Issue 10/stories:Pop culture with the Colourspace collection

Inspired profiles – Joel Sampson, Ella Lee Cansdell and Cecilia Kugler

Reclaiming carpet with the new ReEntry program

design space10

www.interfaceflor.com.au

Sustainable showroom – InterfaceFLOR China

Interiors themes – We explore modular flooring in educational, hospitality, commercial, public space and health projects

PurecreativityAwarehouse design laboratory inspires artistic installations

Contents

What is the essence of good design? The modernists would have us believe that true design is all about function, asking: How can we create a world that works better? On the other hand, creativity is key – fun, playful colours, and out of the box ideas make interiors dynamic and stimulating for the people who spend time in them. And of course there is the environment – interiors, products and systems should, and increasingly do, take sustainability into consideration, reducing energy, re-using materials and planning for end-of-life. So, we have the trio – function, creativity and sustainability.

InterfaceFLOR’s modular flooring meets all three criteria. In this issue, read stories about how carpet tiles are used to define space in interiors, providing zoning and wayfinding solutions. Hard-wearing and easy to install, InterfaceFLOR products are leaders in the field, meeting practical needs.

Creativity abounds in the new Colourspace collection by InterfaceFLOR which takes cues from popular culture to make interiors vibrant. Read about how interiors can provide a sense of community in libraries, visual stimulation and wellbeing in health care interiors and playful, eye-catching designs in hospitality spaces, just to name a few.

And sustainability, one of the core principles at InterfaceFLOR, is illustrated through the new Shanghai showroom which uses recycled and reclaimed materials signifying InterfaceFLOR China’s commitment to sustainability. Also read about InterfaceFLOR’s new recycling program for carpet, ReEntry in our news section.

Finally, we have three profiles of your colleagues – interior designers Joel Sampson, Ella Lee Cansdell and Cecilia Kugler – on what inspires them on a daily basis. Read on!

01 NewsAll the latest news for design, sustainability and InterfaceFLOR.

04 ProductsMake your world pop – InterfaceFLOR’s Colour collection.

08 PracticeInterfaceFLOR’s Shanghai showroom combines recycled and reclaimed materials with a China-inspired aesthetic.

12 PrinciplesFlooring is no longer the last piece in the interior design puzzle – we find out how the 5th Wall is your design tool.

14 ProfilesWe interview three interior designers to find out what inspires them and how they use modular flooring in their work.

InterfaceFLOR and the publisher hereby disclaims, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material appearing in this publication, any negligence of the publisher, or any person’s actions in reliance thereon. Inclusion of any copy information or other material must not be taken as an endorsement by InterfaceFLOR. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and are not necessarily endorsed by InterfaceFLOR or the publisher. The terms ‘InterfaceFLOR’ and ‘Mission Zero’ are registered trade marks.

Published by the Indesign Group(61 2) 9368 0150, info@indesign.com.au© InterfaceFLOR

Publisher: Raj Nandan, IndesignDesign Template: Sylvia Weimer, Spacelab DesignDesign: Eunice Ku, IndesignEditors: Mandi Keighran, Indesign and Penny Craswell, IndesignProduction: Adele Troeger, IndesignInterfaceFLOR: Sally Orme

Cover Image: Installation by Bluarch for InterfaceFLOR Awarehouse

Printed with soy based ink on 100% recycled paper. No virgin fibre used. Manufactured with 75% post consumer and 25% pre-consumer waste.

The trio – function, creativity and sustainability.

14 ProjectsTaking a thematic approach we discover inspiring educational spaces, creative venue design, flexible workplaces, a sense of community in public spaces and healthcare interiors for wellbeing.

InterfaceFLOR : News 01News

Design OnlineInterfaceFLOR is taking over the online realm with their Floor Visualiser and the launch of the InterfaceFLOR blog, The 5th Wall. Floor Visualiser can translate the most creative imaginings into clear visions, and the blog features articles on flooring, design trends, industry news, cutting edge installations, product launches, sustainable interiors, events and invitations. Together these online tools help designers create their ideal floor for office, school, home, public and healthcare environments, or even to experiment with The 5th Wall – changing the carpet tile colours and patterns to suit the project. Be inspired by the blog, then visit Floor Visualiser to order free samples, research carpet tile options and print floor scenes for mood boards. Creations can then be saved and emailed to clients and colleagues.

Visit www.interfaceflor.com.au

Be AwareInterior designers are used to integrating their creative imaginings with real world limitations – budget, awkward space, or clients who don’t share the vision... the list is endless. InterfaceFLOR recently threw the rule book out the window and let designers’ imaginations run wild at the nearly completed InterfaceFLOR Awarehouse in LaGrange, Georgia. Emerging talents were challenged to create an installation using any or all of the raw materials that make up an InterfaceFLOR carpet tile, and the results showcased the creative extent of the designers’ imaginations.

Principal of Bluarch, Antonio Di Oronzo, evoked another world with his installation that used Fresh Start nylon yarn in every available hue of blue (pictured on cover).

Husband and wife team, James and Hayes Slade, of Slade Architecture also played with the idea of creating a landscape. ‘Flor’ (pictured) translates as flower in Spanish, and blurs the boundaries between land and furniture. Digital renderings were used to determine the layout of carpet tiles.

To browse the installations, visit The 5th Wall blog.

