11, Saracen Industrial Estate ▪ Mark Road, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7BJ [T] 01442 249 733 ▪ [E]
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The Natural Wood Floor Company 20 Smugglers Way, Wandsworth, London. SW18 1EG
Tel: 020 8871 9771 One of the largest wood flooring manufacturers and suppliers in Europe One of the largest wood flooring and solid wood kitchen worktop www.naturalwoodfl oor.co.uk manufacturers and suppliers in Europe
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FX FOCUS
Heart felt Felt has been around for hundreds of years and has myriad decorative and industrial application. It’s also an eco material, which has of course helped bring it back into focus over the past decade. And what’s more, it seems to engender a high level of loyalty among the product designers who use it. We asked a cross-section designers who specialise in the material, “Why felt?”
Buzzispace Sas Adriaenssens
When this Belgian Technospace company, which specilises in glass walls and ceilings for offices, discovered that the next big problem to solve was acoustics, it asked me to look at the issue without falling back on traditional acoustic solutions. After making an analysis of the company and the market, the answer was pretty clear: There was room for sound-absorbing, flexible and tactile furniture that would be sold under the Buzzispace name.
As most office interiors were grey and rigid, but the people working inside mostly emotional, the need for ‘warm and touchyfeely’ materials seemed obvious. On top of that, I’m convinced that world’s ecology can’t be ignored anymore and so I started a quest for an ecologic, acoustic and tactile material, finding a soft material made of PET-waste and used in automotive and road building. It was rather rough looking, but after a series of tests and trial and error, I achieved the right look and feel – the eco-felt was born: a tactile needled felt that could also be used as
pinboard, had great results in acoustical tests and was easy to handle in construction. I designed a range of flexible objects ideal for the office including room dividers, magnetic pinboards, lamps and self-adhesive wallpaper. They are all still hand-crafted in Benelux, to support the local economy and avoid pollution. Nowadays Buzzispace is visited by other young designers that do their thing with the eco-felt: Alain Gilles creates phonebooths hubs, while Anthony Duffeleer ‘grows’ felt plants to decorate the office and make it more silent.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 73
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Haddonstone is the UK distributor for Technistone interior flooring and tiles. These robust, high specification tiles are ideal for use in hotels, offices, airports and homes. Haddonstone also offers a full range of paving, tiling and steps for interiors and exteriors.
www.technistone-tiles.co.uk 01604 770711 enq 136 FX 2011 qtr page.indd 1
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FX FOCUS
Hive, Monika Piatkowski
I started using felt in 1990 when I was looking for a material that had the structural capabilities to create sculptural, soft architectural environments. I now use it for Circulation, a wall and floor covering in prefabricated 20m felt pellets; Cityscape, wall and floor covering in laminated 3mm felt in the topographical maps of cities or landscapes;band Flok, self-adhesive felt tiles. For me as a designer, felt contains all you need from a material. It is pliable but
structural, raw and basic, yet at the same time sharp and engineered. Its fine, delicate weave manages to create something dense and durable. You can cut it like paper, but mould it like clay; it seems simultaneously 2D and 3D. My fascination with felt has always stemmed from the endless creative possibilities these versatile and contrasting qualities permit. I am also very drawn to felt’s graphic and sculptural qualities. It can be dyed in any colour and the ranges available today make it a very attractive material for
branding and commercial installations. Beyond these aesthetic, decorative properties, which I find so seductive, felt has a considerable number of practical advantages, especially when you consider the requirements of the commercial market. In addition to its heat insulating and heat retaining properties, it is shock absorbent, flame retardant and can absorb sound. It even becomes water resistant once suitably treated. All my felt products are designed with this combo of functionality and beauty in mind.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 75
FX FOCUS
Selina Rose
I fell in love with felt seven years ago when I created my first product and I have been hooked ever since. I love the way you can manipulate it, cut, punch and perforate it without it fraying. Its natural tactility and robustness makes it a joy to work with. It’s a practical, functional and durable material that evokes a sense of homeliness and warmth while the simplicity and clean finish of industrial felt lends itself well to modern spaces. The felt itself is naturally insulating, making it ideal for interior products and surfaces. This is one of the many benefits of my felt window panels, screens and acoustic wall panelling. Felt also has strong eco credentials. It is sustainable, biodegradable and renewable. My felt is 100 per cent wool and coloured in my signature colour palette using environmentally friendly dyes. There is a real depth and vibrancy to the colour palette, which has more than 30 colours to choose from. I create intricately cut bespoke felt surfaces for residential and commercial interiors. My product range includes felt rugs, window and wall panels, room dividers, screens and upholstered furniture.
Hewitt Studios Gill Hewitt, partner
We design and produce bespoke felted textile panels with Class A-certified sound absorption. Our focus is to produce aesthetically pleasing products that are high performance in function. We create acoustic wall, desk and sliding panels and felt is the perfect textile for us to use with its richness, natural beauty and texture combined with its acoustic and insulating qualities. The depth and intensity of colour of felted textiles blends well with a
76 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
variety of other hand-dyed and printed fabrics to provide comfortable, enduring acoustic solutions, while panels contribute to the flexibility of interior spaces. Our design inspiration usually comes from nature, and when using felt we feel there is a synthesis between material and the natural world. It is important to us that felt is a sustainable, renewable resource and all our felt waste is reused or recycled. We only work with the finest quality 100 per cent wool felt. We enjoy the flexibility of being able to produce our
own bespoke felt in our studios, to respond to individual project needs.
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Beautiful stone from around the world
THE ULTIMATE FINISHING STATEMENT Burlington’s highly-skilled stone engineers craft a diverse range of luxurious and signature natural stone products that exude the ultimate in opulent quality and permanence. Using a natural stone source laid down in the English Lake District over 450 million years ago, inspiration comes in the form of standard product lines and truly bespoke pieces, and is limited only by the imagination. @@ EJPK PDA BN=IA = ?DKE?A KB RA OQILPQKQO OPKJAO =J@ PSK sublime limestones, together with a range of smooth and textured JEODAO=J@EP>A?KIAO?HA=NPKOAASDU QNHEJCPKJOOPKJALNK@Q?PO NALNAOAJPPDAQHPEI=PAEJPANEKN=J@ATPANEKNJEODEJCOP=PAIAJP
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CRISTAL Invisible glue-line bonds solid hardwoods and acrylic together creating a clear glass appearance or opaque (if requested). All panels are produced to client’s individual specification ideal for; kitchens, bedrooms, furniture, shop fitting, surfaces, partitions/screening, stairs, ornaments, trinkets. Enquires: Tel: 0844 381 4990 or visit: www.acorn-international.co.uk enq 141 Quarter:SureSet FX0211 SureSet
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Permeable Resin Bound Paving (stand 113)
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Robust & Secure Range of Attractive Meshes Provides Ventilation Adaptable & Future Safe Sustainable Expanded Metal
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The comprehensive screening system that increases security, reduces visibility, maintains Stand N653 functionality and ventilation without compromising on the aesthetic appeal of your buildings. 01429 867 388
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FX FOCUS
Swimming with the fishes Or dolphins, or even mermaids... now an interative surface technology has been adapted to project suitable images on to the sides and floors of swimming pools... It has to be said that ploughing up and down a swimming pool in a pair of goggles, staring at white tiles with a few black stripes on them can be a pretty dull business. How much better it would be if they put fish in the pool to give you something to look at? Well, now someone has come up with a way of doing exactly that – and it doesn’t involve scooping out the carp cadavers at the end of every day. Interactive surface technology that was created by Germany’s Vertigo Systems for retail and event situations has now – with the imagination of German artist and interior designer Paul-Bertram Petereit along with some more technical help from Panasonic, Vario Pool and Evonik – been developed for use in swimming pools.
Previous examples of Vertigo’s technology include a koi pool projected on to a floor that sends up splashes as you walk across it, while fish swim around and interact with you (well swim off when you get near them anyway…) That’s been scaled up to cover all the side walls and floor of a pool and they’ve gone bigger on the fish too, think dolphins and even mermaids! This is aimed squarely at the leisure and spa market – a great USP for hotels to be able to say, ‘Come, relax and swim with the dolphins in our pool!’ Petereit, who specialises in trompe l’oeil, has worked on spas and wellness areas for more than 20 years, including projects on cruise liners for Cunard and Royal Caribbean. He came up with this idea while on a glass-bottomed boat in Florida.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 79
WEAVERS OF THE FINEST QUALITY WILTON CARPETS
“TRETFORD PASSES WITH FLYING COLOURS” Tretford Heavy Contract Cord Carpet and Tiles is now BRE APPROVED “A” RATED. Tretford was awarded its BRE GLOBAL MARK and fully complies with all Environmental Profiles. Tretford is manufactured from 80% natural goat hair, which is a renewable raw material providing many advantages over synthetic materials. Tretford provides clean lines and under foot comfort for both warmth and noise reduction. Tretford is available in an array of vibrant and natural colour ways, this wide pallet is ideal for all design orientated applications.
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Tech Spec
The inside gen from ergonomics to materials to lighting with three experts in their own fields, plus 12 pages of the best products around
THE EXPERTS
Levent Çaglar
Jill Entwistle
Annabelle Filer
Test Bench 82 The new Airpad task chair from Interstuhl comes under Levent Çaglar’s scrutiny for its performance, ease of use, comfort and more
Light & Tech 84 Jill Entwistle presents a round-up of some of the latest lighting products to get their launch at the Arc Show 2011
Materials 88 A new generation of materials is proving that less is more – most welcome in these times of austerity, says Annabelle Filer
Ergonomics consultant, FIRA Levent heads the ergonomic unit at FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association), one of Europe’s top three furniture technology centres. He is recognised as the key UK ergonomics expert in office and school furniture, and has worked with designers to create some iconic furniture pieces.
Editor & writer Jill is an editor and writer who specialises in architectural lighting, following 12 years as editor of Light magazine. She has authored two Designing with Lighting books: Hotels, and Bars and Restaurants, and is an affiliate member of the International Association of Lighting Designers.
