“As the building is open 24/7, a floorcovering that could withstand the constant and heavy footfall was crucial. The carpet tiles are extremely durable, easy to maintain and they also have good soil hiding properties. As amenity spaces are shared, acoustics is also a really important factor and Cloudscape has a high acoustic value of 26dB, ensuring minimal noise transmission. The practical solution provides a comfortable living environment where students can enjoy using the spaces, without needing to whisper for example.”
What’s more, making a good first impression is key, and this was significant for The Refinery, as JS+P looked to create a student accommodation building akin to a luxury hotel setting. Sarlon 19dB acoustic sheet vinyl was chosen for the walkways and circulation areas, starting at the front door in the reception area, to create a luxurious and welcoming feel. The Medium Grey Cement colourway provided a charming but quiet floor to walk on, guaranteeing lasting performance and easy maintenance for the building’s staff. The Slate Cement colourway was further used to define different zones that came off the walkways, such as the snug.
Recognising the requirement for acoustic comfort in students living areas too, Sarlon 19dB was also brought upstairs into the studios and apartments. Jasper continued: “In the apartments and studios, we aimed to keep the interior design as neutral as possible. These are the areas where students will be making into a ‘home’, so they will bring their own décor. We don’t apply colour, as people will turn up with colour, and providing them with a neutral canvas enables them to decorate their spaces how they want them to be. For us, knowing when to pare back in the design is what makes our schemes so successful.
“For this reason, the Natural Oak colourway from the Sarlon 19dB collection was perfect for the bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms. The beautiful timber effect is super neutral but also looks very elegant; it creates a very warm and homely feel. Acoustic properties are also vital in these spaces as impact sound from one floor to the next needs to be minimised in order to improve occupant comfort and wellbeing. The 19dB
solution also offers optimum balance between acoustic performance and residual indentation.”
Delivering best-in-class acoustic performance and ideal for environments subject to heavy loads and intense traffic, the Sarlon 19dB collection is part of Forbo’s new Acoustic Collection. The range comprises a diverse portfolio of products available in adhesive free or traditionally adhered formats and in acoustic, compact and compact acoustic versions. Sarlon 19dB was also used in the gym at The Refinery.
Jasper concluded: “We were trying to achieve a high-end luxury finish for The Refinery and it can often be difficult to find materials that are both high quality and aesthetically pleasing, whilst still being durable enough to withstand the thrashings of every day student living. However, with Forbo’s portfolio, which I have used for many, many years, I really don’t think anything else compares.
“The ‘zones’ within the building needed to tailor to individual activities and the flooring has played a huge role in helping us to achieve our goals. In the garden room, which leads out onto the terrace, we even used Forbo’s Coral Brush in Cannon Grey as an entrance matting barrier – which goes to show just how diverse their student accommodation portfolio is. We have designed a market leading student accommodation scheme that has been created for the end-users and both we, and the client, couldn’t be happier.”
A spokesperson at Fresh Student Living commented: “We’re thrilled that The Refinery has won the Fly Forbo award. The interior captures the level of luxury of student accommodation that today’s residents desire. Working with the heritage of the building brings real flow through the spaces and The Refinery’s interior encapsulates this brilliantly. Everything was created to a high specification with students’ wants and needs at the forefront. From the welcoming entrance, to each individual flat and room, The Refinery is the ideal accommodation for students to enjoy.”
www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/studentaccommodation www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/flyforbo
18 | MAKEOVER OF THE MONTH
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