InterfaceFLOR : News0202

Reduce, Recycle, Re-useThe fact remains that carpet takes 50 years to decompose and accounts for a significant amount of landfill. InterfaceFLOR however, is committed to being a global leader in sustainability and has pioneered the industry’s most successful carpet recycling program, ReEntry.

The program, a world first that gives customers the option to send old carpet to be recycled into a new product – even if the original carpet is not manufactured by InterfaceFLOR – was recently taken on board by the St George Kogarah head office. Old carpet was recycled, diverting 22,996 square metres of carpet tile from landfill – a carbon reduction equivalent to 42 cars being off the road for a year. InterfaceFLOR has also contracted to take back the new carpet at the end of its useful life, thereby keeping carpet in the recycling loop.

ReEntry significantly cuts the environmental footprint of carpet manufacturing by reclaiming the majority of the product back into the production loop, and is a cost-effective, sustainable and hassle-free way of replacing old carpet with a climate neutral carpet.

Insights into Interface’s Founder Turn the clock back to 1994 – grunge was on its way out, 90210 was on TV and making carpets was a toxic, petroleum-based process, releasing immense amounts of air and water pollution and creating tons of waste. Ray Anderson, Interface founder and chairman, knew that this could not be the way forward into the future. Today, thanks to Anderson’s efforts, Interface has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 82%, cut fossil fuel consumption by 60% and cut waste by 66%. His goal to take nothing from the earth that can’t be replaced by the earth was ambitious, and his story, told in the recently released autobiography, Confessions of a Radical Industrialist, is inspiring.

www.rayanderson.com

03InterfaceFLOR : News

Sneak Peek Ever wanted to know what the future holds? Ideation Gallery is a visual reference that will give you a sneak peek into the global design trends behind InterfaceFLOR’s yet-to-be released 2010 products. With three new Ideation Galleries – ‘Original’, ‘Rugged’ and ‘Animate’ – there is an aesthetic for everyone.

‘Original’ is exactly that, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern cutting-edge technologies and materials. ‘Rugged’ explores the relationship between urban and natural landscapes, merging the industrial with handcrafted techniques, while ‘Animate’ uses intense techno colours with futuristic finishes and experimental shapes that highlight the contrast between synthetic and sustainable materials.

To preview the ideation Galleries visit: www.interfaceflor.com.au/The_5th_Wall/Ideation_Gallery.aspx

Design Your WayInterfaceFLOR is passionate about exploring and expressing creativity, and late last year they extended an invitation to Australian designers to participate in a design-a-rug promotion. Using carpet tiles from the ‘Quickship’ range, designers were invited to view the floor as the 5th Wall – their canvas for expression – and produce a custom rug design of up to 10 square metres to reinvigorate a space at home or at work. A flood of rug designs were received from all over the country, a random selection of which can be viewed in the competition’s online rug gallery. Twenty talented entrants had their designs translated into rugs (pictured design by Ivy Chow).

View the competition rug gallery at interfaceflor.com.au

04 InterfaceFLOR : Products

Make your world popClash, combine, cut, splice and re-arrange InterfaceFLOR’s trend-driven Colourspace collection to take flooring to new dimensions.

05InterfaceFLOR : Products

“RETRO NODS TO THE PAST SIT

COMFORTABLy BESIDE VISIONS OF

THE FUTURE...”

Pop culture is happening right now, a reflection of what surrounds us. It can be found everywhere – it’s what makes us feel alive. It’s the music we listen to, the images we see, and the fashion we wear. With the launch of the Colourspace collection from InterfaceFLOR, it can even be found on the ground beneath our feet.

In its latest incarnation, pop culture is vibrant, bold and energetic – the Colourspace collection takes this trend and turns it into a style. Dynamically bright colours cut through subdued neutrals, and retro nods to the past sit comfortably beside visions of the future, infusing floors with new life.

Inspired by everything that brings our world to life and makes it pop – bold colours, pixelated graphics, sharp angles, high fashion and fragmented shapes – the Colourspace collection surpasses trends by allowing designers to create their own style.

Cut, splice and re-arrange the 12 colourways and three patterns that comprise the collection in endless ways to define spaces without walls – if it can be imagined, it can be created.

Left: Colourbase (in Orange, Purple, Cream)

“IN ITS LATEST INCARNATION, POP CULTURE IS VIBRANT, BOLD AND ENERGETIC”

06 InterfaceFLOR : Products

Clash, Combine, Cut, Splice and Re-arrangeColourspace is more than a carpet tile – it’s a comprehensive design tool that gives designers free reign and sets their imagination free. The colour palette and pattern across the three products – Colourbase, Polygon 1 and Polygon 2 – has been designed to work together, making it easy to clash, combine, cut, splice and re-arrange.

07InterfaceFLOR : Products

Opposite: Colourbase (in Pink, Orange), Polygon 1 (in Pink Orange)

Above: Colourbase (in Cream, Charcoal, Grey)

08 InterfaceFLOR : Practice

The recently completed InterfaceFLOR showroom in Shanghai uses reclaimed and recycled materials and successfully fuses local Chinese references with the international brand.

Reclaiming Shanghai

09InterfaceFLOR : Practice

When a company is founded on principles of environmental sustainability, fitting out new commercial space is always going to be a challenge, and aspirations for the recently completed InterfaceFLOR showroom and office in Shanghai were high.

The brief, says designer Bong Chan, who has also designed showrooms for InterfaceFLOR in Beijing and Hong Kong, was “to provide a premium exhibition and hospitality space”. But it was also essential that the project was a step towards the realisation of InterfaceFLOR’s ‘Mission Zero’ – a statement that promises to eliminate any negative impact the company has on the environment by 2020.