Creative director, SCIN Annabelle calls herself an ‘architectural deviant with a passion for materials’. She is the creative director for SCIN, the materials sourcing and research company, and prefers to spend her evenings snuggled up to Plastics Federation Monthly and the like, much to the dismay of her family and friends.
PRODUCT CATEGORIES Ecobuild preview 92; Lighting 96; Kitchens & Bathrooms 99; Surface Design preview 101; Surfaces 102; Flooring 105; Office/Contract Furniture 111; Stop Press 113
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 81
AIRPAD TASK CHAIR BY INTERSTUHL
Ergonomics expert Levent Çaglar puts Interstuhl’s new Airpad task chair through its paces, and compares it to three main rivals
DYNAMIC SITTING The unusual positioning of the seat pad’s pivot points at the back, combined with the new synchronous mechanism, provides an extremely soothing motion that makes you feel as if you are floating on air. As you recline, the seat pad slides back very smoothly, gradually sinking at the rear, without the seat front rising to lift your feet off the floor. Your back remains in contact with the high backrest throughout this movement. The contoured soft yet firm seat pad enhances your comfort. The optional, continuously adjustable, forward tilt of the seat pad allows you to open up the angle between your thighs and torso as much as you want, so you can make sure you do not slip forwards as you recline. The motion and the open-angle sitting provided by the forward tilt promote increased alertness and reduced muscle fatigue.
82 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
Test bench THE RIVALS The rivals chosen have mesh backrests, a distinctive look and promote dynamic sitting well
AERON BY HERMAN MILLER
Pioneer in mesh technology for both seat and backrest. A benchmark-seeting design icon. Many excellent ergonomic features, including forward tilt. Three sizes. Supplied or retrofitted with lumbar or pelvic support. No headrest.
BACKREST The innovative design of both the fine mesh and its attachment to the backrest frame give great comfort and a distinctive look. Separate support in four sections and springiness come via three thin bars, curved under tension, set behind the membrane and sewn into it through 1cm-wide horizontal membrane ledges. Lean back and you get firm yet cushioned support as if the backrest were upholstered. You do not feel the bars at all and only realise the backrest is mesh via its coolness and permeability. The frame’s curvature defines a lumbar area which can be positioned where needed by raising or lowering the backrest. Even at the backrest’s highest position there is no gap between its lower edge and the seat pad. The retrofittable optional headrest gives comfortable support when reclined but because its height cannot be adjusted in relation to the lumbar area, it may not be suitable for very short users.
ZODY BY HAWORTH
Mesh backrest with very good pelvic and lumbar support. Small forward tilt with long waterfall. Very comfortable with a distinctive look. Fits a wide range of sizes and weights. Environmentally friendly. No headrest option.
ADJUSTMENT The tension adjustment, unusually driven via a toothed belt, fits a very wide range of body weights. Once you have adjusted the tension to suit your weight, you feel well-balanced as you lean back and forth, but you may need to fine tune the tension for bolt upright or fully reclined positions. You can lock the chair in upright or multiple reclined positions. You increase seat depth by unrolling the front edge to create a longer waterfall, without losing any of its softness. As no gap is formed between the back of the seat pad and the backrest, your thighs and buttocks remain fully supported. The optional 4D armrests have wide comfortable pads that are simple to adjust, and the width between armrest brackets can be altered by loosening the bolts securing them.
MEDA PRO BY VITRA
Mesh back with optional adjustable lumbar support and headrest. Comfortable for upright and reclined postures but no forward tilt. Highly adjustable with wide reclining angle. Characteristic stylish Vitra design.
CONTROLS Controls at the sides of the seat pad are easy to reach and use. Small levers for seat height and back lock protrude just far enough for you to operate with your fingertips. It’s a pity that the cables from them are visible under the seat. If you have the optional seat depth adjustment and seat pad forward tilt, their control knobs are designed well into the curve of the seat pad and the bright-eyed look of their circular white icons is inviting. Knobs for tension and seat tilt pull out to provide good access although you need to read the instructions to know this as you might otherwise find restricted space for your fingers. Their knurled surface gives a secure grip but can rub your fingers, particularly towards the end of travel. Their icons show clearly the direction of turning to increase or decrease, although you need to familiarise yourself with the direction for increasing forward tilt. The icons for the seat depth are confusing.
LOOK When seen from the front, the minimalist rectangular form of the backrest frame belies the high-tech nature of the mesh and well-engineered back. Whether you have the white or black mesh, light makes an attractive sheen on it, yet you can see through it almost clearly. This gives the chair a very light appearance. From the side, the flowing lines of the backrest frame elegantly complement the thin curved membrane ledges. The segmented look of the mesh is continued in the seat cushion.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AirPad is more than 98 per cent recyclable, made from a high proportion of recycled materials that are easily separable.
VERDICT The transparency of the mesh expresses AirPad’s lightness - the floating sensation provided by its smooth motion and the thermal comfort of the membrane. What surprises you is the cushioned and supportive effect of the slender segmented backrest. The innovative and well-engineered AirPad promotes dynamic sitting well, is very comfortable for long periods and fits a wide range of heights and weights.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 83
ARC LED
BY ILLUMA An addition to the Arc range, featuring remote phosphor technology from Philips, the LED version is a fully adjustable fitting for retail, leisure and commercial applications, particularly for illuminating vertical surfaces. With a 60degree pivot and 355-degree rotation, it is available in two sizes, the 10W ARC 111 and the 33W ARC 183. As with the rest of the range, it has a five-year guarantee. illuma.co.uk
LATEST FROM ARC
Jill Entwistle rounds up some of the latest lighting launched at the Arc Show at the bcd in January
ALPHA LED SLOT SCOOP
BY PROJECTION LIGHTING An adjustable wallwasher, the high-output version of the Slot Scoop is capable of 2200lm and uses Xicato remote phosphor technology for high-quality, colour-consistent white light. With a diecast aluminium body, it has an adjustable four-point ceiling fixing system, 45-degree tilt and low-glare anodised aluminium reflector. Cut-out size is 218mm x 136mm, height is 111mm. alphaled.co.uk
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Light & Tech
PARAGON LAMPS BY FORGE EUROPA
The Paragon range offers LED substitutes for GU10, Par 30 and MR16 lamps (shown). According to Forge Europa, they are the first LED replacement lamps to meet the emerging IEC 62560 standard (an international standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission), due for publication this month. Colour temperatures range from 3000K to 6000K and with beam angles to suit requirements. forge-europa.co.uk
SPECTRAL IRIS
PIÙ
Based on a circular T5 lamp, Iris is one of the latest products from German architectural lighting manufacturer Spectral, recently acquired by Ridi. Available in surface or wallmounted, suspended and recessed versions, it has a transparent halo body that has a microprism diffuser in an opaque or transparent plastic housing. Bespoke control gear allows the hollow centre. Iris also has replaceable coloured foils. ridi-lighting.co.uk
German company Occhio has expanded its Più accent lighting system with an LED version of its halogen spot. The fitting is designed to make LED replacement easy for future upgrading. Output is 13W with the CRI 85 version delivering 900lm and the higher quality CRI 95 option delivering 600lm. It comes in chrome and matt-chrome finishes, plus high-gloss white or black. occhio.de
BY RIDI LIGHTING
BY OCCHIO
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Light & Tech
CL LED LINEAR SYSTEM
LUMENDOME
BY CRESCENT LIGHTING
BY LUMENPULSE
A miniature exterior profile (22mm x 12mm), the latest LED fitting from Crescent has an onboard driver, an output of 690lm (CRI 85, 2700K) and is rated at 23W a metre. It extends up to a 4.5m continuous length with seamless connections (no dark zones) and is dimmable using PWM (pulse width modulation). A frosted cover gives it an IP65 rating. crescent.co.uk
The Lumendome is an RGB direct-view, large-scale pixel luminaire for outdoor use. A 25W low-voltage fitting with a remote driver/data supply for 120V to 277V, it delivers 383lm at full intensity. DMX 512 ready, it is compatible with all available DMX 512 controllers. It is pictured being used for the updated lighting of the Telus World of Science, Vancouver, in a scheme by Nemetz and Associates, and Lightworks. lumenpulse.com
Z COVE
BY WHITEGOODS This is an extruded aluminium profile with integral fluorescent lamps and control gear giving high-performance continuous cove lighting off-the-shelf. The idea came from a specific project requirement: a continuous wash of light to a wall from a close offset with concealed lamp positions. Mounted in the ceiling to form the cove between wall and ceiling, the Z system can be adapted to most installation situations using a few simple components. In position the profile edge acts as the stop bead and a skim of plaster delivers a razor-sharp edge. IP rated and low-maintenance LED variants are available. whitegoods.com
WINDOWLIGHTER BY SILL LIGHTING
This a discreet luminaire with complex LED optics for edgeto-edge lighting of window reveals without glare. The optics use TIR lenses, angled LED mounts and a front-mounted ellipsoid lens to give a 200degree radius beam. This creates a complete arc, from the sill, up and over the window head to the sill on the other side. To cater for windows of different sizes, a hidden screw cap covers an onboard dimming potentiometer enabling window reveals to be lit evenly without the need for complex control systems. The white light version is standard, but the nine LEDs (18W) can be supplied in red, green or blue. sill-uk.com
Getting your doodles in lights
Made by independent lighting designer Leolight Design using BPAK100 side-emitting fibre and a CRE6255 projector from Crescent Lighting, the Doodle sculpture allowed visitors a few moments of creative doodling to form their own light installation.
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 87
EXPANSION WITH LESS
As the need to make ways of living more sustainable increases, Annabelle Filer looks at materials that really fit the bill of making more out of less
A
s the world moves towards a sustainable way for living, the need for ‘less’ to become ‘more’ is increasingly urgent. New materials and processes are in development to address this and allow us to shape future architecture and design using ‘less’. We need materials that use less mass and therefore physical matter, and structures that can be built with less impact. We must use less energy in transportation and manufacture but we still want them to be practical and desirable and above all to keep us comfortable. A tall order? Possibly, but the materials on show this month will open up opportunities for designs we wouldn’t even have considered: materials designed for expansion, in every sense of the word.
