Mix 171 February by Mix_Interiors

Mix Interiors 171

February 2017

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UPFRONT 10 10 Seven...

Inside 70

20 Forward Thinking 23 Material Matters 24 Desert Island Desks

SPOTLIGHT 27 28 The Big Question 31 Dealer Report

PROFILE 56 56 Giles Fuchs, Office Space In Town

THE ROUND TABLE 64 CASE STUDIES 70 70 Reward Gateway, London 78 Phillips UK, Guildford

REVIEW 82

82 Stockholm Furniture Fair

64 1

The cover image Colebrook Bosson Saunders built over 50 test rigs during the design and development of their new monitor arm, Ollin. This process was used to test and refine Ollin’s new technical cord to understand how the materials would behave. The outcome of this process was the development of the first dynamic monitor arm able to support weights from 0kg to 9kg. www.colebrookbossonsaunders.com

Back issues Contact us to buy back issues: rebecca@mixinteriors.com Chip is a new 4A USB charging module set to revolutionise the way we use on desk power. With more and more devices using USB the demand for traditional sockets on the desk is falling. This stylish and fully in integrated module simply connects to your under desk power using a Wieland or plug to offer 2 USB power supplies capable of charging all leading phones and tablets.

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January 2017

UCL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AVALARA WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS JANUARY 2017 17/01/2017 16:36

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Chip is a new 4A USB charging module set to revolutionise the way we use on desk power. With more and more devices using USB the demand for traditional sockets on the desk is falling. This stylish and fully in integrated module simply connects to your under desk power using a Wieland or plug to offer 2 USB power supplies capable of charging all leading phones and tablets.

A Word

from Mick Over a recent dinner with friends, my mate’s better half (and she is way, way better than him!) was keen (or she was just being nice) to find out more about my job and Mix Interiors. ‘Offices? What kind of offices? What’s there to write about?’ she asked, while demanding that I answer her using layman’s terms – and no ‘design gobbledygook’. ‘Well,’ I started, trying to buy a little time. ‘You know how offices tend to be portrayed in the movies – you either have horrible, messy, squalid cubicles and tired, dirty, lifeless spaces or you have grand, OTT entrances that look more like a high-end Dubai hotel than a workplace, or you have hi-tech, spotless super offices that only a James Bond baddie or a 15-year old cyber genius could think up, or you

Mix Interiors 169

November 2016

have private offices the size of a football pitch for every senior employee (normally the hero/ heroine is given one of these approximately 10 minutes after joining the business as a mailboy/girl). Well, we write about the workplaces that sit somewhere in the middle. We write about workplaces that exist in real life.’ Thankfully, my answer appeared to either confuse her or satisfie her enough (to be honest, I don’t really mind which one of these it was) to change the subject. I say thankfully because I’ve come to realise that, when it comes to talking with ‘civvies’ about this sector, it only takes five minutes before I’m compelled to start using as much workplace jargon as I can. Is it possible to suffer from industry Tourette’s?

Get in touch Editor Mick Jordan mick@mixinteriors.com

Contributors Mark Eltringham Steve Gale

Editorial support Rebecca Sabato rebecca@mixinteriors.com

Address Mix Media Limited 2 Abito 85 Greengate Manchester M3 7NA

Director David Smalley david@mixinteriors.com

DAVID DREWS

The logo When we saw this issue's cover, we were inspired to create the letterforms for the masthead around a simple grid, using a systematic and methodical approach to balance the rigidity within the image. This reflects the Blacksheep ethos, approaching each project from a different perspective to create memorable brand experiences. www.blacksheep.uk.com

MIX INTERIORS 170

The cover

Designer Georgina Nicklin georgina@mixinteriors.com

NOVEMBER 2016

Managing director Marcie Incarico marcie@mixinteriors.com Founding publisher Henry Pugh

Telephone 0161 946 6262 e-mail editorial@mixinteriors.com Website www.mixinteriors.com Twitter @mixinteriors

TRENDS

Subscriptions To ensure that a regular copy of Mix Interiors reaches your desk, please call 0161 946 6262 or e-mail: sales@mixinteriors.com Annual subscription charges UK single £45.50, UK corporate (up to 5 individuals) £140, Europe £135 (airmail), Outside Europe £165 (airmail). Printed by S&G Print ISSN 1757-2371

3. 4. 5. 1. Monochrome – Meadow; 2. Composure – Retreat; 3. Glen Weave – WW895; 4. Unity – Pumice; 5. Raffia Weft – WW870; 6. Scottish Sett - Plaid Raffia; 7. Glen Warp – WW865

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Mix Interiors 160

23-25 MAY 2017

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Mix Interiors 160

Decades of designers

Everything we design or construct is always influenced by something we see – and, often or not, the shapes, colours or materials we use have emerged from the creative minds of past or present designers. Here Forbo Flooring Systems explores designers that have pushed the boundaries of design.

1950'S – TIBOR REICH Pioneering textile designer Tibor Reich was one of the most prominent figures in the British post-war textile industry. Reich utilised bright new colours and textures to explore fresh ideas, as well as photographic imagery to create textile designs, trademarking the process by the name of ‘Fotexur’ (Fo referring to photography and texur to texture). Reich would use a close-up of a pattern occurring in nature, such as cracked mud, and then manipulate the resulting image to form a pattern repeat.

1960’S – VERNER PANTON In the 1960’s, Verner Panton was one of the most influential figures in design. His experimental approach to forms and colour meant that he created a variety of innovative and futuristic designs – including the famous Panton Chair, which was first presented in 1967. Hailed as a sensation when production started, the Panton Chair is now regarded as a classic of modern furniture design.

1970’S – ETTORE SOTTSASS Ettore Sottsass is an eclectic architect and industrial designer who became one of the most celebrated figures of the late 20th century. Although he was best known as the founder of the early 1980's Memphis collective, which experimented with bright colours, kitsch suburban motifs and cheap materials, Sottsass also designed iconic products for Olivetti. This included the famous red plastic portable Valentine typewriter in 1970, which soon became a fashion accessory.

1980’S – PHILIPPE STARCK Widely respected for his innovation and environmental awareness, French designer Phillipe Starck started his career in the 1980's and quickly became known for combining inventive design with practicality and durability. Fascinated by where and how people live, his drive towards making a better life for people has resulted in his creation of concepts for items as diverse as furniture, boats, lighting, office equipment, fashion accessories and bathroom and kitchen fittings.

1990’S – DAMIEN HIRST Bristol born Hirst was a successful and might we say controversial artist throughout the late 1980's and 1990's. He shocked and surprised the art world with his unusual work, which centered around the theme of death. Hirst became famous for a series of artworks in which dead animals were preserved – sometimes having been dissected – in formaldehyde, including a shark, a sheep and a cow.

Upfront

2010'S – THOMAS HEATHERWICK Founder of London-based design practice Heatherwick Studio, Thomas Heatherwick has been called the ‘Leonardo da Vinci of our time’. His London studio has produced some of the most recognisable, innovative and creative design work of the 21st century. For example, at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Heatherwick designed an Olympic cauldron. Each of the national teams competing in the Games received a special object, inscribed with its individual name. Each slightly different from the other, these objects have sculpturally beautiful forms made in polished copper and, when laid out, formed a large scale pattern on the ground that radiates like the petals of a flower.

2000’S – CATH KIDSTON Catherine Isabel Audrey Kidston is the English fashion designer behind the brand Cath Kidston, which is known for its feminine floral and cheery polka-dot prints. Although the early 1990's was relatively quiet for the brand, the retro 1950's housewife style became a surprising success in the late noughties nostalgia vibe. The quaint and quirky Englishness of the brand has also made it hugely popular overseas, with shops in Japan, Korea, Malaysia and China.

yuno The smart alternative to the folding table.

ing Stackithout w

folding

“Stacking without folding” – yuno retains all the benefits of a folding table and avoids its weaknesses. wiesner-hager.com 11

Upfront

EDEN MCCALLUM GROWING UP AND ON THE MOVE Workplace specialist align has recently completed a delightful project for Eden McCallum. Eden McCallum is a highly-successful management consultancy firm, formed in 2000 by Liann Eden and Dena McCallum, with offices in London, Amsterdam and Zürich. Clients include a third of the FTSE 100; a third of the world’s largest private equity firms and 50 of the global Fortune 500 companies. Formerly based in offices in Kensington Church Street, the new London home is a 8,715 sq ft single-storey space on the 5th floor of a newly-redeveloped Crown Estates building. The brief to align included the words ‘quiet, understated and sophisticated’. align Director and Co-founder Gurvinder Khurana tells us, ‘The challenge was to create a suite of offices that were full of subtle statements and which met the requirement for a ‘fresh, interesting, humanscale and unregimented’ space.’ Kathryn Whinney, Operations Director for Eden McCallum said. ‘We wanted the experience of visiting them to be really impressive and we were on a tight timescale, but Gurvinder wasn’t fazed by this and worked extremely closely with us, ensuring we got what we asked for and in incredible detail.'

RIVERS’ RETURN Under today’s cloud of uncertainty, it makes a pleasant change to be able to report on some good news. Faram, the one-time office furniture and partitioning heavyweight, has returned to our shores after the former owners of the Treviso headquartered company decided to scale back their global operations in 2012. This strategy continued until 2014 when Faram was purchased by Italian investment giant Aliante Partners. Under their leadership, Faram has been working hard to reinstate its brand into major centres, many of which already have a large Faram installed base. You don’t have to look too hard to see why Faram has made a return to the UK one of its top

priorities. Working in partnership with London’s A&D, it secured some of the highest profile UK projects of the last decade. So how do all you Faram-istas get hold of the products today? Well, Faram has taken the bold decision to relaunch its brands in partnership with a new company, The Office Furniture Family Ltd (aka toff) headed up by former Steelcase Director, Lawrence Rivers. Lawrence explains the inspiration behind toff. ‘At its inception, our aim was to create a business that offered something different into the UK specification sector. Not a one-size-fitsall offering but instead to represent a cache of world-class manufacturers and their brands,

each carefully selected to meet the needs of today’s modern workplaces and workers. ‘As each brand’s exclusive UK distributor, our team is in the process of appointing a UK and Ireland sales network of dealer partners. These will be businesses that have adopted a knowledge based consultative approach, highly skilled in design, specification and project management through to final delivery and installation.’ In addition to Faram, toff also holds the UK distribution rights to ASiS seating and Parisian commercial textile design house, Lily Latifi.