As a result, the 250 square metre space, centrally situated in the heart of Shanghai’s historic district, is the first interior in China

to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.

The lofty space is well suited to addressing the key concerns of both InterfaceFLOR and LEED. Eight metre-high ceilings – rare in Shanghai – with three floor-to-ceiling windows allow an abundance of natural light to penetrate the interior. This not only makes for a light-filled creative space, but, combined with highly efficient lighting, also optimises energy reduction.

In keeping with this idea, both Chan and InterfaceFLOR subscribed to an ethos of ‘reduce, recycle and re-use’ when it came to selecting materials. Low VOC adhesives, sealants, paints and carpet were used, and the timber throughout was salvaged from old Shanghai buildings.

Left: 8 metre-high windows flood the showroom with natural light

Right: The signage at the entry is made from over 10,000 carpet yarn ‘beads’

10 InterfaceFLOR : Practice

“IN ThIS WAY, BOTh ThE hISTORY OF ThE CITY AND ThE hISTORY OF INTERFACEFLOR hAvE LITERALLY BEEN CARvED INTO ThE INTERIOR...”

11InterfaceFLOR : Practice

Waste material from production of InterfaceFLOR carpets has also been used to great effect. The transparent signage curtain at the entrance, for example, is made using over 10,000 InterfaceFLOR carpet yarn ‘beads’, and was conceived by Chan as an interpretation of traditional double-sided silk embroidery.

The branded entrance wall thus acts not only as an example of the creative re-use of materials, but also contributes to the synergistic blend of local references and the InterfaceFLOR brand within the new showroom.

This successful fusion of InterfaceFLOR’s international trademarks with design elements that demonstrate the company’s commitment to the Chinese market was, alongside environmental concerns, the other key aim for the Shanghai showroom.

The blank surfaces of the reclaimed timber used for the

wooden beams and pillars have been carved with various designs from InterfaceFLOR tiles from throughout the years and traditional Chinese motifs. In this way, both the history of the city, and the history of InterfaceFLOR have literally been carved into the interior of the showroom.

“Chinese carved patterns blend with the carpet tile designs,” says Chan of this element. “A bat, which is a symbol of good fortune, is combined with the letter ‘I’, which is the obsolete logo of InterfaceFLOR, and the tile patterns.”

The new space is more than a showroom that demonstrates the principles behind the InterfaceFLOR brand – launches, meetings and customer events can all be accommodated in the sustainably-aware space.

Interface founder Ray Anderson, whose goal is to take nothing from the earth that cannot be replaced, must certainly approve.

Opposite: Timber and glass are used throughout the new fit-out

Above: A 9 x 6 metre inclined ramp provides an area for exhibiting InterfaceFLOR’s extensive range of carpet tiles

12

Designers are thinking outside the square and realising the full potential of the carpet tile as a design tool, using the 5th Wall to define space while maintaining an open plan.

InterfaceFLOR : Principles

Outside the Box

Above:Red Bull head Office, SydneyInterior Design: SheargoldPhotography: Tyrone BraniganFlooring: Solid Foundation (in Dark Green)

Right:Accenture, SydneyInterior Design: HBO+EMTBPhotography: Martin van der WallFlooring: Cubic (in Width)

Design is ever changing; constantly evolving to meet the needs of those who inhabit the spaces it creates. Over the years, we have seen the emergence of a preference for open plan layouts rather than the boxed-in spaces of the past, particularly in commercial work spaces.

In this new type of workplace, space is no longer defined primarily by walls, and Australia’s leading designers, searching for a solution to the dilemma of delineating space in open plan environments, have found that they have been standing on the answer all along.

The solution, the 5th Wall, is proving to be an exciting and effective tool for designers, whereby extensive attention is paid to flooring in order to secure a highly functional and eye-catching fit-out. Designers engaging with the 5th Wall are leading the way in the future of interior fit-outs – a future where space is no longer defined, and confined, by walls.

Playfulness is key to the youthful brand image of Red Bull, and this playfulness was thus key to the much-lauded interior fit-out of the Australian headquarters by Matt Sheargold and Sally Hieatt.

The athletic and dynamic brand image is mirrored in the workspace, and central to this is the way space has been delineated. With green carpet tiles, Sheargold and Hieatt were able to create a cricket pitch without implementing a space divider, effectively maintaining the casual nature of the fun, free-flowing space. The carpet tiles were integrated senselessly with hard flooring through the use of TacTiles.

This recreational space is in juxtaposition to the wooden walkways that weave through the open office space – here movement is directed not by traditional walls, but by the 5th Wall – the floor.

Open plan spaces are integral to successful office design, as research has shown, facilitating communication amongst workers.

But the need to separate spaces that serve different functions is equally as important in achieving workplace balance, whether it is for quiet thinking areas, meetings or client entertainment.

Use of block colour was integral to the Accenture project by HBO+EMTB. Bold shapes in the carpet define relaxed meeting areas for staff to gather within the

open space without the need for walls or other devices.

For the office interior of Aegis Media, Incorp Design Studio used ‘the family bond’ as the concept.

Similar to the Accenture project, Incorp Design Studio employed the 5th Wall to create the high performance workspace by alternating floor colours, thus incorporating breakout spaces for brainstorming sessions into the open plan interior without the need for obtrusive walls.