CONCRETE 1 STRETCHY With designer Hazel Hewitt, even concrete in its steadfast resolution to remain true to its character as a unswervingly robust, firmly tethered material,has no escape. Hewitt switched from print designs to concrete experimentation, and her initial foray into ‘knitted’ concrete has moved forward so that she has now developed a stretchy concrete as part of her exploration into new architectural textiles that could play important roles in both internal and external environments. Hewitt’s challenge of the conventional, based upon her knowledge of textile techniques, has led to this concrete personification as an individual that is homely, humorous and yet practical. She is working to develop ideas about concrete that are at a tangent to preconceived notions and to pare back the aesthetic and volume required even further. While this one is still early in its development, Hewitt continues to explore what other aggregates and pigments could do for this new composite and what other architectural and design applications may present themselves. In Hewitts words, ‘the tactility of the knitted concrete softens the gritty urban edges and creates a light and stretchy concrete.’ Manufacturer/distributor: UK. Size: Bespoke Colour and range: Bespoke, the weave can alter in scale depending upon the elastane substrate involved Applications: External seating and other urban features, temporary shelters, art and sculpture, interior feature panels/dividers, exhibitions. hazelhewitt.com
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Materials 2 PNEUMOCELL The technology of inflatablity is not new but Thomas Herzig, the new hero of the ‘blow up’, has designed a system of components that unlike their bulgy, creased predecessors, fit tautly and tightly together using a zipper as part of the solution for assembly. Biomimicry plays a lead role in this inspiration for this new, lightweight, structural collection. The component, like a living cell, is self-supporting using the counterbalance between the inner pressure built up by a fluid or gaseous intrusion and the outer membrane. Like any living structure the surrounding cells will support any damaged cell and this can easily be replaced without loss to the structural integrity. The membranes are available in PVC or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). The latter is is 100 per cent recyclable and produces no toxic emissions or residues when burned. The structure is 40 per cent lighter than one in wood, and 400 per cent lighter than than a concrete version, which undoubtedly gives rise to savings in energy, on the basis of transportation alone. The structure, once assembled, rarely needs additional air, thus negating the huge energy output to stop atrophy. Manufacturer/distributor: Austria Size: Two common polygonal edge lengths 155cm or 213cm Colour and range: Current range is transparent, max size component 4mx4m but bespoke possible in colours and up to 12m x10m. Applications: Modular halls, domes, semi-permanent and temporary structures for use from leisure to exhibition. pneumocell.com
FABRIC 3 FOAM Tel Aviv-based Bakery Studio views materials as the ingredients of design and is keen to challenge the preconceptions we have of what materials we associate with existing applications and explore what simple materials, with a little intervention, can become. It has, as an example, created 3 ‘elasticised wood’. This foam fabric is unsurprisingly, no exception. This ‘industrial’ upholstery explores the notion that the ‘fabric’ or upholstery textile becomes the mold for the upholstered section of the chair. It differs from the hard material created by the more usual molded suspects and is more industrialised than traditional upholstery.This hybrid of ideas has been manifested through the use of two kinds of polyurethane injections: high-density polyurethane for the structure and a foam-based polyurethane for the ergonomics. The result is a cool, comfortable multitasking material. Manufacturer/distributor: Israel Size: On request Colour and range: four fabric colourways Applications: Upholstery replacement in furnishings. bakery-design.com
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www.girsberger.com Girsberger London, Invicta House, 108 -114 Golden Lane, London EC1Y OTG, Tel. +44 (0)20 7490 3223
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SWIVEL CHAIR YANOS: “YOU WILL RECOGNIZE ME BY MY Y, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE ATTUNED TO YOU.” DESIGN PAUL BROOKS
Materials 3D RESIN FLOOR 4 IMPRESSIONS This nascent technology is remarkable in its potential. The term ‘auxetic’ comes from the Greek word ‘auxetikos’ meaning “that which tends to increase”‘ and the theory behind an auxetic material was brought to the world’s attention in 1987 by Rod Lakes’ development of an auxetic polymeric foam. The material’s structure is counter intuitive: as it is compressed it gets thinner and stretched it gets thicker. Novelty value apart, the materials are of great interest due to the potential of the intrinsic mechanical properties. The importance for architecture is that an auxetic material has been proven to be three times more difficult to indent, so is of interest in areas such as blast protection. Also they have an inherent potential for ‘drapeability’ that could make double-curved panels and dome construction much less material intensive as well as stronger, as the material is no longer forced to form such a complex shape. There are not many auxetic materials in production but Xtegra is a new auxetic textile that assists in damage prevention through blasts, as it automatically adjusts its mechanical properties in response to external forces. In fact, when tested by the Ministry of Defence it survived eight sequential grenade detonations, and unlike the current sheer fabrics used in blast curtains, Xtegra will dissipate up to 25 percent of the shockwave energy. Xtegra is also used laminated to aerogel as an advanced insulation/blast protection material between the building skin, and has been tested for use within resins as a new composite. Further research is being done, and the potential exists to develop newgeneration Xtegra fabrics that are interwoven with other fibres, including fibre optics , for breathability and translucency in data communication and remote adjustment systems
METAL AND ALUMINIUM FOAMS 5 FORMABLE Aluminium has the propensity, as materials go, to be pretty boring. Yes, it has salient points in terms of dexterity of use and recyclability, but its common identity as a smooth, silver-grey surface for structural elements have many architects and designers condemning it to the dusty shelves of material impropriety as far as innovation is concerned. Yet aluminium as a foamed material is an entirely different prospect. This strangely quixotic rebirth is universally desirable. The material in this format usually has 10 per cent less density thanks to its cellular nature. M-Pore, the company behind this new formable aluminium, points out that foamed aluminium is subject to four parameters: material, relative density, cell size and geometry, any of which may act independently to create differing foams. Formable aluminium is historically associated more as a stiffening element, yet there is no reason why it cannot be formed into many other shapes and forms for use in architecture and design. Manufacturer/Distributor: Germany Size: On request Colour and range: Aluminium, copper alloys, other alloys on request Applications: Industrial, interior and exterior applications from lighting to furniture to complex shapes. m-pore.de 5
Manufacturer/distributor: US/UK Size: From 1.5m to 4.5m wide. Bespoke available. Any length. approx 75mm thickness in many ranges. Colour and range: Two main products: nylon warp with auxetic weft and Kevlar warp with auxetic wefts Applications: Blast curtains and tent applications, insulation composite and complex curves for high-profile public buildings including airports and other potential terror threats. Other: A new carbon nanotube version will be available soon that will give a faster and greater rate of energy absorption. advancedfabrictechnologies.com
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Ecobuild Preview
To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] InterfaceFLOR stand N630 The worldwide leader in the design and production of innovative and sustainable modular flooring, InterfaceFLOR, is demonstrating its leadership in transparency and sustainability through its Let’s Be Clear campaign at Ecobuild 2011. The inspiring InterfaceFLOR space, situated in the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Village, brings to life the company’s Let’s Be Clear campaign. This aims to ‘cut through the green wash’ in the marketplace and help organisations and individuals make informed purchasing decisions, using EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) as the benchmark. enq 420
DESSO stand S149 It has been an impressive year of innovation for the Cradle to Cradle manufacturer Desso, having launched its first Cradle to Cradle certified carpet backing, EcoBase, achieving Silver Certification for an entire carpet tile product. Cradle to Cradle is only possible if materials are captured for recycling and reprocessing which led the forward thinking manufacturer to introduce a carpet tile Take Back Programme. Through the development of the Take Back process, material to landfill will be reduced at an ever growing rate. enq 413
ARMOURCOAT stand S554 Developed by Lafarge, Ductal UltraHigh Performance Concrete (UHPC) presents a genuine revolution in the concrete sector. The material possesses a unique combination of superior properties including strength, ductility, durability and enhanced aesthetics. This enables designers to develop and realize new sculptural approaches to concrete forms. Ductal is ideally suited to the manufacture of lightweight decorative building façades. enq 403
HANSGROHE stand S551 Hansgrohe will once again exhibit at Ecobuild on Stand S551 with a stylish selection of water-saving showers, taps and thermostatic mixers demonstrating that no compromise in design or quality is required in order to save water in the bathroom. Hansgrohe also produces a successful grey water recycling system called Pontos AquaCycle, which launching at Ecobuild, has been re-engineered to incorporate rainwater utilization and heat recovery. Designed as a modular system, Pontos AquaCycle takes water from the shower and bath and recycles it for flushing toilets and urinals, cleaning, washing clothes and watering gardens; now working in tandem with this process Pontos HeatCycle saves up to 20% of the energy generated to heat the water, thus making this combined system a great solution for modern sustainable buildings. enq 417 92 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
