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Cover Feature
They want to tell visitors that the flooring is made from compacted grass but they won’t want to mention that the resin that binds the flooring is unsustainable and so too is the manufacturing process behind the product.
FULLER: Many people focus on recyclability or recycled content but it is often a product’s lifecycle that can determine its true sustainability. We should concentrate on this when we specify a ‘green’ material. Customers should be made aware of the environmental cost of manufacturing the product rather than only considering the ‘green appeal’ of the item itself.
ENGLEMAN: The key lies in education. The SBID is dedicated to widening the sustainability debate to encourage professionals to talk to their customers about the longevity of a product and how this makes it more sustainable. How long will it last? What will happen to it when I throw it away? Can it be recycled? These are the questions we need to ask. At the same time, manufacturers are
starting to really ‘design’ a product deeper than just its aesthetic appeal. More thought is going into how the product is constructed, how it functions and what will make it last.
MARSHALL: IS SUSTAINABILITY SOMETHING ALL CUSTOMERS WILL ASK FOR? ALL: Yes.
OWEN: It is without a doubt always in the top three questions.
ENGLEMAN: It is something that you absolutely have to build into your specification now. Especially if it is a new build project.
MARSHALL: REAL DESIGN IS ABOUT SPECIFYING IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU ARE SET. THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER IN ADDITION TO AESTHETIC APPEAL. WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS AND HOW CAN YOU WORK THEM INTO A SPECIFICATION? BARRATT: If we are talking about commercial interiors in particular then durability is key. Selecting materials that can withstand daily use can really make the difference when designing a space that will still look good five or ten years down the line. The flooring in particular needs to be able to withstand heavy footfall, as well as meeting all the right regulations for health and safety and slip testing.
OWEN: Sometimes it is about managing expectations. If a commercial customer demands real wood flooring then it is the designer’s responsibility to explain to them
that wood will scuff, wear and change colour over time. You must manage their expectations and then present an alternative solution. It’s about balancing what looks the part with what will perform the best. A good designer will take into consideration how the space is going to be used. Is there likely to be damage from furniture wheels or stock rotation? A massive consideration should be whether or not the customer may have to make repairs in the future and if so this can impact on the initial design choice. Flooring like Karndean is easy repair if it does get damaged. Simply take up the affected tile and replace it like for like. I always ensure that customers that demand a natural material on the floor are aware of the cost implications attached to repairing or replacing damaged tiles or planks. This often sways them into considering more durable flooring. The same can be said for carpet tiles. They may have lost a lot of their appeal in the design stakes, but they are incredibly practical!
BARRATT: Whilst on the topic of durable flooring it is worth touching on the importance of slip testing. Commercial environments absolutely must have a floor covering that meets the right slip testing regulations.
OWEN: Agreed. If a customer requests high shine marble flooring, we will refuse to specify it. Even if they understand the risks, it wouldn’t meet Building Regulations and would never be signed off by building control.
ENGLEMAN: The SBID encourage the education of interior designers who may not know enough about slip testing. There are lots of different ratings and it is crucial that specifiers understand the credentials of the materials that they are recommending.
HUBERT: Surely then, manufacturers are responsible for bringing to market new products that satisfy the right regulations? This would make the specification process easier and the uptake of new products much greater?
FULLER: Many manufacturers are already tailoring their product development in-line with the latest regulations. Eventually all manufacturers will sit up and listen and then specifying materials in accordance to slip test regulations will be much more transparent. Furthermore it will stop the importation of poor quality products into the UK and possibly improve the wider understanding of sustainability too.
MARSHALL: WHICH CURRENT TRENDS ARE LEADING THE WAY IN FLOORING AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS OF DESIGN? MACPHERSON: For me, clients have moved away from the warmer yellow and red tones. Instead we are seeing a massive uptake in blacks, whites and greys. For flooring in particular, larger tile sizes are really popular too.
HUBERT: Do you think people want these larger modules because they look more expensive? I think the popularity might also be down to aesthetic design because using larger tiles is a really easy way to differentiate one interior scheme from the
Above:
Industrial designer Benjamin Hubert
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