CULTURAL BUILDINGS SOLUS TAKES A SPIN ON THE POTTER’S WHEEL
When a prestigious pottery museum required a new lease of life, architects working on the multi-million pound refurbishment project turned to Solus Ceramics for help.
Tile supplier Solus Ceramics had chance to showcase its ceramic innovations in the UK heart of pottery, Stoke-on- Trent, when its contemporary floor tiles were installed at the newly-refurbished World of Wedgwood pottery museum.
The redevelopment of the Wedgwood headquarters is now home to a state-of-the-art refurbished factory, visitor attraction, museum gallery, restaurant, retail and tearoom, and a marina; all mastered by Brownhill Hayward Brown, responsible for bringing the ambitious regeneration of the 281-acre estate at Barlaston, just outside of Stoke-on-Trent, to life.
At the heart of the £34million development sits the World of Wedgwood museum, which encapsulates the story of the iconic pottery brand from its incarnation in 1759, where floor tiles from Solus Ceramics’ Porcelain Solid Basics range take centre stage.
The museum now houses 3,000 items from its impressive collection, where visitors can learn the fascinating story of Wedgwood, his family and the company he founded over 250 years ago.
Andrew Hayward, Director at Brownhill Hayward Brown, said: “We worked with clients Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton (WWRD) right from the beginning to both masterplan and gain planning approval for the ambitious redevelopment, as well as being appointed as the architects to deliver the regeneration of such an iconic estate.
“The World of Wedgwood redevelopment draws together both the redesigned factory tour and the award-winning Wedgwood museum seamlessly.
“With such an extensive project in hand, it was vital that every aspect was delivered to the highest possible standard, mirroring the historic values of the Wedgwood brand. We selected Solus Ceramics’ Porcelain Solid Basic tiles throughout the museum to provide a contemporary yet sophisticated look, whilst also providing sustainable flooring that will withstand the high volume of traffic expected.
“The understated elegance of the matt, sandy-coloured tiles allowed us to visually complement the impressive space, ensuring that the floor did not become lost, yet still let the museum’s ceramics take centre stage.
“We specified Solus Ceramics because of the guaranteed level of quality we could expect, echoing the qualities that represent the Wedgwood brand and ethos.”
In addition, Solus Ceramics also supplied floor tiles to the toilet facilities from its Marchi range. Inspired by
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granite, the range offers a touch of understated elegance to any space with its charming lightly speckled appearance boasting the imperfections of natural stone.
David Overton, Business Development Manager at Solus Ceramics, said: “World of Wedgwood was a great project to work on and collaborating with the team at Brownhill Hayward Brown that ensured the client’s needs were met to an exquisite standard was fantastic.
“We worked very closely with Brownhill Hayward Brown; the brief was very specific and we ensured the products met the requirements perfectly.
“With such historic roots, it was an exciting concept mixing contemporary style to compliment traditional design throughout, and we look forward to once again fulfilling our clients’ brief and exceeding expectations on future projects.”
www.solusceramics.com www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk
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