CAESARSTONE stand N710 CaesarStone, synonymous with style and durability, has created their ‘Get Thinner’ 13mm designer collection, to compliment the existing 20mm and 30mm thick range. The new range will be showcased at Ecobuild on Stand N710 at ExCel, London, between 1st and 3rd March 2011. CaesarStone will also be exhibiting their full and exclusive colour range. The new selection includes Dusty Stones, Black Rocks, Buttermilk, Organic White, and Pure White, the definitive white. Five beautiful new colours introduced to compliment the existing range. CaesarStone is an engineered quartz-based surface with low maintenance properties that provide an ease of living that will look great for years to come. enq 409
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
Ecobuild Preview
To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] C.R. LAURENCE stand N710 C.R. Laurence will be exhibiting their range of glass hardware and accessories at Ecobuild, on Stand N710. The show will take place from 1st to 3rd March 2011 at ExCel, London, where visitors can view a selection of CRL’s extensive product range – from their revolutionary TaperLoc System to Shower Door Hardware to Laguna Sliding Door Systems. The Taper-Loc System is a revolutionary new frameless glass balustrade system for fixing toughened or toughened laminated glass from 12mm - 25.52 mm thick. There is no need for cement, therefore eliminating mess, and the precision measured control gives you high quality installations every time. The system is tested to meet the strictest building code requirements BS6180:1999 and BS6399-1:1996. enq 408
GERFLOR stand S540 Always the innovator, never the imitator, Gerflor will be launching a series of new and exciting sustainable and innovative products at Ecobuild, ideal for a wide variety of market sectors. Each day, during the show, Gerflor will be hosting a number of sector-specific product launch sessions. Leading industry spokespeople will be involved in hosting these launches. Tarasafe safety flooring, one of the company’s latest pioneering solutions, will be on display. Tarasafe is the brighter, greener, cleaner solution for all commercial applications. enq 416
AMARESTONE Stone Zone SZ02 Amarestone will be unveiling exciting new additions to their already extensive range of quality Limestone, Marble, Travertine and Slate. With an eye on current trends, Amarestone import directly from selected quarries in the UK and around the world. They can guide you through every aspect of choosing, designing, installing and maintaining natural stone. To complete the package, Amarestone supply bespoke items including basins, bath surrounds, vanity-tops, fire-surrounds and stair-cases. Plus, all ancillary products including: adhesives & grouts, stone sealers & waxes, UFH heating and wet-room construction products. enq 401
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
ROCA stand S555 Roca, the leading global bathroom brand, will be exhibiting at Ecobuild 2011, the world’s largest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. Showcasing its comprehensive range of design led, ecologically sound products, Roca will be present on Stand S555. One of the key designs on the Roca stand will be W+W (above), Roca’s innovative all-in-one WC and washbasin designed to maximize space and conserve water. enq 443
MILLIKEN CONTRACT stand S350 Milliken Contract will be presenting recently launched carbon neutral certified ranges that provide sustainable carpet tiles across a broad spectrum of public and commercial locations. Milliken Contract will showcase its Formwork, Fixation, Shadowbox, Scattergraph and Paste Up collections, along with a new brochure highlighting the company’s innovative approach to sustainability that has seen it considered as one of the most progressive carpet tile manufacturers. The Southern Analogue collection, using Aquafil Econyl 95% recycled content yarn will also be available for view for the first time at Ecobuild. The company’s range of high performance carpet tiles feature a unique 85% recycled content PU cushion backing that helps the carpet tiles to absorb wear for increased life-cycle, improved sound absorption and promote underfoot comfort, while stunning designs and textures help to satisfy the style demands of a wide variety of interiors. enq 432 FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 93
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Ecobuild Preview
To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] FORBO stand S151
NORA stand S133 Norament 975LL is a more environmentally friendly and hygienic rubber floorcovering for the highest demands on aesthetics. It is highly dimensionally stable thanks to a three-layer floorcovering structure with a high-tech reinforcement sheet. For loose laying with the Nora Quickfix dry adhesive system. It can be installed quickly, simply and cost-effectively. Additionally, cleaning is easy and economic thanks to the Nora Cleanguard surface – with no coating required. enq 438
At this year’s Ecobuild, visitors to the Forbo Flooring Systems stand, no S151, will take an interactive journey through the company's impressive environmental initiatives and achievements across its portfolio of linoleum, project vinyl, carpet tile, flocked flooring and entrance matting system solutions. Centre stage will be Marmoleum, Forbo’s sustainable and biodegradable linoleum. Made from 97% natural raw materials, more than 37% of which have been recycled, Marmoleum has more independently awarded ecolabels than any other flooring product in the world, making it the environmental product of choice for many flooring specifiers. Already available in an extensive choice of colourways and patterns, Forbo will be launching a new Marmoleum ‘Special Edition’ collection at the exhibition ‘The unexpected nature of linoleum’. enq 412
STRATA TILES stand S760 A tile that purifies the air we breathe? Surely not! Strata’s exclusive Hydrotect coating does just that. It not only removes bacteria and dirt without abrasive cleaning, it also purifies the air we breathe. It’s been proven - 1000sqm of Hydrotect tiles provides the equivalent oxygen levels to 70 deciduous trees. This innovative coating also provides a self cleaning effect. Formaldehyde, bacteria, germs and algae are all decomposed, and maintenance costs are greatly reduced. This innovative coating can also help maintain a comfortable
room temperature. An innovation for the modern world. In areas where hygiene is paramount, such as kitchens, bathrooms and hospitals, Hydrotect provides a healthier environment. It is also particularly popular for swimming pools, due to the reduction in maintenance and the vast variety of designs – from customisable patterns to classic colours. Hydrotect was specifically chosen for the London Underground because of the innovative properties it offers. The technology behind Hydrotect lies with a
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
Lotus Effect and Photocatalytic glaze. When water hits the tile it forms a film, lifting dirt from the surface and creating a barrier. With a simple wipe of a cloth, the tile is left sparkling. This exciting range is just one of many eco initiatives from Strata Tiles. Why not visit us at Ecobuild, stand s760, to hear more? You could also book a free CPD. From the comfort of your offices, we bring samples and an exclusive look at this exciting technology in our new CPD…we even supply your lunch! enq 446
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 95
Ecobuild & Lighting NCS COLOUR Ecobuild stand EPP6 NCS Navigator, the new online colour design application based on the Natural Colour System. Easy to use, with free download via our website. Find specific NCS colours, develop colourways, and cross reference between NCS, RGB and CMYK. Or simply explore the NCS System as 3D colour space. All 1,950 NCS colours are available from major paint and coatings companies and referenced in flooring, laminates, ceramic tiles, glass, cladding, and much more. You can check the physical colours with the NCS Index, Atlas or individual colour sheets. See us on Stand EPP6 at Ecobuild. enq 436
ICI PAINTS Ecobuild stand S144
CONCORD
ICI Paints AkzoNobel, the world's leading decorative paints and performance coatings company, is once again preparing to exhibit at Ecobuild. Focusing on the company’s comprehensive sustainability offering, including its ‘Step towards Greener’ campaign, the ICI Paints AkzoNobel stand will showcase the ways in which the company helps its customers to become more sustainable. Visitors to the stand will be able to find out about the technologically advanced products from the ICI Paints AkzoNobel portfolio. enq 414
Concord was the original designer and manufacturer of architectural downlights and had a registered patent on the term “downlighter”, which lasted from 1966 to 2006. With over 40 years experience in downlighter technology, Concord introduces the new LEDLED 150 once again redefining the genre of Low Energy Downlights. LEDLED 150 provides a true economic and highly efficient replacement for existing CFL downlights offering unprecedented efficiency and unmatched luminous flux. enq 456
OSRAM
IGUZZINI Zyl is a flexible and contemporary system for use in residential interiors as well as external landscapes. Bollard options can be installed either into the ground or surface mounted at two different heights. Wall mounted, surface and recessed suspended versions are also available. All versions utilise LED sources. enq 419
96 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
Osram’s versatile and efficient LINEARlight Flex LED modules have been installed in Hobbs’ flagship shop in Covent Garden as part of a complete lighting scheme upgrade undertaken by LAPD Consultants Ltd. Due to the compact and flexible nature of the LINEARlight Flex, LAPD has been able to achieve soft, warm up-lighting in a very limited space to enhance the in-store atmosphere. Simon Thorp, Senior Lighting Designer at LAPD Consultants Ltd. says, “Hobbs was relying on us to design a high quality lighting scheme so we had to work with the best possible products. We wanted to include atmospheric uplighting to the barrel vault ceilings, but could not use fluorescent tubes due to space restrictions. Consequently, we looked at LED modules and chose OSRAM’s LINEARlight Flex modules based on their cost and performance. As well as providing significant energy savings in comparison to more traditional lighting solutions, LINEARlight Flex modules inject the perfect light into the application and achieve the desired soft, warm and uniform lit effect.” enq 439
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
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simply beautiful floors
Taps, showers and accessories. Beautifully handcrafted in Britain since 1820.
Art Select Woods
at home in commercial spaces
Our premium flooring range of realistic wood tones, textures and grains offers enviable quality, ideal for commercial spaces.