Upfront

SOCIAL SPACES FURNITURE FOR BREAKOUT AREAS

Designed & manufactured in the UK by Yo u r O f f i c e F u r n i t u r e W h o l e s a l e r 13

Upfront

TRUMAN

Spring design Truman Brewery, London 28th & 29th March www.bcfaopen.com A showcase of the latest spring collections from the best in contract interiors Muirhead Leather / Muraspec / Brintons / Leisure Plan / Tektura / Pledge Astro Lighting / Kobe / Roca Ltd / Spires Art / Lincrusta / Chad Lighting / PS Interiors Nya Nordiska / The Modern Garden Co. / Camira / Hammer Carpets / Roman Vescom / Style Library Contract / Ena Shaw / Colebrook Bosson Saunders / Panaz Kai

Contract

Leisure

Plan

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Furniture Newmor

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Wallcoverings

/ /

I N T E R N AT I O N A L H OT E L D E S I G N

Edmund Taylors

Bell

Contract

Flooring

Upfront

2017 is the year of floor! You heard it right, tell us a fit-out that you have been involved with recently where only one type of flooring has been used. The demarcation of the workplace into various zones is created by different types of furniture and lighting but advances in flooring have really provided designers with a great pallet of options. Here are just a few examples that have come across the Mix desk in the last week.

FORBO In response to the growing trend for combining shapes, sizes and colours to create contemporary juxtapositions, Forbo Flooring Systems has refreshed its popular Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) collection, Allura. Playing with scale, direction and combinations across the range, the result is the introduction of new shapes and sizes to the market, alongside digital print options. The Allura collection now includes new large scale 180 x 32cm giant oak planks, 1m x 1m tiles, as well as small 50 x 15cm planks. The new XXL plank sizes are designed to help create the illusion of larger and lighter areas in buildings where space is limited, creating more spacious and social interiors and emulating the Scandinavian design trend for a neutral feel and finish, while the smaller planks are often used creatively in smaller areas or sporadically in the body of more traditional floor designs to spark interest. Julie Dempster, Marketing Manager at Forbo said: 'Our European Luxury Vinyl Tile factory and team has expanded in size over the last few years, bringing to the design process not just new people, but their personal experiences, sources of inspiration and enthusiasm for bringing never before seen designs to floors.'

EGE ege welcomes the new Rawline Scala – a combination of a woven carpet construction and patterns dyed onto the textile by ege’s advanced colour technology. With all the acoustical and practical advantages you would expect from the Danish maestros, Rawline Scala comprises three design themes; Minimal, Reflex and Heritage. The references to the textiles’ textures and weaving structures are evident in the design expressions, embracing three pattern scales from small to medium and large. The collection urges us to explore space with subtle and artistic patterns that can be mixed and matched but also beautifully stand alone.

DESSO

KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING Karndean Designflooring is introducing its Kaleidoscope Floorstyle tool for architects, interior designers and flooring contractors looking to create a bespoke floor design. The interactive specification tool, karndean.com/ kaleidoscopefloorstyle features all six geometric Kaleidoscope designs - Apex, Cubix, Pyramid, Tripoint, Pennon and Hexa - with over 100 colourways to choose from its established wood and stone designs. Matthew Speck, commercial sales director of Karndean Designflooring “Kaleidoscope Floorstyle allows the design community to take control and visualise their bespoke designs in an easy to use online tool. There’s no limit on the number of design combinations, and with 100 colourways to choose from, designers can push the boundaries to create a statement floor.”

Desso is extending its distinctive carpet tile collection, DESSO AirMaster, with the launch of Desert AirMaster. Bringing together the subtly layered organic designs of the Desert range and all the health and wellbeing benefits of AirMaster with EcoBase backing, Desert AirMaster creates free-flowing patterns for dynamic flooring while creating an improved indoor air quality. We hope you are following! Thanks to the random pattern and the use of two colours, every carpet tile is different – providing endless design

opportunities. As the good people at Desso have said, we spend a lot of time indoors therefore air quality is a vital part of employee productivity. 'Not only is poor indoor air quality a threat to people’s health and wellbeing, it can also have a negative impact on workplace productivity and attendance levels. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls indoor air quality one of the top five environmental health risks of our time,' says Roland Jonkhoff, Managing Director at Desso and Vice President, Carpet (EMEA) at Tarkett.

Upfront

QUIZ TIME

SURFACE WITH A SMILE

We took part in one of our favourite activities in January – beyond kite surfing with Richard Branson of course. A Quiz, entitled, ‘Velcro, Zips and Paperclips’, and held at Morgan’s Clerkenwell showroom, in the delightful company of Morgan's team and a plethora of willing quizaroonies. Morgan did all the preparations, we asked the questions – and a great night ensued. Joined by seven teams, the quiz included a combination of creativity and competitiveness. Attendees were put to the test with questions from ‘Who invented the paperclip?’ to ‘How many pieces of curved glass are there in The Gherkin?’ and the ubiquitous music and flag rounds. Congratulations to the winners, MoreySmith, who suggested that they were 'only here for the Wine'. Each team won prizes – first prize being ‘The Art Book’ and an evening hosted by Morgan at the ‘Hair by Sam McKnight’ exhibition at Somerset House.

We do love a good awards ceremony – well we should do seeing as we run a couple of our own! One of the real highlights of the recent Surface Design Show, held at Islington’s Business Design Centre, was undoubtedly the Surface Design Awards – which were hosted by our own Editor, Mick Jordan. From 100 entrants, 14 projects were recognised as outstanding examples of progressive surface design, with the packed-out ceremony culminating with the announcement of the 2017 Supreme Winner – this year’s best of the best – which was given to The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, California – designed by ARUP/ Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler. The award was picked up by Pavlina Akritas, Senior Designer at Arup Lighting, who then had the ‘pleasure’ of being interviewed by our Mick in front of a Surface Design Show audience.

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BREAKFAST CLUB It's been a busy month for the Mix team, with one of our early starts being a most excellent gathering arranged by Como, the specialist commercial office fit-out contractor and part of the Mace Group. The event’s aim was for Como to help provide its clients with an insight into market trends and how this could help them when planning their business strategy in the coming years. Held at the newly opened Kitty Hawk in Moorgate, we enjoyed a great breakfast and, alongside a line-up of smart-suited senior property elite, were treated to a talk by Darren Shirlaw, an economic commentator and strategic advisor from Shirlaws. This was the man who, in 2008, assembled his clients and told them that trouble was around the corner – most of the 150 took his advice. Darren’s view is that we should pretty much forget the micro events of today: Trump, Brexit and Leicester City – and focus on the macro trends that have time and again shown a clear economic pattern. One conclusion from this former Australian maths champion was that, apart from a 'correction' along the way, we should be fine until 2031! Como Business Unit Director, Trevor Bacon said: 'We were pleased to see so many guests from across the industry at the event, networking and benefiting from Darren’s insight.'

Upfront

WORD

PROACT SECURE IN SOUTHWARK STREET Proact have grown into Europe’s leading independent storage and cloud service enabler, winning multiple awards along the way. As part of this growth, Proact needed to move out of their service office and into an office space in London to act as their hub for UK operations, whilst also housing their expanding workforce. The London and Belfast based design and build specialists – Woodhouse – worked closely with Proact, creating several design concepts along the way. No doubt the very successful team leaders at Proact will be looking forward to even more successful times ahead as their workforce productivity will be enhanced – as will their impressive views across the capital.

This month we take a less than serious look at how one of the most overused and confusing of industry buzzwords (or should that be buzzphrase?) can be interpreted in very different ways by different people.

Third Space

Dealer Now we’re talking! We do love a bit of Third Space. Simple chairs, tables and sofas – and all with fantastic, exaggerated margins! No overcomplicated space planning either. Win/win.

Designer Yet again we get to spec cool soft seating, pods and high backs – and add colour and texture and all that good stuff ! Also, we can keep talking about ‘journeys’ and ‘accidental collisions’. Are we still using the phrase 'Third Space' though? Bit old hat now.

Manufacturer Orgatec feels like a long, long time ago. A time when head office got all excited about our new systems furniture and task seating – and all we seem to get orders for is all this soft stuff. Third Space? Wouldn’t mind if anyone was buying First and Second Space stuff as well.

TRUMAN

End User This will help us get our people to actually talk to one another! It means we’ve got to spend a small fortune on sofas and coffee, apparently, but at least people might actually leave their own desks/departments once in a while.

BCFA OPEN SPRING DESIGN BCFA OPEN Spring Design will be a hive of creative activity with over 35 companies showcasing their latest innovative designs in the contract sector. The BCFA will also be welcoming Key Note Speaker Wayne Hemingway, who will discuss how creativity has impacted his most recent projects. Wayne will also join a carefully curated panel of industry leaders to further delve into the topic of creativity. Within the Creative Hub you will be able to join the wonderful duo, the Patternistas, at their Creative Surface Pattern Workshop and experiment in creative mark making. After a journey through the Tunnel of Love, curated by Design Insider, you will be able to enjoy a drink at the Gin & Beer bar, designed and made exclusively for BCFA OPEN by Global Upholstery. Creativity Reviewed Discussion: Tuesday 28th March 4:30pm Creative Surface Pattern Workshop: Wednesday 29th March 11:30am & 2:30pm

DESIGN

Mix Defined as a theoretical place between home and work, it can be more helpful to think of the third space as a place between workstations and formal meeting rooms. Aiding communication and allowing interactivity and connectivity, the third space is today a given for any forward thinking workplace model – whatever you want to call it. Good news for young, agile workers, bad news if you flog desks!