Carpet tiles were cut to fit a circular space and studded with tree trunk stools as seats. This was designed to provide a workplace that encourages communication and bonding through planned and unplanned collaboration spaces, removing barriers, creating transparency and trust while reinforcing brand values and vision. The warm palette of complementary greens, greys and browns achieved an inviting, organic look for the project.

Looking down to the 5th Wall for inspiration has provided designers with a whole new area to play with colours and space, and an inspiring environment is a creative one.

“...DESIgNERS, SEARChINg FOR A SOLuTION TO ThE DILEMMA OF DELINEATINg SPACE IN

OPEN PLAN ENvIRONMENTS, hAvE FOuND ThAT ThEY hAvE BEEN STANDINg ON ThE

ANSWER ALL ALONg”

13InterfaceFLOR : Principles

Left and below:Aegis, SydneyInterior Design: IncorpPhotography: Anthony FretwellFlooring: Solid Foundation (in Olive, Apricot, and Raisin)

14 InterfaceFLOR Profile : Joel Sampson

Right:Portrait photography: Alina Gozin’a

Opposite and top right:Sydney projectPhotography: Brent Winstone PhotographyFlooring: i Line (in Network, Search)

InterfaceFLOR Profile : Joel Sampson 15

Design ChameleonA bold use of colour and a love of texture and pattern define Hassell designer Joel Sampson’s approach to design.

What is refreshing about Joel Sampson is his almost chameleon-like ability to straddle so many different fields, yet still retain a clear sense of self. “I see my job as an opportunity to leave my own fingerprint upon the world,” he says.

Originally from Brisbane, Sampson studied design at the Queensland University of Technology, and after working in a Brisbane practice for several years he moved to London before finally relocating to Sydney to embark upon a degree in architecture. For the last two years Sampson has been affiliated with Hassell, and with them he has had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects including hospitality, health care and commercial fit-outs.

All Sampson’s recent projects have been varied both in style and genre, yet his distinctive stamp remains apparent through them all. A bold use of colour and a love of texture are consistent features of his work. Strong hues and daring patterns mark all his pieces and help define his journey.

“What really thrills me about design is being able to create spaces that cause people to react,” Sampson says. The given reaction is obviously dependent upon the type of environment crafted, and it is this unknown that delights him.

Hassell’s installation at the InterfaceFLOR Representations Gallery, titled ‘A Sense of the Neverending’, highlighted both the dynamic nature of Sampson’s style and his desire to ignite emotion within his audience. “I really wanted people who entered the space to engage in all possible senses – from smell to touch, from hearing to seeing,” he says.

Before working on the installation with InterfaceFLOR, he admits that he did not see the full potential of the carpet tile, but after working extensively with tiles Sampson has grown to understand the varied nature of this medium – how one is able to dissect the actual product and stretch it out so that it changes form. Combining a love of colour with modular flooring systems gives him the chance to make the floor the centre of any given display – something Sampson feels has been overlooked by many designers in recent years.

“Being able to experiment with colour, pattern and texture is a great experience,” he says. “Working with the InterfaceFLOR modular flooring system gave me an enriched experience that changed the emphasis of what I originally registered as a flat floor tile, to something deeper – which was an added bonus.”

16 InterfaceFLOR Profile : Ella Lee Cansdell

Above:Portrait photography: Alina Gozin’a

Right:Aristocrat, SydneyInterior Design: GeyerPhotography: Tyrone BraniganFlooring: Timberline (in Adler) and Solid Foundation (in Dark Blue, Lime Green)

Middle and far right:Westpac Epping, SydneyInterior Design: GeyerPhotography: Tyrone BraniganFlooring: Solid Foundation (in Tangerine Dartmoor), Plaid (in Hyde Park)

17InterfaceFLOR Profile : Ella Lee Cansdell

The very boundaries of what space is, indeed what space can be and do, are what drives Ella Lee Cansdell to experiment with different interior design techniques – pushing her to turn apparently simple concepts into impressive visuals in any arena.

Her interest in design was first piqued by certain elements of Japanese culture, which instilled a fascination with space and design. “When I was living in Japan my tea ceremony teacher taught me the importance of wabi-sabi, which is about seeing the beauty in all things modest and humble,” Cansdell says. From then on she has had an appreciation for the handmade, which is shown through the honest quality in much of her work.

Cansdell is a designer at Geyer – Australia’s largest interior design firm, well known for its commitment to innovation. Her latest work

includes designing various commercial environments; including work spaces, retail showrooms, foyers and childcare centres. Within these different spaces, she draws on her passion for a range of artisan techniques which provide a significant point of interest in these contemporary spaces.

Designing her own carpet tiles has allowed her to express this love of intricate detailing. In the same way an artist might use a fine-tipped brush, Cansdell crafts elaborate and detailed patterns through custom made tiles. She admits to loving nothing better than sprawling out on a showroom floor and experimenting with metres of wool, melding the different coloured yarn into distinctive patterns and interesting combinations.

The modularity of the carpet tile medium allows Cansdell to

hand CraftedDesigning her own carpet tiles allowed Ella Lee Cansdell of Geyer to engage her love of colour, pattern, texture, contrast and orientation.

manipulate the appearance of certain spaces in a subtle way, creating new planes of definition. “I love their cleverness; even without any vertical planes, tiles can define a space – or a space within a space. They can define a circulation path or a threshold, have you walk a certain way or be a covered wall,” she explains.