For more information Call: 0845 605 6770 Email:
[email protected] Visit: www.karndean-commercial.co.uk Showroom now open at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour
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To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] Kitchens & Bathrooms
ROCA Roca is delighted to announce that W+W has won the prestigious WAN Product of the Year Award in partnership with BAU 2011 – W+Ws 9th accolade since it was first launched at ISH 2009. The WAN (World Architecture News) Awards are a unique, worldwide award scheme to showcase new and innovative products, materials and details available from the construction industry. Reviewed by an international panel of experts, W+W was selected as WAN winner for its ability to ‘communicate sustainability to the user within a building’ and was announced as a winner on Monday 17th January 2011 at the BAU trade fair in Munich. enq 452
AIR UNO
RADA
New to the UK is a stylish range of hoods from Air Uno that answers the latest consumer demand for discreet technology. Available in 7 stunning models, the F-Light hood is designed by Italian maker Faber to look like a chic pendant light fitting. The Kaleidos extractor, for example, features a funky fabric oval-shaped hood that elegantly hides away its stainless steel motor when not in use. As with all Faber models, the Kaleidos has a host of technological features including electronic controls, 4 x 20 watt spotlights and a dishwasher safe grease filter. Three speed settings offer a range of extraction from 230 to 450 m3/h with noise levels of 49 to 65 dB(A). enq 400
Ideal for light commercial or semiresidential applications such as leisure clubs or University accommodation, the new Rada V10 sequential shower control offers exceptional contemporary styling without any compromise to performance. The Rada V10 has all the aesthetic appeal of domestic shower controls, but with the build quality and safety features necessary in the commercial environment. Its robust cartridge stops will withstand heavy usage in public areas – and occasional misuse – while the thermostatic mixing valve conforms to TMV2, the standard designed to prevent scalding. enq 454
LAUFEN
PARAPAN Sweeping curves in glossy black Parapan create instant impact in this eye-catching kitchen. The reflective quality of the sleek black Parapan adds a modern edge to traditional brick and wood. It is funky but won’t date. ‘Contemporary design can feel cold and unwelcoming. By using high gloss Parapan the space is exciting and engaging,’ kitchen designer Philip Dowse. High gloss, solid acrylic Parapan is increasingly specified by award-winning designers for doors, drawers, cabinet fronts, splash backs and even wall cladding. It can be cut to size and thermoformed to any radius of curve. enq 453
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
With a solution for every bathroom requirement, Swiss manufacturer Laufen has extended its award-winning Living City collection to include several new washbasin sizes and co-ordinating furniture options. Famous for its geometrical design, the Living City series now includes a 500mm and 600mm washbasin, both with glazed backs to make a gleaming impression, plus a 450mm hand basin that is ideal for the smaller guest bathroom or cloakroom. The washbasins can be integrated within a brand new washtop from Laufen’s Open modular furniture range, offered in a crisp white finish and able to be cut to size to fit with millimetre precision into any bathroom design, even alcoves. The basins look fantastic when fitted with Laufen’s innovative Lb3 LumiTouch tap, which itself features a stylish geometric design. The tap, which won the red dot design award, uses the latest cutting-edge technology to permit low-contact operation making it exceptionally easy to use and hygienic, while its synchronized lighting element creates a beautiful aesthetic in any bathroom. enq 445 FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 99
DESIGNS IN FULL COLOUR
Model: ‘Venus’ by Johanson Design
Table and seat bases now available in 66 RAL colours as well as chrome and satin
www.johansondesign.com Johanson Design UK & Ireland Warwickshire +44 (0) 1608 662010 Boline International
[email protected] Johanson Design other countries Markaryd (Sweden) +46 (0) 433 72500 Johanson Design AB
[email protected] enq 154
Surface Design Show Preview
PARAPAN stand 308 A top favourite with award winning kitchen and bathroom designers Parapan is now being used by innovative designers who are drawing on its unique properties to create distinctive and unexpected applications in the commercial and retail world. Parapan, a solid high gloss acrylic for vertical surfaces offers limitless possibilities for cupboards, drawers, islands, splashbacks and even wall cladding. Available in 2 thicknesses – 4mm and 18mm – it can be cut to size and thermoformed into any radius of curve. For 2011 a new shade of Bordeaux is being introduced to the comprehensive palette of 22 UV stable shades that includes sophisticated neutrals and vibrant brights. The glossy colours are a perfect complement to other surfaces such as wood, stone and Corian. Waterproof, hygienic and easily repairable, Parapan is extremely durable and dramatically more hard wearing than lacquer and other applied finishes. At the Surface Design Show Parapan will be showing cladding and columns. enq 411
STRATA TILES stand 342 Offering the very best, hand sourced, natural stone from the finest Italian quarries, Pietre di Firenze presents a portfolio of surfaces attractive to architects and designers seeking that luxury statement. An innovative fusion of design and form, Pietre di Firenze is composed of 21 visually striking designs, from signature curls and swirls to geometric and linear styles that create an instant impact for floors and walls. Come and see this luxurious range – a Strata Tiles exclusive - at The Surfaces Design Show. enq 447
THE SOLID WOOD FLOORING COMPANY
Inspiration Centre The Solid Wood Flooring Company manufactures unique products for the UK and European markets with the best managed forest timber products. We offer a full supply and fit service or supply only service direct from our warehouse where we hold more than 200,000 m2 of stock to give our clients the best prices possible. We also make the best strand woven bamboo in the UK market. You can see our full range of products on display at the Building Centre, Store Street, London where brochures are also available. enq 449
ANTRON visit SCIN’s stand 304 Specifiers and designers attending this year’s Surface Design Show will be able to discover some of the latest developments from Antron carpet fibre that has teamed up with SCIN to explore the theme of ‘colour in materials’. Surfaces and materials specialist SCIN will showcase companies that have proven track records as innovators within their field and Antron carpet fibre once again has been invited to take part. Showcasing Antron Lumena and Antron Legacy yarns, as well as Antron Lumena carpet fibre with TruBlend fibre technology, Antron carpet fibre will present its 2011 Design Tool Kit and will reveal elements of its Carpet and Space campaign that explores how a floorcovering can help to define a space. enq 402
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
CD UK stand 308 Corian distributors CDUK Ltd. are increasingly supplying this wondrous and flexible material for architectual applications and they will be showing it’s full range of capabilities at the show. A model of the breathtaking Seeko Hotel in Bordeaux will take centre stage. The playful facade of convex and concave forms, all in Corian has made the building an iconic landmark. King Kong Architecture chose Corian to create fabulous contoured exterior cladding using vast panels but without seeing any joints. enq 410 FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 101
Surface Design Show Preview & Surfaces IDS
INTERFACEFLOR
RIBA Seminar Room InterfaceFLOR will be presenting a newly accredited RIBA CPD (Continuing Personal Development) at the Surface Design Show. The CPD aims to help companies ‘cut through the green wash’ in the marketplace and is part of an extensive campaign to promote transparency in the industry. The seminar, led by InterfaceFLOR’s Sustainability Director (EMEAI), Ramon Arratia, will take place on 17th February at 2.15pm in the RIBA Seminar Room. The innovative ‘Just the Facts’ CPD programme has been designed by the sustainability experts at InterfaceFLOR to help organisations and individuals make informed purchasing decisions. enq 421
With recent trend forecasts pointing to consumers opting for products that are both sustainable and long-lasting for their homes, as opposed to cheaper, quick-change alternatives, IDS’s Tuscan wood flooring range scores on both counts with some first class environmental and warranty credentials. Says Neil Smith, Flooring Director at IDS: “As consumers embrace slower consumption lifestyles, they are placing more importance than ever on sustainability, quality and longevity and retailers can be confident in the Tuscan brand of flooring to meet all those criteria.” All products within the Tuscan engineered flooring range are 100% FSC certified – the internationally recognised standard which guarantees that the timber is harvested from responsibly managed forests. enq 423
POLYREY Noir Bâti from Polyrey’s fashion forward Origine Premier laminate range strongly references the interior design trend for textured surfaces. The Bâti texture is available on four plain colours of Noir, White, Feutre and Red, giving classic plain colours an interesting design twist with a matt, structured surface which mirrors the look and feel of freshly cut wood with natural large scale graining. enq 441
LG HAUSYS David Chipperfield Architects designed a large part of the Empire Riverside interior with HI-MACS acrylic stone. This is a mineral-based material made up of 70% natural stone powder, approximately 25% high-quality acrylic resin and around 5% natural pigments. It was developed and manufactured by the world’s leading company in this sector, LG Hausys. The wall cladding, the shelves and the massive bar counter have all been moulded from HI-MACS Black. enq 428
102 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
HANEX Responding to market demand for a budget solid surface solution, IDS has expanded its Hanex solid surface range with the introduction of four new colours in a competitively priced 6mm thickness. There are four colours, White S008, White S002, Red M003 and Black M007, directly reflecting the top selling and most specified finishes in the retail and furniture manufacturing sectors. Now available in both 6mm and 12mm options, the four solid surface finishes guarantee flexibility of use as well as being economical, without compromising on the performance or look of the finished product. The 6mm option is ideal for use on horizontal surfaces, offering all the aesthetic and functional benefits while keeping costs down due it being a thinner material. The product is available in a sheet size of 2490 x 760mm, while the 12mm material comes in 3680 x 760mm. enq 422
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
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[email protected] Surfaces & Flooring
ARMOURCOAT Severn Trent Water’s new £60m operations centre in Coventry, which aims to set new industry standards with one of the lowest carbon footprints for any UK office building, incorporates equally eco-friendly Armourcoat polished plaster. Armourcoat was used within the reception and main atrium space, to create a stunning and original design statement. Totaling nearly four hundred square metres of hand-applied decorative plaster, Webb Gray specified colourfade artwork for feature panels and curved walls using Armourcoat Spatulata. enq 404
VORWERK Contura SL from the Projection collection by Vorwerk Carpets forges textured cloud and map designs on the innovative TEXtiles SL backing to reveal a striking commercial carpet solution that combines both style and sustainability. Utilising the performance and maintenance benefits of 100% Econyl solution dyed recycled content nylon, cloud and map will provide the busiest of corporate and commercial working environments with lasting Class 33 performance, but just as importantly the designs also bring style and sustainability to the workplace. enq 450
WILTON CARPETS Bespoke carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial now adorns public areas of the stunning Grand Central Hotel Glasgow as it takes its place once again as the city’s leading four-star hotel. As part a £20m refurbishment and commissioned by Karen Cleaver, design director of hotel owner Principal Hayley; Axminster woven carpets from Wilton Carpets Commercial are now providing stunning looks and superb underfoot comfort for guests. enq 451