FIT OUT

FURNITURE

Upfront

YOUNG GUNS Assuming you have your outfit sorted, ticket arranged and bed for the night booked for Mixology17 (22nd June) just spare a thought for the young people who have been shortlisted for this year’s Mixology Student Award, who will be experiencing the wildness and the wonder of it all for the first time. View for yourself the four wonderful products by Ella Lemaire, Rob Sollom, Christian Flesner and Paul Ferris. You can also show them your support and vote for your favourite on the Mix website: www.mixinteriors.com This award is in association with the The Furniture Makers' Company, sponsored by KI and the winner will be presented on the big night er Christian Felsn Aktor l College RCA and Imperia Rob Sollom Easy Chair Chichester Colleg e

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Paul Ferr is TV C ab in et Chicheste r College

After the huge success of the Alder Hay Hospital last year, it’s great to see another fantastic example of a children’s hospital being given some expert attention. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital wanted to create a more welcoming and calming environment in its Ward 84 outpatients department, where children undergo treatment for cancer and blood disorders. The unit has now been transformed into a ‘Spaceship Academy’. Using cladding and murals, the department has been completely refurbished, creating a family-friendly environment that’s a lot less intimidating for the young patients. In line with this update, the hospital needed soft seating elements that would complement the design. A variety of seating was chosen, ranging from modular waving sofas, which create a space where the children could sit together or with their families, to more individual and private sofas in the treatment area. Bubble stools are dotted throughout as an easily configurable element. All furniture was upholstered in vinyl for easy cleaning. Connection, who was key to the project and alerted us to the scheme, said it was delighted to be involved in a project that will help to turn a daunting experience into a slightly easier one for the patients. And we're only too pleased to be able to highlight the scheme.

Upfront

REVOLUTIONARY AGILE WORK SPACE CREATED FOR NETWORK RAIL Some 900 Network Rail staff in Birmingham have moved to new 84,000 square feet agile offices from several disparate offices throughout the city. The bespoke office fit-out by Weston Williamson + Partners and Overbury has transformed three floors of Grade II listed Baskerville House, one of Birmingham’s most prominent and historic buildings in Centenary Square. Network Rail is undergoing a major cultural shift in order to become a more responsive, efficient and effective organisation; this is the flagship and one of several new agile office spaces around the UK, which are instrumental in effecting this change. The leading-edge design concept of ‘activity settings’ enables staff to choose an environment appropriate to the task in hand:

GOOD VIBE Dams, the office furniture specialist, has launched Vibe screens – a range of made-to-order, designer office desktop and floor screens which will improve the layout and function of any office environment, designed and manufactured by Dams in the UK. The new Vibe designer office screens not only offer a degree of privacy, they also provide the finishing touches of colour to office furniture and add character to any workspace. Vibe screens are hand-crafted, exposing the edge stitch detail on a radius corner to produce a screen which is elegant, modern and stylish. Combining a slim profile with a robust and durable construction, they are also available with a large selection of fabric colours for a fully co-ordinated look in any office environment. Dams' Managing Director, Chris Scott, tells us: 'Whether dividing desk space or an entire office area, our new Vibe office screens provide an element of privacy to employees, allowing them to be comfortable while they work. Our desktop screens can offer sound absorption properties and floor screens are also a cost-effective way of dividing the space without losing any of the benefits of the open plan layout.'

an informal alcove sofa, bookable meeting rooms, a private acoustic booth, the Deli bar, a dedicated training/seminar suite, any number of breakout areas – or simply at a desk. This range of settings seeks to address the shortcomings of the pure ‘open-plan’ office, providing space for concentration and collaboration. Throughout the Network Rail floors there is almost 200 sq m of write on paint, in a variety of meeting room spaces. This can be a powerful tool when combined with a projector on the writeable surface. Additionally, deep shagpile carpets are used in the meeting rooms, to give a different feel to other floor areas and to enhance acoustics.

Interesting times So both Brexit and Donald Trump happened, and I hear that we should have seen it coming, muses M Moser's Steve Gale. Back on planet earth, in my sheltered world of office design, I can see another change coming. Organisations are asking more from their expensive real estate. We must listen to their expectations. Having lived with a well-worn doctrine that poo poos the boring old desk/meeting room combo and advocates an array of settings for each activity you might perform, I am ready for the next big thing.

Organisations are moving on from functional design to places that appeal to more fundamental areas of human nature The design dogma for your modern workplace has many names that you will have heard, and they vary from week to week or place to place. New ways of working gives way to smart-working, or agile working, flex working, new work or that crusty old favourite, activity based working – or just ABW. The logic is that technology has liberated us from the desk, so we can enjoy a smorgasbord of work settings that are better engineered for the precise task you may be

performing at any one time. The downside of ABW is that you may spend half your day wandering around, laptop and coffee in hand, while the upside for the business is fewer of those boring old desks – which frees up space, and serves more people per square foot. Result: happiness for the facilities manager. This is actually an old idea that has gradually become orthodoxy. So let’s keep it, refine it and admit the idea into a conventional design language. But we should no longer be selling ABW as original thinking. Designers are good at providing appropriate settings, and by now that should be as standard as indicators on a new car – it’s not new. Economic prerogative has long been focused on productivity, where ABW claims to help. But there are other economic advantages, for example finding and keeping the best people by making them happy at work as well as healthy, and promoting selfdevelopment and fulfilment. We can move people higher up that pyramid that Abraham Maslow called the hierarchy of needs. Organisations are moving on from functional design to places that appeal to more fundamental areas of human nature. They want places that people actually like to be in, that do more than just support their activities, and that resonate with things they value. We all know that some places appeal to certain people, and others don’t, and there is increasing interest in this simple proposition. It goes beyond the rational analysis of

Steve Gale is Head of Business Intelligence at M Moser Associates. SteveG@mmoser.com

matching facilities to tasks, it admits that there is more to it. Things like how users empathise with their environment, how much they feel they belong, how much control they think they have, and how well it reflects what they personally value. Is there a change we see coming? I’m convinced that there is a growing focus on culture and collective psychology. Emotional Intelligence enshrined in Daniel Goleman’s book 20 years ago is now a recognised phrase, even with people that have never read about it. More recently, Daniel Kahneman, wrote Thinking, Fast and Slow, and Leonard Mlodinow really laid it down in his great book, Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behaviour. All of these point to the mysterious and powerful parts of the mind that actually drive us, make decisions and form judgements. They force us to acknowledge the unconscious, and admit its primacy, and consider how we can influence it. The rational side of our behaviour is a false friend, too easy to follow, but we persist because we can describe it and pass it on. Simon Sinek, the great TED presenter, talks about describing why organisations do things, what motivates them. He said these big drivers come from, and appeal to, our limbic system (or primitive brain) which 'has no capacity for language'. For me that says it all. Something that feels right will defy explanation, but carry the day. We can move on from ABW, and into designing for the subconscious.

RUNNA design: DAVID FOX

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Pledge Oï¬&#x192;ce Chairs Ltd Mill Road Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 1BA

First Floor 21-22 Great Sutton Street Clerkenwell London EC1V 0DY

e: sales@pledgechairs.co.uk www.pledgechairs.co.uk

t: +44 (0) 1525 376181

t: +44 (0) 20 7253 7277 21

Material Matters

In this month’s Material Matters, the team of experts at Material Lab explores surfaces inspired by the beauty of nature. www.material-lab.co.uk

Introducing Flowcrete, Material Lab’s latest partner For over 30 years Flowcrete UK has been at the forefront of resin flooring technology, supplying innovative, fit-for-purpose solutions to transform floors into fully optimised assets that actively enhance a site’s aesthetics, safety, sustainability and cleanliness levels. With operations on six continents, Flowcrete’s aim is to transform environments with its innovative and quality resinous flooring formulations, including decorative epoxy, ultradurable polyurethane, fast curing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and vinyl ester systems. www.flowcrete.co.uk

Tektura celebrates natural appearances of concrete, stone and marble In a new collection for 2017, Tektura explores the theme ‘natural surfaces’, focusing on concrete, stone and marble, combined with fine silk weaves, chunky hopsack and grasscloth. Timeless and versatile, the collection ranges from warm whites to deepest black. The durable vinyl is designed for commercial, hotel and healthcare interiors – mirroring the beauty of our natural surroundings indoors. www.tektura.com

The Mineral Collection by Abigail Jennifer The Mineral Collection is an eclectic mix of mathematically finished 3D forms that look ‘good enough to eat’. With biomimicry at their core, the designs focus on ‘perfect imperfections’ – inspired by horizontal lines, channels, streams and the distortion of any material form. The results are a stunning array of colours and textural effects, suitable for cutting-edge, contemporary projects. www.themineralcollection.co.uk

Otherworldly, eco-conscious designs by Hannah Williams Designer Hannah Williams has created a collection of beautiful marbled wall and floor coverings. In the process, she has also saved a wealth of carpet from landfill. Discarded carpet, a ready-made flooring product, is given a new lease of life – alongside new properties – through her marbled silicon process. Waterproof and durable, this new hybrid material is also completely bespoke, as well as ecologically conscious. hannahwilliams@nework.rca.ac.uk

Upfront

Desert Island Desks

This month's castaway is Katrina

Kostic Samen, Founder and Partner of KKS and BCO President Elect 2018. 'KKS is all about Style and Sensibility; we like to have fun! I founded KKS to make a difference in the built environment. We are all purveyors of touch, feel, sight, smell and sound. Great beauty is nothing if, when the fascia is peeled away, the core is hollow. My motto is 'If you don’t ask – you don’t get'.'

1. MALTESERS Anyone who knows me well, understands that I couldn’t go for long without a very large box of Maltesers, especially the white ones. And if I was stranded on a hot desert island, no doubt they would melt, so the Maltesers will be gone in a hurry!

2. DIAMOND STUDS A girl’s best friend really is a pair of diamond stud earrings – this way I will always look fabulous even with little else! Nothing too vulgar so two carats each would do nicely!

3. MEURSAULT A single bottle of white burgandy just wouldn’t be enough, so a crate of chilled Meursalt would be imperative (with a corkscrew of course). The wine would have to be rationed carefully and kept in a cool place – my first task would be to dig a deep hole in the shaded sand to stash the bottles, maybe even with the Maltesers if they hadn’t been eaten already! Of course I could also take a case of PulignyMontrachet too.

Tel 01925 850500 Email info@sixteen3.co.uk Web www.sixteen3.co.uk

4. ROLEX My Pepsi Rolex watch, bought in 2004 to celebrate the start of KKS, would be my item of practicality – to tell the time and date of course, so I know how long I have been castaway, but also to offset my diamond studs and look fashion forward and ‘on point’ while swimming with the fish!

5. SLR CAMERA My pride and joy analogue Olympus OM1 camera would be my constant companion. Its history dates from the early 70's, when it was used by a National Geographic photographer, and then given to me when I went off to university to study architecture. I take photos of everything as inspiration, and if I couldn’t have my smart phone with me (no power of course, which would be like cutting off my right hand) then photography will tell my story and record all of the crazy ideas I see and dream up!