Cansdell’s approach truly allows her to stretch spatial boundaries, showing her intense appreciation for intricacies within any given area. “As a designer, I find the humble carpet tile such a dynamic medium to work with. I love playing with colour, pattern, texture, contrast and orientation – the possibilities are endless,” she says.

It is this level of optimism and dynamism that helps change how we choose to define interior design within contemporary living.

18 InterfaceFLOR Profile : Cecilia Kugler

Above:Portrait photography: Alina Gozin’a

Right:Randwick Branch LibraryInterior Design: CK DesignFlooring: Outlook (in Aspect, Scape), Syncopation (in Umber, Beach)

Top right:West Ryde Public LibraryInterior Design: CK DesignFlooring: Timberline (in Adler), Solid Foundation (in Tangerine, Chocolate, Light Brown)

19

Leading the WayCreating logical spaces is key to Cecilia Kugler’s work, and she sees the carpet tile as an important tool in making space easy to navigate.

The Argentinean-born designer Cecilia Kugler started to pay attention to aspects of interior design from the early age of three. Looking back at her childhood in Buenos Aires, Kugler recalls certain wall tiles and bathroom fittings in old Spanish Colonial family homes that piqued her interest in internal decoration and spatial planning.

After immigrating to Australia she pursued high school studies in visual arts and was convinced by a teacher to consider a career in interior design. After studying at the Sydney College of the Arts, Kugler worked for Peddle Thorp & Walker and the Ultimo Project Team. She was also involved with many other facilities planning and logistics projects for various Australian companies.

“Almost half my life as a designer was spent doing master plans and major space planning of facilities; however these projects were always handed over to other architects to implement... So after seeing many

good master plans implemented badly, I decided to set up my own firm so that the proposals were carried through all the way to implementation,” Kugler says.

Thus in 1999 she established her own firm, CK Design International in Sydney - with a clear view to focus on strategic space planning and management for large-scale projects and institutions. Part of the challenge Kugler finds in these projects is making expansive and busy spaces accessible to the public.

The designer perceives that the key to this accessibility lies in making public spaces easy to navigate – enticing the populace to connect with the surrounds rather than feeling lost and overwhelmed in them.

Kugler sees flooring and, in particular, carpet tiles as important tools in creating logical spaces by way of signage through visual variation. Different colours and floor treatments assist in creating

hierarchy between various areas and defining individual zones; as well as framing the furniture within any given space.

“As well as defining zones and wayfinding, we use carpet tiles to play upon a theme of the concept of a space that we are designing,” says Kugler. Part of the appeal of carpet tiles is the way they adapt to modern tastes and shifting trends. The fact that they are cost effective lends flexibility to large-scale interior design – they are arguably the most inexpensive and easily changeable flooring material available today.

“One of the first times I used carpet tiles was on the design and refurbishment of the State Library in Queensland. It was used as a wayfinding tool, accentuating vertical access points and other zones with rug-like inserts,” she says. Since then, CK Design International has been using such tiles in every library and public space project it has been involved with.

20 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Education

Although you can’t negate the fundamental importance of the individual’s free will in learning, encouraging contemplation through an inspirational and safe space is not an issue to be taken lightly.

Inspiring Thought

21InterfaceFLOR Projects : Education

Places of education have long been approached by interior architects with zealous ambition to produce highly inspiring and meditative spaces.

Whether inspirational cities such as Paris and St. Petersburg, or world famous libraries like Dublin’s Trinity College Library, awe-inspiring spaces have long been hotbeds of intellectual thought.

While today’s schools and universities may not boast the budgets to replicate or rival the iconic edifices of the past, new design solutions are being adopted to create inspiring spaces for students to learn and congregate in.

In the stark modern shells in which institutions are sometimes housed, furniture is often chosen for its affordability and functionality. But designers are discovering how to liven spaces, and the carpet tile as a flooring surface is rapidly becoming an influential design tool for changing the dynamics of educational spaces.

This is particularly evident in the Mt Ridley P-12 College in Craigieburn by y2 Architects, who succeeded in bringing colour and personality to an otherwise austere space thanks to abstract and geometric spots and stripes.

“The individual colour palette and theme of each building help identify the buildings,” says Gary Thompson from y2 Architects. In the learning areas associated with music, for example, a playful keyboard pattern has been made using different carpet tile colours.

“In all buildings, carpet patterns were chosen to create interest, fun, movement and spark creativity, as well as defining the many spaces used for different purposes within quite large, flexible, open learning areas,” says Thompson.

The 5th Wall was also key to the division of space in this project, as the modern classrooms feature an open-plan design that encourage interaction. “We like to call them flexible learning spaces.

Left and above:Mt Ridley P-12 College, MelbourneInterior Design: y2 ArchitecturePhotography: Shannon McGrathFlooring: (left) Blackwell St (in Lime Teal), New Road (in Lime Teal) and Cubic (in Vertical) (above) New Road (in Red yellow), yellow Market Street (in Red yellow) and Cubic (in Length)

22 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Education

Above and right:uNSW Library, SydneyInterior Design: Lahznimmo ArchitectsPhotography: Brett BoardmanFlooring: Stitched Up (in Bodkin), Level 6 (in Terrain) and Cubic Colours (in Carnival)

23InterfaceFLOR Projects : Education

“�ThE CARPET TILE AS A FLOORINg SuRFACE IS RAPIDLY BECOMINg AN INFLuENTIAL DESIgN TOOL”

“you can close areas off or have them open,” says the school principal, Mr Pagano. “It allows teachers and students to interact in different ways.”