AXMINSTER CARPETS COMMERCIAL The recent refurbishment of the spectacular five-star Grange City Hotel has seen bespoke carpet from Axminster Carpets Commercial installed in meeting rooms, the auditorium, guestrooms and corridors. Following the recent installation of carpet from the Devon-based manufacturer at the Grange Hotel Group’s highly acclaimed Grange St Pauls Hotel, Axminster Commercial’s design team worked with the group and interior designers Buchanan Associates to develop all the designs for the City hotel. Wendy Purser, Buchanan Associates elaborates: “The design came through overlaying two pattern concepts originally developed for the Grange St Pauls Hotel. The combined organic ripple and multidirectional barcode designs capture the mood of other carpet design within the hotel, picking up on their organic base while adding a corporate slant with the strong linear focus of the bar codes. Within the conference centre the stripes also tie in well with the zebrano wood panelling and throughout we selected a colour palette that complements the existing scheme.” enq 406
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
PRAXIS Mono screen from London-based Praxis, specialists in interior banners and workplace graphics, combines elegant, simple fixings with beautiful, semi-transparent fabric prints. Perfect for directional signage and dividing open spaces, Mono screen’s light and airy feel improves the way people relate to their work environment. Translucent fabrics help to create zones in the workplace and provide privacy without blocking out light. Mono screen is available in a range of sizes. The screens are easy to install, update and relocate and can be positioned within any ceiling height. Mono screen’s stylish, unobtrusive fittings ensure that the banners always look their best. enq 442 FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 105
Design: Form® (www.form.uk.com)
THE SURFACE DESIGN SHOW FOR MATERIAL THINKERS WHERE ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS FIND INSPIRATION
REGISTER NOW www.surfacedesignshow.com
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To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] Flooring
JUNCKERS Junckers, Europe’s largest supplier of solid hardwood floors, has become FSC certified. The certification strengthens Junckers’ commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, which has always been an integral part of their business model. The increasing demand for sustainable floors has lead Junckers to add another level of certification to their product range. “To supply wooden floors where legality and sustainability are ensured is central to the flooring industry today and we are pleased to offer a premium product with all the right environmental credentials”, says Steve Maltby, General Manager, Junckers Ltd. Junckers has supplied over 150 million m2 solid hardwood floors to prestigious public and private buildings, including international level sports arenas, all over the world. enq 425
POLYFLOR Distinctive Pearlazzo PUR is the latest homogeneous product to be launched by leading commercial vinyl floorcoverings manufacturer Polyflor. Designed for the modern commercial environment, Pearlazzo PUR delivers the inherent low maintenance and durability benefits expected of a Polyflor homogeneous PUR product while pushing the boundaries of vinyl flooring decoration. The striking 24-shade colour palette, a combination of vibrant and neutral shades, has been achieved by blending tonal chips and pearlescent flakes fused into a solid base colour for a unique decorative option. enq 440
LANO FLOORING SOLUTIONS Lano Flooring Solutions has breathed new life into its Walk of Fame collection with the introduction of eight stunning new shades in a revamped line-up for its 16 strong colourbank. Created to offer hospitality interiors an on-trend colour choice alongside shades that have been proven in many prestigious installations, the new colourbank is joined by three updated stock designs in two stripe and a pindot styles. The new colours and designs can both be discovered in the new Walk of Fame presentation folder. enq 429
MILLIKEN CONTRACT Easy to maintain, hardwearing and with a forgiving aesthetic that could be tied in with corporate identity, carpet tiles from Milliken Contract fulfilled the brief set by Bank of China for its London offices. Snap Back from the Straight Talk collection has been installed throughout working, breakout and courtyard areas of the building to a total of 5,000m2. Snap Back utilises durable and easy to maintain 100% Milliken-Certified WearOn type 6.6 nylon for ease of maintenance and wear resistance. With the additional benefit of StainSmart soil release technology, the carpet tile is particularly resilient and stands up to the demands of busy corporate environments with aplomb. The standard Snap Back pattern has been adapted with the addition of an accent red in courtyard and breakout areas, reflecting the brand colours of the financial institution. Using a standard dark colour throughout all areas to minimise the appearance of soiling, Bank of China’s corporate identity was further enhanced with the use of grey. enq 433
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
DORSET WOOLLISCROFT The vast range of Dorset Woolliscroft flooring solutions now on offer from the contracts division of Original Style includes vitrified & fully vitrified slip-resistant tiles for both internal and external use. Offering exceptional performance and safety standards within industrial, commercial, domestic and leisure markets, these tiles have been developed with specific areas of usage in mind and can be confidently specified for use in the most exacting of installations. The range also complies with all industry standards. Original Style is one of the UK's leading manufacturers and suppliers of tiles, mosaics, glass and natural stone for all commercial and residential projects. enq 457 FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 107
Flooring
To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] ARTWOOD For designers looking to complement heritage inspired interiors, Artwood’s Design Paint collection of wood flooring offers a different and unusual twist on the theme. With the Design Paint collection, Artwood offers hand-finished wood flooring in any Farrow&Ball floor paint finish, including beautiful tones such as Mouse’s Back, Eating Room Red and Tanner’s Brown. Each colour within the Design Paint collection is applied by hand and sealed to provide a durable and long lasting painted finish presented on high quality engineered oak flooring. enq 405
MILLIKEN CONTRACT The latest modular carpet from Milliken Contract takes its colour cues from nature forging striking colour combinations influenced by stormy skies and the intensity of light as it breaks through the clouds in a dazzling three-dimensional product. As one half of the newly created Out of the Shadows collection, Scattergraph is created through Milliken Contract’s Convergence technology, the Tufted Textured Loop Pile is married with proprietary digital colour placement to create organic texture on the floorplane, complementing the more structured Shadowbox in a palette of 14 shades. enq 434
KÄHRS Kährs has launched its new World Collection, which provides an ecofriendly alternative to a tropical wood floor. The new sustainable oak floors are available in 1, 2 and 3-strip designs and have an authentic ‘exotic’ stained finish in a choice of copper/red wine and rich burnt orange/topaz tones. The launch follows Kährs removal of all tropical species from its range, until guaranteed controlled sources can be found. enq 426
NEW IMAGE STONE LANO FLOORING SOLUTIONS Lano Flooring Solutions has deployed a significant revision to its Carve hotel-specific textured carpet concept in the shape of a new and improved bank of colours. From floral inspired textures to the river-like Carve 07 and geometric Carve 25, each design uses Lano’s manufacturing capability to produce a multi-level cut and loop pile carpet in high performance 100% Aqualon nylon. enq 430 108 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
Natural stone flooring not only looks breathtaking but it also endures. At New Image Stone the finest traditional skills of the stonemason are combined with the latest technology to realise the unparalleled beauty and versatility of stone. Natural stone is strong and, in the hands of a skilled artisan, can be used to create stunning statement floors. It is a rich and beautiful surface, with a timeless appeal for any room, from kitchen to bathroom, en-suite to poolhouse. The beauty of natural stone is that no two pieces are ever the same. Each piece of stone has its own natural characteristics such as colour, veining and markings, as well as hardness and porosity. Your New Image Stone floor is truly unique and completely individual. enq 437
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
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Surfaces textiles
Manufacturer of
Broadloom and Carpet Tiles
IMPACT
>
A tile of universal success.
BALSAN
textile floor coverings provide personalised, aesthetic and functional solutions to meet the requirements of both new and renovation markets for office, commercial and hospitality.
www.balsan.com
Contact BALSAN in the UK :
S o u th : Ti m E pp s + 4 4 78 27 85 06 61 t i m. e pp s@ b al sa n. co m Nor th : E r i c J ones + 4 4 78 27 85 0665 e r i c. j on e s@ b al sa n. c o m
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architectural tile + mosaic t. 01482 329691 w.
e x h i b i t i o n 01.03.11 - 03.03.11 - Stand S660
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f. 01482 212988
www.swedecor.com
A leading manufacturer of quality office furniture
L E E & P L U M P TO N
Changing the way you work 01953 453830
www.leeandplumpton.co.uk enq 152 Project7:Layout 1
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To be included contact Sophia Sahin on 020 7936 6856 or
[email protected] Contract & Office Furniture
JENNIFER NEWMAN BEACONS BUSINESS INTERIORS Brecon-based facilities support specialist, Beacons Business Interiors (Bbi), has completed the refurbishment of an 8,500 sq metre facility for leading life sciences company, Sterilin. Bbi was appointed to work on the £3 million fit-out as part of Sterlin’s £12 million expansion plan, which involved moving its manufacturing plant from Aberbargoed to the Pen-y-Fan Industrial Estate in Oakdale, near Blackwood, in one of Wales’s largest commercial property deals of the year. The project, which was one of Bbi’s biggest contract wins this year, involved the refurbishment of the former Fiamm Battery plant. Bbi handled all aspects of the project including design and office fit out, together with installing 1000 m2 of clean room space. Building the clean rooms involved the installation of a complex particle filtration removal system using HEPA filters, which was put in by Bbi’s dedicated mechanical and electrical division. enq 407
Specialists in hand-made aluminium furniture, Jennifer Newman Studio provide architects with the opportunity of customising products to suit their schemes, resulting in individuality at affordable prices. All Newman designs have a timeless simplicity and are built for long-life, giving the products strong sustainability credentials. Jennifer Newman herself is an acknowledged colour expert and her input is part of the service offered by the studio. A totally bespoke service is also available for architects wanting unique products, and prototypes can be produced to order. High profile architects such as Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, Dyer and Schmidt Hammer Lassen are working with the studio for clients such as Imperial College, Westminster College, O2 and the BBC. enq 424
EBORCRAFT
THE INTERIORS GROUP The Interiors Group have created a fresh new fit out for an international petroleum company in One Curzon Street, London, which is one of the principal landmark buildings in Mayfair associated with quality and prestige. The reception has been fitted with a desk by Thorpes Joinery using Corian with glass tiles, a recessed plasma screen and recessed light bright daylight bulbs set in back panelled glass give a very neat appearance. Limestone style ceramic 600x600mm square floor tiles add to the feeling of quality within the Boardroom. The Interiors Group have covered the wall with Avasti, a special acoustic fabric and installed full video conferencing for twenty people. enq 448
The latest project commissioned from office furniture manufacturer Eborcraft demonstrates how slight modifications to a basic design can transform the appearance of the final build. The featured reception counter was constructed using modules from Eborcraft's flexible Fusion range, combining a mix of curved and rectangular units. The wood veneer finish of maple was individualised by incorporating a black line inlay, which together with the aluminium trim, enhanced the counter's contemporary appearance. The client also opted for a bullnose edge detail, which softened the lines of the upper unit to make the counter look more approachable. The reception counter was designed to accommodate a central DDA unit, bracketed on each side by a combination of low and high-level modules. Each of the high-level counter tops was specially modified so that large computer monitors could be concealed within a cut-away section. enq 415