6. PHOTO ALBUM Finally, a photo album of my family and friends – to remind me of my loved ones.

London Showroom The Gallery, 21-22 Great Sutton St. EC1V 0DY / Manufacture/Showroom Chesford Grange, Woolston, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 4RQ

Upfront

Spotlight

Illustration By Georgina Nicklin

The Dealer Report

The Big Question

The Dealer Report

The Dealer Map

THE BIG UESTION

Ho w h a s t h e fu rn it u re s u p p l y s e cto r c h a n g e d ov e r t h e l a st fiv e/t e n y e a rs?

STEPHEN J RUSSELL, EDGE DESIGN & PLEDGE CHAIRS

CAROLINE PEARCE-BROWNE, REPS LIMITED

OLIVER BOND, CONNECTION

Suppliers have had to become far more

Over the past 10 years we’ve seen a move

increasingly knowledgeable and informed

responsive and look far wider for inspiration.

away from architects defining furniture specs

about the holistic working environment and

The definition in terms of style, design and

to supplying the look and feel for the dealers

not just the products that occupy the space.

finishes between office, domestic and leisure

to respond to.

The most successful now add huge value

has become blurred and the Coworking

As Client Reps we expect to work with

to their customer by helping them achieve

'revolution' has stimulated new areas of

the modern dealer to be able to marry the

core business goals through a thorough

creativity. The impact of imports from the Far

designer's look and feel with what we know

understanding of the way people work and by

East and Eastern Europe has been a challenge

client specific requirements to be, for example

being able to plan and create environments

but UK manufacturers have responded well

cost, culture or practicality.

that improve productivity and attract great

with competitive pricing and well designed,

Dealers and manufacturers alike have become

talent.

creative products.

ROGER CROFT, TECHNIQUE RESOLUTIONS

WYNN MORRIS, GODFREY SYRETT Perhaps one of the biggest changes we’ve

HEATHER ZWEIMUELLER, WIESNER-HAGER

One change I’ve noticed is that, as FM’s

seen over the last few years is the increasing

Workplace furniture designs have become

become more ‘professional’, they have

involvement of main contractors in projects,

commodity items. They must meet certain

become a lot more knowledgeable about what

which has led to a change in the way we

functional criteria and price often drives

they want and how they want to achieve it.

supply our products to the marketplace. We’ve

purchasing decisions. Larger corporate

Traditionally the domain of the specifiers, FM’s

seen a shift in recent years in the way that

clients often only want to work directly with

are now ‘leading’ the specifiers to solutions

universities manage their accommodation.

manufacturers and are switching from regional

(Sit/Stand being a typical example) suitable for

In the past, this would have been managed

to international purchasing processes, signing

their own companies’ methods. They are also,

in-house, from design and build through to

framework contracts valid for all their locations.

thankfully for us, putting a real value on ‘after

maintenance. Now, it’s increasingly more

Clients increasingly look for a 'one stop shop'

sales service’ which for too long has not been

common for a main contractor to be appointed

– suppliers who can offer a complete package

an important issue. Umbrella editorial banner v2.1 October 2015 REVISED.pdf

to manage 1 12/10/2015 20:25:53

the whole build process.

THE FURNITURE SPECIALISTS

w: www.umbrellafurniture.com e: matt@umbrellafurniture.com t: 020 3119 3144

CMY

perfectly tailored to their needs.

Spotlight - Trends

Trinetic

trinetic.com 29

Spotlight - Trends

BEBOP by David Fox

INTRODUCING THE NEW EXCLUSIVE DESIGNER FURNITURE COLLECTION FROM KNIGHTSBRIDGE. Taking a step away from hard-edged minimalism, the Bebop collection explores organically soft forms and contemporary Danish design. Modern and easy on the eye, the Bebop is the perfect partner for any dynamic work space.

www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

Spotlight - Dealer Report

The Dealer Report Anyone working in an office in 1940 would probably be around about 90 years old now, however, what is quite certain is they would fail to recognise some of the workplaces of this, our modern world. The technology is different, the office configuration different, smoking is not allowed and so on. In the same way, the office has changed, so has the furniture, the manufacturing processes and those that supply the furniture. It is the subject of furniture supply that gives us our focus for the annual Dealer Report, where we take a detailed look at some of the bestknown names and how things have changed in the last 12 months; looking at their highlights from 2016 and hopes for 2017.

You will see over the following 16 pages that there is a significant amount of positivity in the market and it appears Brexit is currently having little negative effect or concern. When asked about the furniture price raises expected for 2017, the average was 5%. So, what were the big stories to emerge from the last 12 months? For those keeping their ear to the ground, it will not have gone unnoticed that big things are happening in Yorkshire. For the Leeds headquartered Southerns Group it’s been a busy time, supported by equity investment from Knaresborough Investments to grow the business. After acquiring Ralph Capper Interiors and its namesake in Bolton in 2015, Southerns followed this with the further acquisition of

The % increase in furniture prices expected in 2017 from furniture suppliers

SpaceInvader and Broadstock Office Furniture. Speaking exclusiviely to Mix, Andy KendallJones, CEO of the Southerns Group, said: 'It has certainly been an exciting and successful 18 months. In essence, we looked at where we were, and where we wanted to be, and through careful planning, developed a core strategy designed to deliver that ambition. We have done it all without fuss, although the feedback we have received from people within the industry indicates strongly that we are making the right decisions. 'Our single-minded focus is now on implementing the next stage of our strategy.' It's our view that this is just the start of a year of mergers, acquisitions and diversification – we'll see. More from Andy Kendall-Jones in the March issue.

£7.8m

Average number of staff

Average turnover

HAS BREXIT CHANGED THE WAY YOU VIEW EUROPEAN FURNITURE SUPPLIERS?

21%

79%

YES

THE ONES TO WATCH

We asked the dealer fraternity, beyond the well recognised giants, which manufacturers they feel are 'the ones to watch'. Here are their replies: Andreu World, Frovi, Triumph, Wagner, Elite, Techo, Nowy Styl, Coalesse, Sixteen 3, Manuel Larraga, Knightsbridge, Offecct, Bestuhl, Stua, K+N, Nomique, Munna Design, Alki.

Dealer Map

1.(1*) Alpha Scotland 2. Amaryllis

It is clear, and not surprising,

3. Bates Office Services

that whilst there is a clear centralisation in London,

4. Bennett Workplace Solutions

expertise is widely spread

5. BOF Group

across the UK. In addition,

6. Bureau

as we have already discussed

7. Calibre Office Furniture & Interiors

in this report, the reach and

8. Corporate Workspace

diversification in this sector

Aberdeen 16

9. Egan Reid

is increasing each year. Often

10. EOS Interiors

under estimated, the value that the good dealer can make is

11. Furniture Solutions

significant and as competition

12. Future Office

increases we will no doubt see

13. Heatons

that value increase in 2017 and

14. Hunts Office Furniture & Interiors

beyond. As one senior A&D practitioner told us recently

Edinburgh 6 1* Glasgow

this is one of the Spotlight

7. JS Office Environments 16. Langstane Press

26 Newmilns

reports they look forward to, we hope there is

some value for you too. Belfast

1 31 Gateshead

17. Momentum Contract Furniture

Lancaster 12

10. Overbury

Bolton 4

18. Paragon Interiors Group 19. Phusei 20. Posture People

Manchester 24 9 Birkenhead 13

21. Posturite

30 Silsden 8

Leeds

Stockport 18 Nottingham

22. Powell Office Style 23. PRS Office Furniture

Rowley Regis 22

24. Ralph Capper Interiors

Birmingham 10

25. Rio Designs 26. Saxen 27. Showcase Interiors

25 Milton Keynes

Pitstone 23 Bridgend 5 17 Cardiff

8. Southerns Office Interiors

Berkhamsted 19 Luton 28 High Wycombe 14

2 Braintree 27 Ongar

Bromley 29 Margate

Farnham 11

24. Spatial Office Environments

28. Technique Resolution

Portslade 20

29. Think Furniture Design 30. Ultimate Office Solutions 31. Workpattern

Rochester

21 Berwick

Spotlight - Dealer Report

ARE YOU MORE OPTIMISTIC AS A BUSINESS THAN YOU WERE SIX MONTHS AGO?

32. ARC:MC 32. Day 2 Interiors 33. Dodds & Shute

68%

34. Hunters Contracts 35. K2 Space

32%

YES

36. Lime Furniture 37. Quay Office Group 38. Morgan Lovell

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU PROACTIVELY ADAPTED YOUR BUSINESS MODEL IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS?

38. Platfform 38. POD Furniture 39. Rainbow Office Design 38. Sketch Studios 32. Spacecraft International

48%

Little

51%

Some

Significant

32. The Furniture Practice 38. TSK Group 38. Tsunami Axis

DO YOU BELIEVE CLIENTS (END USERS) ACCEPT THEY HAVE TO INVEST MORE IN THEIR FIT-OUT THAN THEY DID FIVE YEARS AGO?

32. Umbrella Furniture 32. Wagstaff Bros 40. Wellworking

82%

32. Workstation

18%

YES

LONDON

Harringay 39

35 Islington

Dagenham 34

Park Royal 40 Clerkenwell 32

38 Central London

37 Greenwich

33 Vauxhall

36 Wimbledon

Arup, Leeds

ULTIMATE OFFICE SOLUTIONS Update 2016 was an exciting year for Ultimate, who secured some of its largest contracts, resulting in the growth of the business and the chance to build on its great customer base. Big Win Ultimate has expanded its work in the hotel sector and completed projects for Mercure Hotels (part of Accor Hotel Group) at various locations across the country. 'We are proud to be involved with such a reputable brand and to have been apart of bringing the visions for their hotels to life,' we are told. 2017 Priority Ultimate has plenty lined up for 2017, but is particularly looking forward to showcasing its furniture suppliers and their new products from both the UK and Europe. Mark Hickey

Spotlight - Dealer Report

Key

- THE BOSS Swinton Insurance Embankment

CORPORATE WORKSPACE Update Following its strongest year ever, 2016 saw another great performance. 'We are very excited by our new team appointments which have allowed us greater penetration, raised our profile and edged us into new business markets such as education and leisure.' Big Win Corporate Workspace completed BBraun Medical’s office refit, a full turnkey project undertaken in phases throughout 2016. Last year also saw the Corporate Workspace team secure its largest single furniture order to date: £1.6m for a leading blue-chip household insurance group.