The opportunity to create interiors using a palette of integrated colours and designs is only one reason to use carpet tiles.

Creating safe environments is a major concern for designers of educational projects. With one in six children suffering from asthma, students and teachers will breathe easier knowing that InterfaceFLOR carpets have gained Sensitive

Choice approval from the National Asthma Council, due to the dense loop pile construction that traps dust and allergens resulting in cleaner air.

Thanks to their replaceable nature, as compared to traditional broadloom carpets, carpet tiles provide an affordable option for institutions that can be sustained over time. As some areas of flooring become foot worn before others, the possibility to easily replace damaged areas means that the design will endure while other soft furnishings might not.

24 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Education

Above and opposite:iZone Robertson Library, Curtin university of Technology, PerthInterior Design: Taylor RobinsonPhotography: Rob Frith (from Acorn Photography)Flooring: Syncopation (in Lava), Solid Foundation (in Lime Green), Market Street (in Magenta Red) and Cubic Colours (in Carnival)

“�NEW DESIgN SOLuTIONS ARE BEINg ADOPTED TO CREATE INSPIRINg SPACES FOR STuDENTS TO LEARN AND CONgREgATE IN”

25InterfaceFLOR Projects : Education

Additionally, seamless joins between tiles mean that even though the flooring is modular, trips and falls need not be a concern. So much so, that St Joseph’s College in Hunter’s Hill used InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles when they recently updated their interiors – a first for the all-boys boarding school where safety is of top importance.

When the University of New South Wales decided to revitalise the dating décor in the library, lahznimmo Architects chose to create a dynamic space with a bold design to inspire students throughout their studies.

Colourful blends of carpet tiles were used for the floors, with alternating solid coloured and striped tiles creating an abstract effect devoid of institutional convention. “People are very struck by the use of colour,” says University librarian Andrew Wells. “There’s this glow that comes out of the library.”

Space in the UNSW library was defined through the use of colour, with neutral grey tiles acting as walkways to create a dynamic forward movement, and pink flooring denoting relaxation space.

Likewise the revitalised interior of the iZone library at Curtin University by Taylor Robinson Architects uses bold graphics and colour to provide the university with an inspiring look for its iPod generation of students and a strong identity for the space.

Dynamic green lines run along the floor between the desks and continue through the space and up the walls, effectively dividing space.

In these ways, many education facilities are beginning to utilise carpet tiles to create a sense of unity by integrating signature colours into the space, and the intention of a particular space is being defined by use of colour and pattern.

26 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Hospitality

You needn’t look much further than the dictionary definition of hospitality to establish the intrinsic purpose of the entertainment industry and the venues it is housed in.

When ‘the friendly and generous treatment of guests or strangers’ is the foundation of a business, no design principle can be as crucial to success as a welcoming interior.

Designers working on hospitality projects must keep the consumer-focus of the hospitality industry in mind, but in an industry where popularity is the objective, wear and tear is the natural enemy.

In the past, designers have often spent budgets on areas less exposed to wear, but a new guard of hospitality designers are now using carpet tiles as a design tool that is hardwearing, easily replaceable and allows them to play with a palette of colours and styles.

High adaptability, whereby styles and colours can be mixed and matched, means that carpet tiles are suited to any style of interior – from those evoking the past, to those looking to the future.

When Brisbane’s Harlequin Jack Bar received a makeover by Hot Concepts, the space was in need of a playful eye-catching floor design to match the bold primary colours of the bar stools.

“The bar bistro itself was inspired by French cafes,” says Hot Concepts’ Andrew Ross. “The monochromatic black and white porcelain tiles and, obviously, the InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles gave a good basis for adding layered depth and warmth to the ornate detailing throughout the rest of the space.”

Bar spaces are, by nature, well trodden by the Saturday night crowds, so Ross used carpet tiles to ensure the new fit-out would

Flooring in hospitality projects is often overlooked as a canvas for creative pursuits, but InterfaceFLOR’s hardwearing yet creatively diverse carpet tiles create a distinct aesthetic to entice patrons into venues.

Inviting Spaces

Far left:Aristocrat, SydneyInterior Design: GeyerPhotography: Tyrone BraniganFlooring: French Quarter (in Black and White)

Left:European Bier Cafe, MelbourneInterior Design: InterfaceFLORPhotographer: John RichardsonFlooring: Maestro (in Symphony)

harlequin Jack Bar, BrisbaneInterior Design: Hot ConceptsPhotography: Stewart Ross PhotographyFlooring: French Quarter (in Black and White)

27InterfaceFLOR Projects : Hospitality

28 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Hospitality

“�A NEW guARD OF hOSPITALITY DESIgNERS ARE NOW uSINg CARPET TILES AS A DESIgN TOOL...”

29InterfaceFLOR Projects : Hospitality

stand up to the popularity of the bar and gaming room. The Protekt patented stain-resistant coating of the InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles used made this possible without concern for longevity.

Bustling Melbourne bar, European Bier Café, also used to a flurry of patrons, found a similarly elegant and enduring floor solution.

Large patches of carpet tile were alternated with grey tiling, turning the floor into another design surface and delineating the walkway between the bar and the tables without the need for obtrusive walls.

The owners used baroque-patterned carpet tiles paired with simple leather banquettes and wooden tables to lend a cosy French bistro feel, and the result is a signature and highly distinguishable look that recalls the luxury of the past.

