When Walker Simpson
Architects were tasked with designing the new ‘Lookout’ building for a Girlguiding
Centre in Cheshire, they enlisted the help of Forbo Flooring Systems to create
an integrated flooring scheme that would be fit for now and the future.
Set in 17 acres of
woodland in the heart of Cheshire, the new residential building at Pettypool
Campsite and Activity Centre opened in early 2019 replacing its 30-year-old
former lodge, which was no longer fit for purpose.
Operated by a small
team of volunteers from Girlguiding Cheshire Forest, the ‘L’ shaped activity
centre and residential building features eight bedroom units with en-suite
facilities, a large open space dining and activity hall and a kitchen and
service area.
John Piercy Holroyd,
Associate Director at Walker Simpson Architects said: “The Pettypool project
has been a work in progress over several years therefore it was important that
the design and finish of the new building was just right. Completed in two phases,
the objective was to create sociable and functional spaces with fully
accessible facilities to meet the needs and comfort of girlguiding members,
their leaders and support staff.
“We were looking for a
flooring manufacturer that could provide a range of high quality, practical and
durable products for different application areas and that is when we turned to
Forbo. As the centre is located on a woodland site, we wanted the interior
finishes to emulate the ‘forest setting’ therefore we primarily opted for a
green colour palette, utilising various products from Forbo’s portfolio.”
Forbo’s Sarlon Code
Zero in Avocado was fitted in the dining and activity hall for its high
acoustic performance, vibrant hue and unique dotted graphical pattern, helping
to create an attractive statement floor that works with the dappled light
coming in from the trees around the building. Part of Forbo’s acoustic project
vinyl collection, Sarlon Code Zero offers an impact sound reduction of 15dB,
while still delivering best in class indentation resistance, which is
particularly ideal for environments where social and leisure activities will be
taking place, such as in the main hall at Pettypool.
In addition, two
colourways from the Tessera Layout and Outline carpet tile collections were
specified within the centre, thanks to their durable yet comfortable nature.
Fruit Salad, a subtly textured green and black striped loop pile carpet tile,
was chosen for the circulation spaces of the building and in the bedroom units,
Apple, a bright green contemporary shade was installed to enhance the space.
Offering endless possibilities for creating inspiring floor designs, Layout and
Outline carpet tiles have a standard loop pile construction and are designed to
maintain their good looks even in the most demanding traffic areas.
Throughout the
bathroom areas, safety was a key consideration to prevent unnecessary slips and
accidents. As such, Safestep Aqua in Elephant was selected for all of the
en-suite bathrooms found within the bedroom units. Combining barefoot and
footwear resistance, a subtle slip resistant particle is integrated within the
visual of the floor covering, offering a clean and fresh look as well as
optimal safety and hygiene.
John continued: “With
the help of Forbo we have been able to create an integrated flooring scheme
which has resulted in an attractive new activity and residential space at
Pettypool. The flooring has been very well received in both areas and the green
colour scheme has really brought the building to life.”
Sheila Evans,
Volunteer at Pettypool Campsite and Activity Centre said: “As the building will
be run by volunteers, it needed to be sustainable with low running costs. The
flooring therefore had to be easy to clean and capable of withstanding high
footfall. The Sarlon Code Zero in the activity hall fared very well during our
recent open days; only needing a brush and quick mop after, coming up as good
as new!
“We are looking
forward to fully launching the Pettypool Campsite and Activity Centre and have
no doubt that the flooring will play a significant role in the effective
running and maintenance of the building for many years to come.”