Swinton Insurance Embankment

2017 Priority To build on its 15 years of creating great work places with further penetration into sectors beyond its core competencies. Simon Thrussell

TSK GROUP Update 2016 saw that continued understanding from businesses that invested in the workplace – and therefore in people – has a major influence on overall business performance. Business are changing to attract and retain the best talent to continually improve their customers' experience. The workplace is proving a key element of a company's attraction to employees. Big Win TSK was appointed to design, build and furnish some amazing projects across the UK. A highlight is its partnership with Swinton Insurance to create their new home at Embankment in Greater Manchester – a workplace that will be a catalyst for business change. 2017 Priority Create workplaces that enhance businesses by supporting their people. Andrew Burns

Spotlight - Dealer Report

HUNTS OFFICE Update 2016 was another explosive year for the ever-expanding Hunts Office. The year started with an incredible accolade from Steelcase – the Platinum Partnership award. Further to that, relationships forged across the Atlantic put Hunts on the global map. Big Win A significant win last year was the Global INDEED account. Hunts Office is preferred supplier of furniture for the young, exciting, exponentially growing recruitment firm on a global scale.

Hunts Office Steelcase launch

2017 Priority This year will see the completion of the entire 22,000 sq ft showroom – an inspirational space for designers and commercial agents. Egon Hunt

MOMENTUM CONTRACT FURNITURE Update Undoubtedly, the uncertainty of Brexit has had a major effect on the market, with changeable consequences for exchange rates. 'After Brexit, at the end of 2016 our partnerships with our European manufacturing brands grew stronger and we look forward to working with them closely in 2017.' Momentum continued to grow and the ‘complete package’ became more important in the office market as well as the leisure sector. This was evident in seeing the continued crossover between office and leisure products. 'It seems that all rules have gone out the window and anything goes!'

Windsor House

Big Win Windsor House is the newest student accommodation development in Cardiff. Since its completion it has been awarded Student Accommodation of the year and has received publicity across all local press. Having worked with Fusion and architects Stride Treglown to supply furniture for the communal spaces, Momentum delivered a superior level of furniture to this new building. Bearing no resemblance to the usual ‘student digs’, the brief was to deliver high quality pieces to create a luxurious space for students to study and relax.

Windsor House

2017 Priority Momentum’s top priority of 2017 is to launch the new Momentum Luxe site. Momentum Luxe will highlight the luxury collection available through the group. Aimed at architects and designers, Momentum Luxe will apply to residential and contract projects. PJ Statham

Spotlight - Trends

Mote from Allermuir

office furniture & interior professionals Combining comfort and function to create inspirational workspaces

Tel 0141 225 5170 www.alphascotland.com

e hello@alphascotland.com

Alpha Scotland is part of the Alpha Group

@AlphaGrpOffice

precision The Aeron Remastered from Herman Miller Delivered with Precision by Wellworking in 1 Hour Time Slots, within 72 Hours

www.wellworking.co.uk

t: 020 3110 0610

SPATIAL OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS Update 2016 has been a significant year with Spatial winning work in London and Reading. The team has grown with a new Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor and Interior Designer joining the team – and winning Mixology North’s Furniture Provider of the Year. Big Win ‘The big win for us would be Camira’s Clerkenwell showroom. A great project to be associated with and fantastic client to do work for. Overcoming some of the challenges onsite and delivering a quality result is testament to all involved.’ 2017 Priority Relocation to our new 5,000 sq ft building, which will be a new showroom and our new Serviced Office business. Phil Simmonds

Camira, Clerkenwell

LANGSTANE Update The downturn in the oil market continues to have a huge impact in the North East of Scotland. These challenging times have, in fact allowed Langstane to focus and evolve into new sectors and geographical areas. Big Win ‘Our project of 2016 was with JAM Studio at Aubin Group, a leading developer and supplier of chemical solutions to the oil and gas industry. Both JAM and the client were a pleasure to deal with throughout the process and very forward thinking.’ 2017 Priority Continue to evolve along with the current and future workplace trends, bringing added value to all projects Langstane is involved in.

Aubin Group

Colin Campbell

Spotlight - Dealer Report

BUREAU Update Bureau launched in 2016 and has gone from strength to strength, leading to a strategic merger with Houseology Group, the online furniture retail brand. Bureau now has offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow and will be opening showroom space in 2017. Big Win ‘We’re delighted to have worked with C2 Concepts on the largest co-working space in Scotland, The Savoy Centre.' Right in the heart of Glasgow, it will be opening in 2017.’ 2017 Priority ‘With our recent merger, we have an exciting opportunity to create a unique proposition in the marketplace. Watch this space!’ Andy Russell

Savoy Centre

WORKPATTERN

The Word

Update ‘We moved back in with the parents – the parent company that is (Albany Contract) – and together developed a much larger activity based space that lets us practice what we preach, spread our wings and really showcase what we can do.’ Big Win ‘Sorry can’t single out one! The Word (Mixology North award winner) is a project we are so proud to have been involved with, such a stunning project, space and building. Also, RIBA Enterprise, an installation that just works, looks fantastic and is genuinely helping its people and business drive change and a shared purpose.’ 2017 Priority Growing the team – and back up what we have always believed with some compelling evidence of our own. David Wilkinson

Spotlight - Dealer Report

MotoNovo

Taylor Wimpey

MORGAN LOVELL Update ‘Our design team has grown to become the biggest it has ever been. The remaining parts of the business have also grown, with multiple new staff appointments. We are working with more clients from countries such as China and Japan – there seem to be a growing number of Asian companies settling in London. We have also broken into the Cardiff market, and are seeing lots of exciting Cat. B opportunities coming.’

HUNTERS CONTRACTS

Big Win ‘Taylor Wimpey Central London. In 2016 we completed a lovely project for TWCL, a luxury developer who wanted to capture their brand into their new office. The space needed to embody their residential developments whilst maintaining a highly functioning office.' Also, MotoNovo – Cardiff-based MotoNovo worked with Morgan Lovell to create an innovative office that enhances its culture and supports its staff’s requirements.

Update ‘We spent a lot of last year building a stronger team. New people in a new London office, we're embracing every change that comes our way. After all change is what drives our industry...’ Big Win ‘QBE Insurance. Sit or stand? We’ll make it happen This was a landmark project, the largest of its kind to take place in the UK. The Tone sit/ stand desking system, manufactured by Knoll International, formed the cornerstone of this installation.’

2017 Priority ‘We want to be the best design team in D&B, as well as continuing to provide quality construction and execution in order to look after and maintain repeat business.’

2017 Priority Making people comfortable.

Peter Weston (London) & Colin Allan (Southern)

Gary Thomas

QBE (Photo: David Churchill)

Spotlight - Trends

0333 999 0000 interiors@heatons.net www.heatonsinteriors.net 41

Mixology North17 7 December 2017 Manchester Central Manchester

Mixology17 22 June 2017 Old Billingsgate London

Call: 0161 946 6262

Email: david@mixinteriors.com

www.mixology-awards.com

Spotlight - Dealer Report

Rathbones

WELLWORKING Update ‘Trustpilot rated us the best office furniture company in the UK for the first time in 2016, thanks in part to our new, award-winning website. Our larger office and logistics centre has successfully supported our commitment to nationwide delivery and increased stock capacity.’ Big Win ‘A highlight for us in 2016 was supporting MCM Architecture, BAP, and GVA in furnishing the offices of Rathbones’ new London HQ, with Herman Miller sit/stand workstations, task seating and the loose furniture package.

HEATONS Update ‘For most of 2016, we have focused on developing our relationships and reputation within the North West's specifier community – an emerging market compared to our core client base. This approach has introduced us to different manufacturers, some from Europe, but a lot from the UK – who provide a more design-led rather than price driven product. UK manufacturers are also becoming more aware of the need to operate in this market and as such are driving the quality of their design, product and manufacture to rival the ‘home guard’ of a typical specification.’

2017 Priority ‘Brexit uncertainty aside, our priority in 2017 will be helping our clients with the attraction, retention and performance of high quality staff, particularly through a focus on wellbeing in its wider design context.’ Luke Munro

Big Win ‘Without doubt our most significant win of 2016, has been Stockport Homes’ new build. Designed by AEW Architects, with interiors from SpaceInvader Design, we tendered for this project against some formidable dealerships – and is a win of which we are extremely proud. Ongoing throughout 2016 and continuing into 2017, with installation not scheduled until later this year, the project brings together several UK manufacturers, helping the client realise their ambitions for their staff and facilities.’ 2017 Priority ‘Will be to build on the successful delivery of our Stockport Homes project and various others whilst continuing to service our existing client base.’ David Fielding

Stockport Homes

Spotlight - Dealer Report

WAGSTAFF

AKER Solutions, Aberdeen

Update 2016 was a positive year for Wagstaff . 'We had difficult decisions to make and made positive moves within the market, together with opening a new regional office in Aberdeen and the appointment of Andy Davidson as our agent.’ Big Win ‘Following on from our win with the AKER Solutions project, we have built new and existing relationships within the Aberdeen and Scottish market. Delivering day two business is paramount to the Wagstaff philosophy of being customer focused.’ 2017 Priority ‘To promote the Wagstaff Group name and services throughout the UK will continue to be one of our main goals for 2017.’ Daren Miles

POSTURITE Update ‘There’s one key word that sums up 2016 for us: exports. We continued to spread our healthy working message oversea to Dubai, Australia and Italy, as well as 25 other countries. To meet growing demand we also continued to expand our team and opened a new office in Sedgefield, County Durham.’ Big Win ‘We’ve been championing more movement at work for over 26 years now but 2016 was the year we officially launched our active working campaign to get people more active in the office. 2017 Priority ‘We can’t reveal too much at this point but let’s just say we gained three new patents last year and there's going to be a stunning new sit/stand solution to watch out for in 2017. We're expecting an exciting year for innovation in this area!’

Vubiquity

THINK FURNITURE Update ‘Two new faces joined the team in Web Sales Development and New Business Development. We see a growing future in on-line sales – not just for small orders but now for small projects.’

Ian Fletcher-Price

Big Win ‘Project – IT company in London. Not our biggest project but significant to us in that the product was chosen and specified using our own Think Furniture website. We see this kind of ‘online’ business as a real growth potential area for us in 2017.’