In contrast to the baroque aesthetic of the European Bier

Café, is the fit-out for the Bondi Junction Greater Union Bar by Indyk Architects – a bold look for the unashamedly modern setting.

Alternating between geometric black and red stripes to match the chairs, Indyk created an abstract contemporary look in perfect line with the mall.

“With each carpet square rotated and placed next to each other, we could form ‘carpet rugs’ within the overall carpet, with a dramatic pattern,” says Design Director, Shelley Indyk. “The shadow effect, as if you are in the forest, under the trees, is enhanced by our design of bent veneer plywood columns and ceiling elements.”

Award-winning architects Geyer were nominated for an Idea award for their innovative interior of the Aristocrat office, which featured a popular gaming room for employees. “The concept for Aristocrat was to combine the technological side

of the organisation with natural elements,” says Lauren Haynes from Geyer. “The flooring had to both complement this concept and add an impression of hospitality to the technology.”

A stylish carpet tile with a black and white rococo emblem draws the focus onto the flooring, which contrasts playfully with the modernity of the circular luminaire above, giving it the sophisticated air of a Monaco casino.

“For the choice of the flooring in this area, we had many considerations to bear in mind,” says Haynes. “InterfaceFLOR’s French Quarter was perfect for the project, with a border of Solid Foundation, which reflects the bulkhead over.”

The creative freedom carpet tiles offer has revolutionised the way flooring is approached in hospitality projects, and tiles have emerged as a key design tool for the future of the industry.

Left and above:Set Bar, Bondi Junction greater union, SydneyInterior Design: Indyk ArchitectsPhotography: John RichardsonFlooring: Syncopation (in Umber and Flame), Post (in Print)

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A versatile resource for designers and designed spaces, carpet tiles can be used to great effect in a commercial context to define space in open environments.

InterfaceFLOR Projects : Commercial

Commercially Creative

NAB, PerthInterior design: HBO+EMTBPhotography: Acorn PhotographyFlooring : Exchange St (in Khaki Olive), Blackwell (in Khaki Olive), Solid Foundation (in Aqua and Taupe), Bull Ring (in yellow Lime), New Road (in yellow Lime) and Solid Foundation (in Fire Engine)

31InterfaceFLOR Projects : Commercial

Associate Director of HBO+EMTB, Zenifa Bunic, sums it up well when listing the benefits of using InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles in a commercial situation: “There are three main reasons why carpet tiles are useful in a commercial context and why they were used in one of our latest projects – the NAB Office in Perth,” says Bunic.

The first factor Bunic lists is flexibility, the second – sustainability, and the third – durability. Expounding on the flexibility factor, Bunic says: “Using carpet tiles allows for a high degree of possibility in a flooring design.” Because of the carpet tiles’ modular nature, she says, it becomes like a 5th wall – accentuating and delineating open plan spaces and readily reconfiguring these. In this sense, says Bunic, the tiles “became an integral part of the design,

[reinforcing] our design concepts through an added dimension”.

When specifying InterfaceFLOR’s carpet tiles for the NAB Perth project, Bunic selected both patterned and single coloured tiles, to reinforce and connect the office’s active spaces, as well as giving each floor (of which there are six) a unique identity. “Each floor had its own colour and pattern scheme which related directly to [its] identity. The scale of the patterns (1x1m tiles in many cases), allowed for a very organic solution where the zone was read as an element, rather than carpet tile modules.”

In contrast, a series of warm, dark hues define the interior at Hawaiian’s Head Office in Perth. Senior Designer, Joey Quek of IAGroup chose these colours to reflect the sleekness and sense of timelessness of the company.

“The entire office had to have a complete sense of journey and continuity,” says Quek. He achieved this through demarcating functions of user space. “The base carpet was the darkest in the general open plan, with public or main traffic [areas] in mid-tones, leading into offices in the lightest scheme.”

“Also, Hawaiian needed to be perceived as an ongoing champion in creating awareness and support of the environment, hence InterfaceFLOR carpet was recommended strongly to them,” says Quek.

Interior Designer with Bollig Design Group, Melissa Louk, agrees that carpet tiles are integral to creating a sense of atmosphere in large offices and open plan spaces. Her work on Bollig’s Australand Relocation project resulted in “a strong corporate experience for

32 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Commercial

clients [and] a fun and relaxed atmosphere for the general staff”.

Australand’s brief was to create two distinct areas, and Louk achieved this using floor finishes. “Working with two distinct colour palettes and then strengthening each scheme with its own pattern allowed the spaces to tell their own individual story.

“Often floor finishes can get forgotten, or left until the last minute, but for Australand the ‘5th Wall’ always came first and the rest of the design followed the concept, based on the carpet scheme.”

On durability, Louk says: “Carpet tiles are always the best solution for commercial projects, mainly because they are so easy to replace. Also, because the Australand space is largely open plan, flexible InterfaceFLOR carpet

tiles are quick, economical and easy to reconfigure when spatial requirements change.”

For Gray Puksand, the use of InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles was key when designing the new AMP interiors in Melbourne. In this space, a green-carpeted ‘town square’ surrounded by meeting areas, training rooms and hot desks promotes a usable and relaxed work atmosphere.

Likewise, the Caritas office, designed by ODCM, uses colour in the flooring effectively, with bold stripes in contrasting colours leading people through the space.

Perfect for open plan spaces, and known for their durability and environmental credentials, InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles are an outstanding, versatile resource in a commercial context.