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
MORGAN Panama is a new collection from the Morgan Studio. Dining and lounge chairs feature a slim angled dynamic frame and sharp square upholstery. An ergonomic seating angle and webbed seat create a light and comfortable chair making Panama a contemporary and ultimately practical addition to the Morgan portfolio. enq 435
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Contract Furniture & Stop Press DESIGN AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE New from Design at Knightsbridge is Lugano, an extensive range of upholstered seating for the hospitality sector created for the company by design consultant James A Wright. Intended to set a distinguished tone in lounge and reception areas, bars, restaurants and bedrooms, Lugano includes handsomely-proportioned two- and three-seat sofas, together with upright/easy armchairs and club chairs in both compact and easy versions. The design story throughout is characterised by graceful sloping arms and softened angles, with style options embracing plain, diamond-buttoned or fluted backs. Each model in the Lugano range can be upholstered to suit customer requirements, and a range of show-wood finishes is available. enq 427
SAMUEL HEATH & SONS Perko Powermatic concealed door closers have been used as part of the £220 million refurbishment of The Savoy, London, one of the world’s most iconic hotels. The capital city’s largest ever hotel restoration project has involved the rebuilding or redesign of all guestrooms and public areas, the introduction of an entirely new services infrastructure and the structural stabilisation of the hotel’s listed riverfront façade. An integral part of the project has been the refurbishment, and in some cases rebuilding, of the hotel’s guestrooms, and it is here that the Perko Powermatic door closer has been used to great effect. enq 444
CONNECTION Connection, back in 2008 was the first UK manufacturer to successfully launch a 100% recyclable task chair. Designed by Roger Webb Associates, IS has been taken one task step further and is being launched with a mesh back. Differentiating itself from other mesh back chairs in the marketplace, IS Mesh has a unique integrated height adjustment, still providing the one chair fits all, IS accommodates 98 of the population percentile and offers complete adjustment in every direction. The dual zone mesh provides support for the user’s lumbar area, whilst still offering complete ventilation. enq 455
HARBRINE
LONGDEN
Harbrine are pleased to announce the launch of a revolutionary electronic digital patch lock that can work on glass doors. This patch lock can work on new installations or even retro-fit against existing rondo style patch locks. No need to replace expensive glass doors, just change the existing patch lock and handles. Contact us for more details and learn how easy the replacement process really is. Programmable at the keypad with a range of commands which makes it particularly suitable for medium duty use in health, educational, commercial and residential environments. The key can be used to open doors for management functions such as security and cleaning. The added benefit of having key operation as well, enables this lock to be master keyed within a Harbrine MK system. enq 418
A new showroom in the heart of the City of London will help architects, designers, end users, contractors and dealers who are looking for inspiration and innovation. The Longden showroom in Bonhill Street displays a range of Longden door styles from Boarded door sets, Copeland panelled door sets and the Moderne Collection which is strongly influenced by modern art deco and comprises both bold and subtle contemporary door designs with an understated art deco twist that brings exciting alternatives to every customer. Longden multi-laminar wood veneers are hand-crafted incorporating performance levels needed to meet today’s technical criteria – a process that brings complete design freedom. Designs include subtle art deco motifs and geometric forms; sun burst designs, stepped profiles, arc shapes and linear designs; lavish beading, decorative veneers and carved details; and theatrical contrasts through shiny and matt wood and contrasting grains.
For a comprehensive product library go to www.widn.com
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Classified AUDIO VISUAL/SECURITY
To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
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BESPOKE FURNITURE
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Sinclair Matthews Ltd Ferry Yacht Station Ferry Road, Thames Ditton Surrey KT7 0YB tel: 020 8398 5694 email:
[email protected] web: www.sinclairmatthews.co.uk BATHROOM PRODUCTS
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CONTRACT FURNITURE
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Classified
To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
[email protected] DECORATIVE HARDWARE
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BESPOKE WALL MURALS
Bespoke murals Dramatic prints Exclusive blinds We give you unique access to some of the most exciting imagery around and create high quality bespoke interior graphics to suit your environment.
ebsite New W nched au Now L
Explore our website at www.surfaceview.co.uk
Captain America retro cover I, for Marvel Comics.
FINE PAINT & WALLPAPER
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Classified
To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
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FURNITURE
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LIGHTING
Energy Saving Lighting Controls Using built-in microwave detection to reduce consumption in unoccupied areas Warehouse/Halls
Corridors/Car Parks
Stairwells/Lobbys
Meeting Rooms
With energy prices forever going up and demands to reduce consumption increasing, we have real solutions to decrease your carbon footprint and ultimately save you money.
To find out more about energy saving luminaires with presence detection, or request a full catalogue contact us
Tel: 01442 865388
Email:
[email protected] LIGHTING
Galloti & Radice 'Air Desk L' in transparent or coloured lacquered glass. Ideal for the office or home. A range of credenzas, meeting tables, storage systems & pedestals complimenting the desk are available. Catalogues can be downloaded from our website.
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Kemps Architectural Lighting Ltd Unit 2 Matrix Court Middleton Grove Leeds LS11 5WB
LED LIGHTING
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By offering a bespoke linear solution, Oldham Lighting is cementing its position as one of the worlds leading bespoke linear lighting specialists and handing back the design flair to the designers.
Tel: 0113 271 5777 Fax: 0113 271 5666 Tel 01403 784846
[email protected] Fax 01403 784849 www.domainfurniture.info enq 309
HIGH GLOSS ACRYLIC
Installation by Retail Plastics Plus
….THE MATERIAL OF THE MOMENT • Original • Solid • High Gloss • Doors or Panels • European Manufactured • Superior • Reflective • Fashionable • Thermoformable • UV Stable • Waterproof • Bespoke Sizes • 23 Colours
Telephone: 0113 201 2240 Web: www.parapan.co.uk
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[email protected] www.kempslighting.com NATURAL STONE
Oldham Lighting Ltd +44 (0) 1372 459999 www.oldhamlighting.co.uk
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Classified
To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
[email protected] PIANOS
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SEATING
CHANTAL Designed by Pergentino Battocchio Stunning high gloss feature armchairs lacquered in black, white or red with that Made in Italy style and quality.
Visit our website for more information and prices
w w w. l a p o r t a . c o . u k
Laporta Office Furniture Ltd. The Pipeworks, 26-30 Prescott Place, London, SW4 6BU Tel: 020 7720 6006 RADIATORS
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SIGNAGE SOLUTIONS
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Chagall - Part of the Hotech Design range available from Aestus. For further details please call 01902 387080 or email
[email protected] FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 117
Showcase
To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
[email protected] RETAIL METALWORK & SHOP FITTINGS
HAWKESLEY ENGINEERING LIMITED Unit 5, Avery Dell Industrial Estate Lifford Lane, Birmingham B30 3DZ
t: 0121 433 4277 e:
[email protected] Hawkesley
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Tel: 0121 433 4277 www.hawkesley.co.uk
Lee Filters
Tel: 01243 371111 www.morganfurniture.co.uk
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Tel: 01271 325 325 www.turnstyledesigns.com
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Tel: 01264 366 245 www.leefilters.com
Morgan
Turnstyle Designs Ltd
Bluebell – Wall finishes
Stretch Ceilings Limited Tel: 01276 681 000 www.stretchceilings.co.uk
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Tel: 01672 562878 www.sphelix.com
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Tel: 0845 230 0990 www.bluebellfinishes.co.uk
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Johnny Hawkes
Decospan
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Tel: +32 (0) 56 52 88 00 www.shinnoki.com
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Float Glass Design Tel: 01273 622176 www.floatglassdesign.co.uk
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Showcase S850
LUMIWALL® Lumiwall® is the ideal system for displaying BIG illuminated graphics and promotions in Retail Stores and Shopping Malls. The impressive Lumiwall® works to create a memorable in-store atmosphere and certainly produces a ‘wow’ factor.
TOUCH FREE URINAL CONTROL WITH SCHELL COMPACT II
The Lumiwall® frame has an inbuilt patented tensioning which holds the replaceable digitally printed face, as tight as a drum skin and ice-rink smooth. We manufacture, print and install the complete system. For more information contact us on the details below.
SCHELL GmbH, produce a Compact II concealed, automatic urinal flush controlled by an infrared sensor wall-mounted above the urinal which automatically releases a 0.3 litres/second flush as soon as anyone walks away from the urinal.
www.artillus.com
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TEL: 01604 678410
E:
[email protected] W: www.schell.eu
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BONA LIMITED Architects and designers can use Bona's interactive Inspiration House exhibit to help specify the correct surface treatment for wooden floors in all environments.
TEL: 0845 680 6902
E.
[email protected] T. 01908 399740
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www.bona.com
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NEATLY COVERED BY JIS EUROPE CHART INTERIORS The Origami range has been introduced to the Leyform seating programme best known in the U.K for the auditorium floor fixed seating supplied over the last 15 years. Origami is available in Leather, Fabric and Mesh. Each style is available as Highback, Midback and Visitor chair. With a 5 year guarantee-quality is assured. www.chartinteriors.com
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TEL: 01342 326659
JIS Europe Ltd. of Haywards Heath has now added a Stainless Steel Element Cover to its extensive range of accessories for its stainless steel towel rails and radiators. This neat product is perfect when the need to cover the element cable is required. The Element cover is available in polished or satin finish and it is to be used only with the standard element. E:
[email protected] W: www.sussexrange.co.uk
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TEL: 01444 831200
DELTALIGHT Deltalight was appointed to design and supply the lighting for the majority of the new Lounge at Manchester Airport, Terminal 1. E.
[email protected] T. 08707 577087
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www.deltalight.co.uk
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CAESARSTONE THE IDEAL CHOICE CaesarStone quartz surfaces were the idyllic choice for the show room at the Greystones Development, supplied by premium kitchen manufacturer Poggenpohl (St Albans), for a stunning and flawless finish.
GX GLASS: MORE THAN JUST GLASS
The contemporary show home kitchen in the Greystones Development required a striking surface which had practical and durable qualities needed for showroom conditions. The solution was the beautiful CaesarStone ‘Blizzard White’ in a 20mm thickness, with a mitred edge built up to 130mm.