Kings Legal

2017 Priority ‘Quite simply to further grow the business. We’ve expanded the team and are very optimistic that this will bring a greater quantity and possibly more diverse kind of project to us.’ Tony King & Nigel Maeda

Spotlight - Trends

SPECIALISTS IN BESPOKE FURNITURE

HEAD OFFICE Platinum Park, Lynstock Way, Bolton BL6 4SA Tel: 01204 664422 LONDON SHOWROOM 65 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5BL Tel: 020 7242 5709 www.gof.co.uk 45

Spotlight - Trends

ILK Lounge

ILK Chair

Swivel 4-star

4 leg

Sled

Swivel 4-star

4 leg

Sled

ILK Family

Furniture for social spaces

frovi.co.uk 01608 652411 sales@frovi.co.uk Showroom_Broad Yard Turnmill Street Clerkenwell EC1M 5RR 46

Spotlight - Dealer Report

SAXEN

Scottish Police Federation-Glasgow

Update With continued growth and high profile project wins, The Works by Saxen was delighted to appoint Scott Jardine as Business Development Manager. With his international experience in the furniture industry Saxen has been able to deliver enhanced value and convenience to customers. Big Win Securing a relationship with a UK-wide cinema chain expands Saxen’s reach in the entertainment sector, adding another layer to its ability to service customers’ varied furniture needs. To date, it has supplied over £100,000 of products on time and on budget.

Photo: Cadzow Pelosi, Architectural & Interior Photography

POSTURE PEOPLE Update Posture People has been fortunate enough to work within quite a few new markets over the past year. 'We’ve noticed exponential demand in sectors such as healthcare and financial services across London. Our home town of Brighton also continues to flourish with innovative digital companies that we really enjoy working with.'

2017 Priority Saxen remains client focused and, in addition, is developing its product offering with a strong focus on economic, social and environmental sustainability. Shirley Wallace

Big Win ‘We were selected in conjunction with Chalk Architects to create offices for international marketing agency Net Natives over 2016. They wanted to create informal meeting spaces within an open plan office to match their unique aesthetic. We delivered this with a variety of meeting pods, touchdown spaces, ergonomic task seating…and biscuits.’

UBS

2017 Priority ‘In addition to transforming our own seafront offices (BBQ included of course), we will be welcoming some new faces to the Posture People team in 2017, and focusing on making workplaces happier, healthier and more productive across the UK.’ Dave Blood

Net Natives

DAY2 Update ‘2016 will forever be remembered as the year we retained our Mixology title! It was also another year of strong growth with turnover up to over £17m and plenty of fresh faces in the newly-styled Day2 studio.’ Big Win ‘We were proud to have been part of a brilliant project team at UBS, delivering agile and front of house furniture for their stunning new headquarters at 5 Broadgate. Keep an eye on our website for photos!’

Net Natives

2017 Priority 2017 will be all about investing in what makes Day2 great – the people. Oh, and a new coffee machine! Jim Meier

ALPHA SCOTLAND

Scottish Power

Update 2016 was all about launching the Alpha Scotland brand to the market after the acquisition of Steelcase Solutions. Happily, Alpha was warmly received by staff and clients alike, with three new team members joining – Julie Keany heading up A&D relations, Tony Allison in Design, and Gayle Murrison spearheading the education interiors business. A real focus in the architect and specifier arena continues, as does a major push into the higher education and active learning market. Big Win ‘Many highlights in 2016 – but probably our largest project for some-time saw Alpha supply all the furniture to Scottish Power’s new Glasgow UK HQ, which will house some 1,900 people in state-of-theart facilities. This Iberdrola-owned business recognised the need for a great workspace to allow the attraction and retention of the best talent in the City.’ 2017 Priority ‘The key area of focus in 2017 is to build on our consolidated position in the expanding higher education market, where Alpha can really assist colleges and universities, helping to provide campus spaces that will continue to attract and engage students of the future.’ Paul Black

OVERBURY Update ‘We’ve strengthened all the Overbury furniture teams across our nationwide offices, to serve the ever-increasing demand for reliable, independent and innovative furniture throughout the UK. Our newly refurbished offices in Birmingham are now showcasing key furniture pieces.’ Big Win Taking the entire third floor at The Mailbox, Birmingham’s iconic complex, ACS wanted to create a welcoming environment to entice and retain new staff. Vibrant finishes and plentiful touchdown scenarios break up the 400 desks across the large floorplate. 2017 Priority To source the most groundbreaking and creative products – which could change the way people work and view office environments. The Mailbox, Birmingham

Julian Lebray

Spotlight - Dealer Report

TSUNAMI AXIS Update ‘The acquisition of a 10,000 sq ft logistics hub, expanding our team of high calibre site managers and best trained furniture fitters. The roll-out of a bespoke software procurement package to improve speed, accuracy and consistency for our customers. Further strengthening our service proposition.’ Big Win Tsunami Axis joined the virtual reality world to help deliver Discovery Channel's new global workplace concept. 'Working consultatively, we exhaustively tested new ideas, producing a virtual reality experience to ensure the environment supported the future development and growth of the client’s work culture.’

Discovery Channel

2017 Priority ‘To train, motivate and equip our 70+ team to deliver with flair and creativity, industry leading products and services.’

Discovery Channel

PLATFFORM

CRAI, London

Update Platfform Ltd saw its turnover increase to over £5m during 2016, winning numerous exciting projects across the country. 'With an evergrowing team and expansion plans for the London office in full swing, we look forward to continued success in 2017.’ Big Win CRAI in London. Coordinating a high-quality furniture selection with carefully considered finishes and existing furniture, Platfform worked closely with the designers to deliver a first-class project and exceed the client's expectations. 2017 Priority To enlighten its clients on the ever-changing work environment and the benefits that embracing these changes can deliver for their business and employees. Stuart Young

Spotlight - Trends

Where form and function go hand in hand.

Hafven co-working space, Mensing Timofticiuc Architekten 2016. Confair flip-top table: for all hierarchies, design Andreas Stรถriko 1994. www.wilkhahn.com

Spotlight - Dealer Report

Bournemouth University – Fusion Building

BOF Update ‘2016 was our busiest year to date, with three new contract awards (Birmingham City University, University of Bristol and the University of Nottingham) and too many Capital Projects to mention. We also invested heavily behind the scenes to launch a brand new website and new fleet, while also refurbishing our first floor showroom.’ Big Win ‘We worked with more architects, contractors and designers last year than ever before on Capital projects all over the UK. It’s very hard to pick one stand-out project as we were involved with creating so many inspiring, creative spaces. Look at the projects section of our website for our latest and greatest!’

DWP Transformation Project – Tech Bar

AMARYLLIS Update Amaryllis continues to focus on providing an integrated solution combining reuse and refresh of existing assets with supply of new furniture and associated services including churn, portable appliance testing and temporary storage.

2017 Priority ‘We were extremely pleased to be shortlisted for the Mixology Furniture Provider of the Year award last year. We’ll definitely be coming for that title in 2017!’

Big Win The major project for Amaryllis in 2016 was the Transformation Project for the Department for Work and Pensions. The ‘trial’ sites were designed to implement new ways of working through breakout spaces and bench desking, together with bespoke IT hub stations.

Michael Parrish

2017 Priority Reuse and Renovation continues to be a major focus, enabling workplace transformation with minimal waste. David King

Spotlight - Dealer Report

The Francis Crick Institute

PHUSEI Update ‘We’re calling it ‘future Phusei’ as we plan the next five years and beyond. Robin Bayliss joins to head Sales and Marketing and to set out a new direction for the company and we will be adding more heads – some of who you will know.’

JS OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS Update In 2016 JS welcomed James Brill to its business development team, with a remit to grow the educational sector business. 'With a background in this market sector, James has helped us secure a number of projects and we hope to see this grow in 2017.’

Big Win Last year’s significant project was The Francis Crick Institute in Kings Cross. 'It was an absolute delight to win this project and work with HOK Architects, who deserve immense credit for the design – £1.4m, 93,000 sq m, 12 floors, opened by The Queen.’

Big Win JS was asked by the University of Sussex to design, manufacture and install a bespoke desking solution for 200 workstations. 'We worked closely with all parties to ensure we had the correct specification, particularly designing a secure, stylish desk, as well as providing a cable management solution along with tamper-proof monitor arms. The client specifically asked for these desks to be robust and secure for the 24-hour usage the desks would have within this educational environment.’ 2017 Priority In 2017 JS will develop its business with the A&D sector. It is partnering with manufacturers who have some new and exciting products that will certainly appeal to the A&D community, along with others who already have iconic, globally recognised products.

2017 Priority ‘To set out our futureproof plan and secure more key people to join us. With a name like Phusei, this will entail some interesting ideas and direction – so watch this space.’ Tim Nisbet & Ed Mullett

Univeristy of Sussex

Chris Johnson

CALL FOR ENTRIES 2017 AN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN BRITISH FURNISHING DESIGN

ENTRIES NOW OPEN

furnituremakers.org.uk/excellence

mix - Half page.indd 1

27/10/2016 11:26

FI T O U T

FU R N I TU R E

go@spatial.co.uk

D ESI GN

0161 260 0050 53

Spotlight - Trends

egecarpets.com

New ege collection: Rawline Scala Beautiful patterns, woven materials, refined craftsmanship, interesting textures and outstanding durability. The Scala collection is a new, unique carpet solution combining the minimalistic, but artisan texture of a flat woven construction with different patterns of various scale. The collection offers a basic rawness while still bringing the acoustic and practical advantages of carpet to the interior design. Made of regenerated ECONYLÂŽ yarns from used fishing nets, Scala is a truly green choice. Available as broadloom and tiles. THE URGE TO EXPLORE SPACE

Spotlight - Dealer Report

UMBRELLA

EDF Energy

Update Umbrella grew considerably during 2016. 'We strengthened our team with Rosie Saunders and Nick Ansell, who have been invaluable to the growth of the business. They both brought a wealth of knowledge in their own way and have put Umbrella in the minds of a further reach of designers.’ Big Win Umbrella secured several projects during 2016. 'Significance for us was measured by the design practices that we engaged and partnered with. Both EDF Energy and Centrica were specified by the design teams at BDG and Perkins & Will ,and we relished the opportunity to support their project teams with delivering high-level furniture specifications seamlessly.’ 2017 Priority ‘More of the same! Umbrella is growing rapidly, and we are excited about the prospect of the team expanding further and working on furniture schemes with London’s best design practices’ Matt Clarke

K2 Update ‘2016 was an exciting year as we delivered projects throughout the UK and Europe and found the legal sector particularly buoyant, as we worked with leading global firms Latham & Watkins and Squire Patton Boggs to furnish various offices in London, Manchester, Paris & Brussels. ‘We were also proud to be chosen to design, build and furnish new offices for Toyota Financial Services in Epsom while we also continue to work extensively with City and Mayfair based financial clients.’