Left:Caritas, SydneyInterior design: ODCMPhotography: Patrick NeuFlooring: Syncopation (in Flame, Lagoon, Coral)

Right:AMP, MelbourneInterior design: Gray PuksandPhotography: Peter Clarke (Latitude)Flooring: Blue Print (in Design), Solid Foundations (in Lime Green)

33InterfaceFLOR Projects : Commercial

“�CARPET TILES ARE ALWAYS ThE BEST SOLuTION FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS...” MELISSA LOUK, BOLLIG

Right:hawaiian head Office, PerthInterior design: IAGroupPhotography: James Rogers Flooring : Stitched Up (in Bobbin), Level 6 (in Umber)

34 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Civic

You often hear about the functional qualities of the carpet tile, but the emotional and psychological advantages are just as appealing, particularly for public spaces.

Libraries are community centres, providing an environment for people of all ages to visit. As spaces that cater for various functions over a large expanse, zoning and wayfinding are critical.

Interior designer, Cecilia Kluger specified carpet tile as a design tool in her approach to these crucial elements, saying, “In my opinion, public space performs better when there is a central or focal space (the heart).” Within the new design of the Randwick Library, she describes how “the formality of the square footprint was balanced by a central circular space... using changes in colour and pattern to create subliminal cues that assist traffic flow and create visual hierarchy.”

By using various tones to define zones that radiated out from the central circular space, the space has become “highly functional, visually pleasing and comfortable,”

says client representive, Marketing and Events supervisor, Michelle Kline of Randwick City Council.

Ian Brewster, Principal of Brewster Hjorth, similarly describes his practice’s use of carpet tile in the Ingleburn Library. In this particular project, there were two direct motivations in specifying carpet tile. In a practical sense, Brewster Hjorth made a decision to install displacement air conditioning, which minimises energy wastage by coming out at the perfect temperature from ducts in the floor. “The carpet tile is perfect for it,” says Brewster, “Not only for the air conditioning you run under it, it’s also all your electrical cabling and your data cabling.”

In this project, carpeted areas are used to create a specific psychological experience, in conjunction with timber walkways. While timber or stone floors are often specified in public spaces for their hard-wearing qualities, carpet is used, says Brewster “because of the emotional effect it has. Carpet tends to say ‘hang around, stay in this area and be comfortable’”.

Practical and emotional benefits are key to civic projects, such as public libraries, where people of all ages come together to visit, relax and learn.

Defining Public Spaces

Above:Randwick Branch LibraryInterior Design: CK DesignFlooring: Syncopation (in Umber, Coral, Sunburst), Outlook (in Scape)

35InterfaceFLOR Projects : Civic

Ingleburn LibraryInterior Design: Brewster Hjorth ArchitectsPhotography: Christian MushenkoFlooring: Aiki Koi (in Bonsai)

36 InterfaceFLOR Projects : Healing

Calm, nature-inspired environments are the key to successful healthcare projects, and InterfaceFLOR’s System 6+ is revolutionising healthcare interiors.

humans have a deep affiliation with nature, and a growing body of research supports the positive impact of various natural elements on healing.

The name given by science to this instinctive bond between people and nature is biophilia, which literally translates to ‘love of life or living systems’, and it is this concept that inspired InterfaceFLOR’s System 6+ Collection for health and aged care.

According to psychologists and authors Ornstein and Sobel, “Flooding our brains with rich natural visual stimulation helps us recover from surgery, tolerate pain, manage stress and attain wellbeing”.

The System 6+ Collection uses the design principle of biomimicry – the emulation of natural elements – to explore the potential of nature in healing environments. Thus, the collection is inspired by the visual beauty of bamboo, blankets of leaves and fields of flowers.

Confronted with an ageing population, a growing number of healthcare facilities are in development and designers are looking for inspiring and effective solutions for flooring. They are beginning to experiment with bringing nature into the interior, using natural patterns and palettes of natural colours – poppy-reds, shades of autumnal leaves and dynamic ocean blues – to elicit positive responses in healthcare institutions across Australia.

The Centennial Lodge in Victoria is one such facility that has looked

Top: System 6+ in Rest, inspired by rippling waterBottom: System 6+ in Zen, inspired by autumn leaves on the forest floor

to nature to rejuvenate the look of their retirement home using a palette of greens and greys from the System 6+ Collection.

“The mood has lifted enormously, for residents, visitors and staff,” says Jeannie Sprie, the operations manager. “While System 6+ isn’t a substitute for nature, it does bring it a lot closer to residents who aren’t able to regularly access the outdoors.”

Nature inspires the patterns and tones of the flooring but science is the key to the functionality of the carpet tile.

Helping both the nursing staff and the patients to navigate the facilities with greater comfort are a major benefit of carpet tiles – and the InterfaceFLOR System 6+ is warmer and softer under the foot, reducing heel spurs by an estimated 50%.

Increased sound absorption also benefits both the staff and the patients in healthcare institutions, creating tranquillity whilst microbial growth is prevented with the antibacterial INTERSEPT.

Nature’s healthful connotations are proving a successful tool for healthcare facilities and designers, and flooring inspired by nature’s patterns and colours are the future for industry professionals creating curative, inviting and peaceful settings for patients recovering from illnesses.

One diagnosis easy to make is the effectiveness of System 6+ in healthcare institutes – offering a curative solution that draws on the instinctive bond between the natural world and humans.

healing Naturally

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