Gx has put in place one of the most comprehensive production facilities, producing high end designled glass products. A manufacturer, supplier and installer of a widerange of specialist glass products predominantly aimed at theinteriors market. Having over 30 years experience in the ever-evolving interiors glass market, we are able to bring that expertiseto the table when working with architects and designers.
Email:
[email protected] F: 00800 0262 3299 www.caesarstone.uk.com
E.
[email protected] F. 01233 641475 W. www.glassexpress.co.uk
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TEL: 00800 0421 6144
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TEL: 01233 642220
POLYFLOR With 24 product ranges that have been certified A+ by BRE Global, Polyflor has more individually assessed A+ product ranges than any other resilient flooring brand. E:
[email protected] T: 0161 767 1111
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www.polyflor.com
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 119
Directory
To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
[email protected] D4D Designers 4 Designers
RIBA Appointments
London: 0203 174 0352 Brighton: 01273 501050
[email protected] www.designers4designers.co.uk
020 7496 8370
[email protected] www.ribaappointments.com
D4D Designers 4 Designers is an interior design recruitment consultancy based in London & Brighton. Whether you're a company seeking designers or a designer looking for a new job, we look forward to hearing from you.
Careers In Design 01920 486 125
[email protected] www.careersindesign.com
Design recruitment specialists for Interior Designers, Space Planners, CAD Technicians, Specifiers, Furniture, Product, Exhibition, Lighting and 3D Designers, Visualizers, Bathroom/Kitchen Sales Designers.
The recruitment service of the RIBA has positions with many up and coming practices as well as the top design firms in the UK and abroad.
A
Aberfeldy Associates Ltd 01457 859 219
[email protected] www.furniturerecruitment.com
Recruiting sales, management, and support people solely in the contract furniture and commercial interiors industries since 1995. Call in complete confidence.
ARC
The Recruitment Business
01892 554717
[email protected] www.austinrecruitmentconsultants.com
0161 212 1520
[email protected] www.macpeople.co.uk
ARC are "THE Recruitment Consultancy" for the Interior Design & Build and Architecture & Design sectors. We have years of experience in these fields and are proud to work closely with many of the industries leaders.
The Recruitment Business specialises in providing permanent and freelance MacPeople, CreativePeople, WebPeople and AccountPeople for advertising agencies, design groups and corporate in-house studios.
Studio
Paul Wells Consultants
0203 174 0185
[email protected] www.studio.eu.com
01375 484 044
[email protected] www.paulwellsconsultants.com
We recruit top talent for all your Studio vacancies. Studio specialises in recruiting for Interior Design Consultancies, supplying contract and permanent staff for your design teams and office support workforce.
PWC is one of the UK’s fastest growing Commercial Interiors Recruitment companies. Uniquely due to our “first hand” sales experience within both the office furniture and fit-out industries.
Morgan Glover
Solution
01892 520 191
[email protected] www.morganglover.co.uk
0845 408 1705
[email protected] www.solutionrecruitment.com
Morgan Glover is a professional recruitment consultancy specialising ONLY within the Interiors/ Systems Furniture market place. The core of Morgan Glover is to provide a quality service by their consultancy methods.
Solution - committed to providing a tailor-made service to both candidates and clients, permanent & professional freelance positions within Architecture & Interior Design. Be part of the solution...
Eden Brown
Fusion People Limited
020 7422 7386
[email protected] www.edenbrown.com/interiors
020 7653 1070
[email protected] www.fusionpeople.com
THE Interior Design specialists! 15 years recruiting for Designers, CAD Technicians, Visualisation, FF&E, Space Planning and Exhibition. Call for a friendly, professional approach with rapid results.
Whatever your specialism or career level within Interior Design or Architecture, Fusion People can help you realise your potential with a wide selection of permanent jobs, and challenging freelance assignments.
Park Recruitment
Bespoke Career Management
01892 535 351
[email protected] www.parkjobs.com
020 7242 4909
[email protected] www.bespokecareers.com
Park Recruitment has specialised in recruiting for Systems Furniture and Fit Out Markets since 1980. Industry experts successfully match candidates and clients throughout Europe.
Bespoke recruit architects, graphic designers, interior designers & support staff for London's thriving design community.
On Target Recruitment Ltd 020 8335 3334
[email protected] www.otrsales.co.uk
On Target Recruitment Ltd has been successfully placing high calibre sales people with all the leading companies within the office furniture and interiors market for over 14 years.
120 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
Contact Daniel Khmali: 020 7936 6857 or
[email protected] To advertise here contact Daniel Kamli on 020 7936 6857 or
[email protected] Recruitment
Ref: V02362, Buckinghamshire
£20,000 - £24,000
This Interior and Architectural Practise seek an Architectural Technician to work alongside their design team on multidisciplinary projects including offices and residential. You should be an Architectural graduate with 1 to 3 years experience, fluent in AutoCAD and good draughting and technical skills.
Ref: V02361, Hertfordshire
£Neg
This retail display consultancy need a qualified Technical Designer to produce 3D models and manufacturing drawings, prototyping and liaising with the factories to ensure designs are fit for purpose. With 5+ years of working in POP / retail design you will need manufacturing experience, be a good communicator, fluent in Solidworks (or similar 3D modeller) and have good time management skills.
Ref: V02360, Northants
£30,000 - £35,000
This Company designs and builds bespoke custom built exhibition stands and displays for showrooms, conference and stage sets. They seek an exhibition designer with 5+ years relevant experience, a creative with good concept skills, literate in Vectorworks and 3D Studio Max and some experience of graphic design.
Ref: V02358, Hampshire
£Neg
This multidisciplinary design practice specialises in hospitality and retail design and seek an experienced Interior Designer with 5+ years experience in leisure and/or retail interiors and excellent conceptual skills and Vectorworks literacy. You should be a good communicator with strong interpersonal skills and plenty of experience in job running and going on site.
WE ARE AN EXPERIENCED CONSULTANCY THAT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES WITHIN THE INTERIORS/ SYSTEMS FURNITURE MARKETS
HISTORY OF MORGAN GLOVER Morgan Glover is a Recruitment Consultancy which was established to specialise only within the Interiors / System Furniture Industry. With over 9 years experience in the marketplace, I truly understand the importance of building good relationships with clients and candidates alike. I feel passionate and determined about delivering an honest and professional service to this very creative and niche marketplace, serving both clients and candidates alike. I strongly believe having a detailed and thorough understanding of the clients and candidates needs and expectations are paramount.
CLIENTS I acknowledge that each organisation, whether large or small, will have an individual criteria. I believe that it is crucial to understand their business in terms of how they operate, where in the market place they are, and their longterm ambitions as an organisation; equally, it is imperative to have a sound understanding of the culture of the company, particularly within the smaller organisations.
CANDIDATES As an experienced consultant within the Interiors marketplace, I fully understand that any career change is a big decision, and extremely stressful. Morgan Glover tries to ease that pressure by interviewing candidates. I treat each candidate very much as an individual, establishing their ambitions and abilities, as well as analysing which organisations they would fit into culturally. If you are seeking a professional Consultancy to assist with your Recruitment requirements, or a candidate seeking a confidential chat with no commitment, then please contact Morgan Glover. WWW.MORGANGLOVER.CO.UK Email:
[email protected] T: +44 (0)1892-520-191 M: +44 (0)7778-333-607
FXmagazine.co.uk February 2011 121
We ask designers and architects what they would create if they had carte blanche
if only...
bus stops could be more interactive
If you have an If Only vision you’d like to share – it doesn’t matter how extraordinary or far-fetched it seems – email details to the editor at
[email protected] 122 February 2011 FXmagazine.co.uk
EyeStop by architects and engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Few things are more tedious than waiting for a bus. But imagine if your local bus stop allowed you to check your e-mails, share community information on a digital message board and monitor the air quality, as well as learning where your bus was. Designed by MIT architects and engineers (pictured right, l-r) Carlo Ratti, Julia Schlotter and Walter Nicolino, EyeStop is a new kind of interactive bus stop, designed to take the tedium out of waiting for the bus while encouraging more people to use public transport. The EyeStop would be partially covered with touch-sensitive E Ink (an electronic display system which its makers say creates a readable experience closer to ink on paper than any other electronic display) and screens, and features state-of-the art sensing technologies and a variety of interactive services. Users can plan a bus trip on an interactive map, surf the web, monitor their exposure to pollutants and use their mobile devices as an interface with the bus shelter. They can also post personal ads and community announcements to an electronic bulletin board there, enhancing EyeStop's functionality as a community gathering space.
MIT
Founded in 1861, MIT is an independent college dedicated to education and research. Its work includes achieving the first chemical synthesis of penicillin and vitamin A and inventing a way to duplicate photosynthesis to store solar energy. MIT’s conceptual studies into architecture and product design also include a building with 'digital water' walls, shown at the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza. web.mit.edu
Kirkstone Silver Green Slate for British American Tobacco, Southampton. Architect: M Moser Associates Photographer: Alastair Lever
Bespoke inspiration Kirkstone supply high quality stone for bespoke commercial projects from our own quarries in the Lake District and from carefully selected suppliers around the world. For more information on our full range of slates, limestones, marbles and hand crafted items, please visit our website or call our sales team for advice and samples on the numbers below.
015394 33296
London Showroom 020 7386 5600 enq 163
[email protected] www.kirkstone.com
For those who think outside the box. wedi creative building systems provides a comprehensive toolbox with which to create new, contemporary and inspiring ideas for wet rooms and bathrooms.
See us at ecobuild
Tuesday 01 - Thursday 03 March 2011 ExCeL London
STAND No. S210 A comprehensive range of modular components and systems are available
wedi creative building systems. One Source - Endless Possibilities Te l : + 4 4 1 7 0 6 6 4 7 3 3 3 E - M a i l : s a l e s @ w e d i . c o . u k w w w. w e d i . c o . u k
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INNOVATIVE BUILDING SOLUTIONS
