Clockwise A collection of images from the Danish Mews housing project, showcasing the entrance, a bedroom, staircase and hallway. In each example, the architect has sought to maximise lighting and the use of warm and natural materials across every aspect, from floor to ceiling
FOCUS 059
Q&A Neil
Dusheiko, director at Neil
Dusheiko Architects, explains why the client’s story is
always key to finding the right solutions
Which flooring materials do you particularly like working with and why?
We don’t have a predetermined agenda for our work; every residential project we do is about allowing the inhabitants to connect better with each other and the natural world around them. Te starting point of all our projects is really our client’s narrative. What makes each individual unique and special will translate into the project we make. So we never start by saying ‘we will use a timber floor or concrete floor’ – it’s more organic than that.
When we are choosing though, we do always consider the way they interact with the senses. Te smell of materials, the tactility, the sound of spaces. How these pervade and occupy a space, creating an atmosphere and forming new memories of a place. As a result, we mostly tend to work with expressive natural flooring materials because of their visceral qualities.
At our Danish Mews project, we opted for Dinesen Douglas floor planks which add a subtle warmth to the interior and sit comfortably alongside timber battens and exposed Douglas Fir beams and other natural materials we used throughout the house.
How do you keep up to date with the latest flooring products on the market?
We stay up to date through regular CPD sessions on materials and construction detailing. We love reading about the work of our peers too; we love seeing what has been achieved, not to copy their application, but to understand where there is insight we can adopt for other projects. We often work on old buildings that have moisture inside of them so we prioritise the best products that don’t trap moisture and are most sustainable. We are always learning more about sustainability and encouraging our clients to pursue these options.
If budget was no object, what kinds of flooring materials would you love to use on projects?
We tend not to think in terms of cost. Even though budgets are always discussed with a client: just because they have a considerable sum, it doesn’t mean we automatically choose the most expensive material we can find.
At each site we explore what the site requires in terms of material language and usage. For example, questions emerge around whether additions need to express visual sympathy or tension with the existing site. Our Gallery House project, for example, introduced reclaimed bricks that ran from the new kitchen area out onto a rear terrace area. Such a simple material, yet it had a pronounced effect on the feeling of the space. In terms of dream materials, clay-works is one we've yet to work with.
How can designers look to exploit the potential of creative flooring, both in terms of design ideas and material choices, in a range of different applications? Exploring sustainable options is a great way to find new creative flooring solutions. Not only is it good for the environment, but it will likely steer you away from the methods typically used. For example, we've seen a lot of interesting polished cork flooring solutions which we'd love
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