Big Win ‘Our work with leading international law firm Squire Patton Boggs to deliver projects in London, Manchester and Leeds was a highlight and an extremely enjoyable project to have been part of. The K2 team also enjoyed delivering projects for leading American investment bank, William Blair, located at Broadgate Tower in the City.’

72 Asset Management

2017 Priority ‘2017 looks set to be another interesting year and at the top of our agenda is working closely with both furniture manufacturers and clients to understand, develop and put forward solutions that truly work and that make a positive impact in the workplace.’ Squire Patton Boggs

Mark Phillips

Man About Town

Profile - Giles Fuchs

Timeline Whether we’re looking at new workplace schemes, walking around industry shows or talking with key figures from the world of corporate interiors, our conversation will, undoubtedly, turn to the subject of trends.

May 2009 Office Space in Town founded. Januray 2011 Office Space Euston – first London centre – opens. October 2012 Office Space Liverpool St opens.

What are the latest trends to permeate their way into the industry? Well, we can talk about agility, collaboration, advancements in technology etc all day long. Trends they might be, but fashion they’re not. We can’t see any of the above disappearing or falling out of favour any time soon. Another of these ‘trends’ is the not-so-sudden ascendency of the modern serviced office. We say not-so-sudden because this is not some new fad that has hit the news pages in the past 12 months. Hugely successful businesses such as Office Space in Town are no new kids on the block – as the Group’s Founder and Chairman, Giles Fuchs, can confirm. ‘Back in 1979 my father, who was a jet-setting businessman, and my mother – who was a stay-at-home mother – owned a very small office building in Northampton town centre,’ Giles reveals. ‘It was empty, un-let – it was very difficult to let property in 1979. My father came back from New York one day and said to my mother, ‘There are these things called Business Centres in New York – you should do it!’ So she did – and the first business centre in the UK was born. She then went on to do another in Northampton. In other words, my mother is the founder of the serviced office industry in the UK – and they are still serviced offices today. ‘In terms of business modeling, I think that suggests that the concept of the serviced office is capable of working in both recession and boom time. Those original centres have been making a profit and providing income for 38 years now. ‘My sister Niki took over the business from my parents in the mid-1990’s and grew the portfolio – becoming the largest management company in serviced offices in the UK. She then went on and sold that business in 2005-2006.’ Giles, a self-confessed serial entrepreneur, was just 22 years old when he set up his own first business, which was an estate agency based in Northampton. u

April 2013 Office Space St Paul's opens. August 2015 Office Space Mayfair opens. September 2015 Office Space Monument opens.

My father came back from New York one day and said to my mother, ‘There are these things called Business Centres in New York – you should do it!

Profile - Giles Fuchs ‘I had a small chain of estate agents in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire,’ Giles tells us. ‘Then my sister told me to stop being so lazy and to make my inheritance work for me! So in 2009 we came together and decided we would do the same thing she had been doing previously – management contracts. In other words, managing buildings for owners. It was no cost to us and we would bring our expertise and know-how to the table. ‘The first thing we did was exactly that. We went to one of our wealthy friends and said ‘You need to finance this business on the top three floors of Euston Tower’. We decided we’d done the rest of the UK and not London – so now we should do things the other way around. ‘So we found a friend who would finance that and I immediately went out and found another building in Liverpool Street that needed buying. Again we went out to friends, only to find that many of them weren’t as wealthy as they purported to be! So I then fell across a fund who said they’d do it – but they wanted us to put some money into it, some skin in the game, as they like to call it. We went behind the sofa and found a few pennies – not very much at all to be honest – and they then told us that they didn’t want to do just one. They had billions of pounds they needed u

Mayfair

Monument

Kaleid

SCOPE

Imagine â&#x20AC;˘ Design â&#x20AC;˘ Create www.karndean.com 59

KD2892UK 01/17

Kaleidoscope is our latest collection, demonstrating the flexibility of Karndean and adding a new dimension to Designflooring. Available in six shapes, with numerous colour combinations, this collection offers an easy way to add a unique element to your design.

Profile - Giles Fuchs

Mayfair

to spend and they wanted to do three! So that’s where it all started this time around. We bought three in very quick succession.’ Giles tells us that, through a series of new funds, platforms and exits and financial matters that go some way over our journalistic heads, the business today provides attractive well-appointed office space to suit organisations of all sizes in the heart of London’s business districts, including Monument, Liverpool Street, Mayfair, St Paul’s, Farringdon, Waterloo and Euston, as well as offering exceptional office space to rent in Cardiff, Northampton and Edinburgh. ‘We’re delighted to say that we now have investors who are extremely keen to get involved – which is obviously a lovely place to be,’ Giles grins. ‘In terms of the day-to-day roles within the business, Niki is MD, so she runs things and manages all the managers. I do money, find buildings and turn buildings around, essentially.’ We really like Giles. We always like someone who can talk well – and he certainly does that – but he does so with a smile on his face and with great enthusiasm. While much of the conversation until now has been about business and finance, Giles is equally passionate about the design and the culture that permeates throughout Office Space in Town. He talks about models such as John Lewis and Cadbury’s. As well as being an entrepreneur, there’s clearly a little bit of philanthropist here. Whilst some might suggest that this is all right place, right time, knowing the right people stuff or about catching the zeitgeist, there is far more to the Office Space in Town offering than square, white rooms and a post box. We’ve been fortunate enough to visit the amazing Alice in Wonderland inspired Waterloo facility and, today, have been given the grand tour of the latest nautical themed Monument offices (to be featured in a near future issue of Mix). These are spaces that go way beyond the cheap and (not so) cheerful offerings that were in danger of giving the serviced office a poor name. ‘When we started Office Space in Town we wanted to build a company that reflected who we were as people and the ethics and morals that we live by,’ Giles says. ‘We aspired to build a business which was all about our clients and staff. 'We want the beautiful environments we build to be places where people are inspired to work hard and be focused, to endeavour to be great at whatever they are doing, be happy and energised and to always consider others and make them feel special and individual. u

Patina.

Finding the pattern in nature in our new wool-flax fabric.

A top lawyer in, say, Leeds can come to us and have that shop window in London for £7,000 a year!

‘We knew that we would never reach the end of our journey because we would always be asking our clients and staff ‘What else can we do?’ So each new project we do is better than the last and that every day we are looking for ways to make our clients say ‘Wow’. ‘Our clients take four- through to 60-person offices – that’s our sweet spot. What you don’t want in London is 50,000 sq ft – because it’s too expensive. What you want here is a shop window. What we’re starting to see now is provincial businesses looking at us. A top lawyer in, say, Leeds can come to us and have that shop window in London for £7,000 a year! ‘We are very much design-led. Our St. Paul’s centre had a great deal of influence from Jeffery-West. We met with Guy West – he’s a real rock star! The scheme has leather everywhere – which is a nod back to Northampton and the shoe industry. ‘For this space in Monument we have had a lot of influence from Sunseeker – there’s boats and ships and nautical stuff everywhere! That comes from the proximity to the river and also to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping – and because I love boats! ‘The Waterloo scheme came about because that area was where top hats were made. The hats were made using mercury and that mercury sent the hatters mad – hence Mad Hatter and the Alice in Wonderland theme. ‘We try to design for the locality. We don’t brand – it’s their building. This isn’t a transitory thing – this is a terminus. People come here and they stay. We don’t have an in-house designer. We work with Sam Kopsch from Sam Kopsch Studio, who used to work with Peldon Rose. I suppose you could say she’s almost in-house but she’s not in-house. We really like working this way – we like going to her. Anything design, we call on her.

Mayfair

‘I do lead the design in terms of thinking about the locations and the themes, and I also lead the strategy behind each of the buildings. I set the brief for Sam, as it were. ‘It’s so important that we provide inspiring office spaces and 100% reliable business facilities for our clients. You have to look after your clients. Each one of our buildings is fully furnished and totally adaptable to meet our clients’ needs. Our meeting and conference rooms feature the very best audio-visual presentation, IT and communication facilities.’ Office Space in Town also offers turnkey virtual office solutions and tailored office support such as personalised call answering, message management, mail forwarding and administration. Thus enabling businesses to run highly productive remote offices at a lower cost, whilst maintaining a strong local presence. Before we say our farewells, we ask Giles about the future. ‘We want to buy five more buildings, all in Zone 1, in the next four years,’ he reveals. ‘We currently have £165 million of assets – which we’ve essentially done in three years – and we think the next five years can take us north of £500 million. They’re pretty big numbers, aren’t they!’ l

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THE RO U N D TA B L E

LEAH SHUTKEVER, EOS

We’re in Birmingham – together with the pick of the Midlands’ design professionals and our friends at Karndean Design flooring – to discuss the fascinating subject of the latest trends in the workplace. To open

ALISON MONTEITH, MONTEITH SCOTT

proceedings off in a suitably provocative manner, we ask our guests if clients

TREND

actually understand the current trends and what they might mean to their businesses – and if they actually discuss ‘trends’ when planning interior projects.

SIMON JESSOP, GLANCY NICHOLLS

STEVE TOWNSEND, ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS MATTHEW SPECK - KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING 64

Round Table ALISON: If we are talking about trends in terms of finishes and aesthetics, then this is something that quickly becomes a fad, becomes a fashion – rather superficial. If we’re talking about trends in workplace practice, then that is something much deeper, much more intellectual. LEAH: Clients initially approach us, typically saying ‘We need a facelift, we need to refresh, we need to attract the new generation into the workplace and we want to give back to the people who will be working for us in the future’. The directors of companies that have been working with the same furniture they had in the 80’s might think this is ok, but new managers and younger people coming into the workplace might not see that as attractive. I think they (clients) get it. They get that the workplace needs to be attractive and a desirable place to work.

Do you think that end users are bold enough to go with what you recommend? Paul Eatock

STEVE BICKLEY - KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING

PAUL EATOCK – SPATIAL

JOSEPHINE: I think clients understand the aesthetic side of things more than how they work. Workplace design is going much more towards collaborative, open plan working as well as providing places to have secluded working spaces. People require very adaptable

SPOTTING workplaces – and getting that across to clients is often the harder part. You can show clients a colour palette, for example, and they will totally get that – but then you go on to talk about introducing open pod systems and they say ‘Hang on a second!’ PAUL: Do you think that end users are bold enough to go with what you recommend? We often see that where designers take it is beyond where clients are bold enough to go – which leaves a discrepancy. I think on the trends side of things we’re trying to create this workplace that doesn’t match with the culture and the people who are using that space.

JOSEPHINE BRIDGES, AHR

LEAH: I think part of our job as designers and architects is to be a workplace consultant – initially, primarily and before anything else. You have to say that you will help them and we are interested – and this is what is happening right now and this is what we can offer and this is how it can benefit them and their workers and wellbeing and health… u

GURTAKE SINGH, GENSLER

65 65

PAUL: There’s nothing more exciting for us, as a supplier, than seeing one of you guys come up with a really exciting design idea and it actually ending up like that! ALISON: Some clients just don’t understand what you’re showing them. They don’t care that you’ve done this before – their wife did an evening class…this is what you’re fighting against. You’re fine if you’ve done the job with them once, if you’ve worked with them before – then they get it. PAUL: For me, this is about understanding how the client works, what they want to get out of their environment – and then the finishes will come off the back of having the functionality right in the first place. We’ve got a client who we’ve just fitted with 80 electric height adjustable desks – and this was born out of the fact that they have a young, trendy workforce who wants to work with this kind of desk. They’ve also put a vast amount of money into their social areas and breakout zones. The result is that productivity has gone through the roof. You’ve got people no longer eating at their desks, you’ve got people going into the office earlier, because they’ve got a place to collaborate and socialise they’re not going out so much and their leaving later – because they’ve got a great environment. You do need directors and managers to have the confidence that when people are sat in booths or breakout areas they aren’t actually skiving! GURTAKE: With a trend such as the height adjustable desk, I think it’s about variety rather than just the desk itself – it’s about being able to migrate to and from particular spaces to do different tasks. Looking at trends moving forwards such as textures, colours, finishes, lighting etc, these are a byproduct of the consultancy work we do for our clients. As designers we really have to immerse ourselves and get complete buy-in from our clients – so we do understand where they want to go. Capturing all this information and regurgitating back to them can often lead to a dynamic altering of the workplace. It is by monitoring the trends on that side of things that leads to the finishes, colours etc. Otherwise – and I’m sure everyone around this table has heard this at one point or another – your client tells you that they want a Google office! u

Round Review Table SIMON: With the clients that we tend to work with – the majority of whom are from universities – if you try to push academics into something that is totally unfamiliar, they will retaliate back to what they know best. We try to create spaces where we can give them a little bit of variety. These are academics, and in some cases there is a feeling of entitlement here – they want an office, they don’t want ‘pesky’ students interrupting them, they want to close themselves off. Many of the universities that have embraced more of an open plan structure still tend to keep the academics ‘hidden away’ – certainly the older academics. So when we talk about trends, we’re not just talking about finishes, we are talking about workplace culture. STEVEN B: I do think the working culture side of this is such a big thing. We’ve experienced this at our office, where everyone used to work in cubicles, in quite an insular way. Then we installed a big breakout area, where people from separate buildings started to come together – and now people who previously didn’t even know one another’s names

socialise together. I think this really helped a lot of people to buy into the company ethos a lot more. Having that social space has made people come together.

It’s about being able to migrate to and from particular spaces to do different tasks Gurtake Singh

MATTHEW: Everyone’s work/life balance is very different from what it was 10 years ago – and the workplace has changed accordingly. People do come in earlier and stay later. People are far more likely to leave or to go out for lunch if the office is boring and horrible – but if it’s fresh and inspiring, they are more likely to want to stay. STEPHEN T: If you think about the office building as a whole, you’re selling the lifestyle, you’re not just selling the space. ALISON: Ultimately you’re taking a brief and you’re solving a problem. It’s like engineering – it’s not about the aesthetics initially, it’s about overcoming those problems. STEPHEN T: We get involved right through a project, from the inception of the building design right through to the fit-out of the

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Review space. Some of our clients will engage a marketing or branding agency from early on in the process to be involved as part of the design team and come up with a concept. They’ll research through their market, they’ll research who the occupiers are, who their workforce is, what they’re looking for – so you create that lifestyle right from the inception of the building, you find out about the tech and the infrastructure they’re going to need from Day 1. I think having this consolidated process is really key to getting it right. JOSEPHINE: Sometimes, the client might have an idea, they might have a concept that they want more social space – but you really have to show it to them. You have to regurgitate their own information – which they already know – and then you have to reformat it and show it to them again so that they can see it from the outside! As well as that, I find it’s most successful when you actually show the client what you’re talking about with regards to meeting people in the office. We did a university project where we went around and met with everyone – the librarians, the students, the union, the tutors, and we had consultation after consultation. It was only after we had sat and done all this that the client said ‘Ok, I see where you’re coming from’.

You have to remember that the client is a big part of the design team.

GURTAKE: I think more and more clients are cottoning on to what they need to do – but do they really understand what innovation is, what collaboration is and if so what is an example of that? We’re delivering more and more projects that hit our clients’ expectations – and it takes a lot of handholding, a lot of nurturing and a lot of guiding to get to that final result. It might not have been what they wanted at the beginning – but it was necessary to put in that work at the beginning in order to give them the workspace they absolutely want.

Alison Monteith

LEAH: I think that is now part and parcel of it. You take what someone perceives is what they want and you try to educate and collaborate with them to try to come to an agreement. You often end up creating something that they didn’t expect to create and you didn’t expect to create. GURTAKE: This is co-creation – and this can only come from constant collaboration. ALISON: There is still suspicion from a lot of clients that you’re going to go away, beaver away for a month and then come back to them and say ‘There you go’. You have to remember that the client is a big part of the design team. GURTAKE: And you have to get buy-in from the very top. l

Review LEAH SHUTKEVER, EOS

PAUL EATOCK – SPATIAL

Leah Shutkever has been the Design

Paul Eatock founded Spatial Office

Manager at eos interiors since

Environments in 2014 – a full turnkey

2014. Coming from an Architectural

solutions based office fit-out company

background and led by a pragmatic

headquartered in Manchester. He has

approach to design, her specialisms

been involved in the industry for 10

include concept generation, detail

years , working previously at Diamond

design and 2/3-dimensional visualisation. Recent design

Interiors and Ralph Capper Interiors. Paul's specialism is his

projects have included office fit-outs for Taylor Wimpey, TT

in-depth knowledge of the furniture industry and he prides

Electronics and NASUWT

himself as being an independent furniture consultant. Recent

Dream car: VW Sirocco in white or gunmetal grey.

projects include Camira's new Clerkenwell showroom. Dream car: Jaguar Sport

GURTAKE SINGH, GENSLER Gurtake is a Senior Interior Designer

ALISON MONTEITH, MONTEITH

at Gensler’s newly formed studio in

SCOTT

Birmingham, which opened its doors

Alison Monteith has been the driving

in January last year. He is passionate

force of Monteith Scott for 20 years,

about all forms of design, having

specialising in commercial interiors

been involved with multiple projects

across sectors, but predominantly

around the world; most recently designing and advising on a refurbishment project in Brindleyplace, Birmingham. Dream car: Mercedes Benz 190SL

offices with a creative bent. The firm's most recent work is for Energy Systems Catapult in central Birmingham. Dream car: Can I have my old Alfa Romeo Spider back please?

SIMON JESSOP, GLANCY

Or a matt black Harley Sportster maybe...

NICHOLLS Simon is current an Associate Director

JOSEPHINE BRIDGES, AHR

at Glancy Nicholls, a practice he

AHR is a multi-award winning

joined in 2013. Prior to this he was an

architecture and building consultancy

Associate at Associated Architects,

practice with experience dating

working predominantly on education

back to 1835. Josephine has been

projects at universities within the East

working as an interior designer at the

and West Midlands. He is currently working with developer St

company for five years, with a recent

Modwen on a new 180-bed facility for the MOD Medical Staff,

promotion to Associate Director following her take-over

based at the QE hospital, and the National Transport Design

of the interior design team in Birmingham. She is creative,

Centre for Coventry University.

enthusiastic and committed, with a passion for people-centric

Dream car: TVR Cerbera in canary yellow!

design. She recently led projects with Staffordshire University, Ryton Police College and Emaar’s Dubai Hills Business Park. Dream car: 1980’s white Jimny Jeep with roll top and 80’s decals – because I’m practical, fun and love an adventure!

Thank you to Karndean Designflooring for playing host at the iconic Library of Birmingham. IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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Case Study

Essentials Client Reward Gateway Design Area Sq Joinery Mbd Systems Furniture USM Task Seating Fritz Hansen Herman Miller Flooring Karndean Designflooring Bolon Occasional Seating Vitra

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Case Study - Reward Gateway

Reception and screens

In Short Reward Gateway has offices in five countries with over 350 staff Founded in 2006 Global revenue of £225m (June 2016) Serves 1,300+ companies – helping them with their employee engagement

Working with some of the world’s biggest brands on their employee engagement programmes, Reward Gateway’s mission is to make the world a better place to work by helping employers attract, engage and retain the best talent. The onus is on getting people to love where they work – and here at TCR, the Reward Gateway team was tasked with delivering a workspace that does just that. Employee engagement, staff retention, open and honest communication are all of vital importance to the employee engagement experts at Reward Gateway – and these core values have been mirrored in the design of the brand new workspace. We’re fortunate enough to have Reward Gateway’s PR Manager, Charlie Lofthouse, and Area Sq’s Project Director James Hamerton and Creative Director Andrea WilliamsWedberg on hand to talk us through the project and (excuse the pun) the rewards the company has gained from pushing its own boundaries. ‘This is all about employee engagement,’ James tells us. ‘Reward Gateway has an engagement bridge – but the workplace had never previously made it on to the engagement bridge. Having been through this project, they now massively value the effect the workspace can have on their staff.’ ‘Their former space was so different to what they have now!’ Andrea reveals. ‘They didn't willingly invite clients to that office.’ The former Reward Gateway home was on Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, we’re told. ‘We were there for just over nine years,’ Charlie recalls. ‘We started off on one floor – it was a split-level building – and in the end we were spread across

Culture Cafe

three floors. It was very disjointed and people simply didn’t see one another. Cross-team collaboration and communication is essential to our business success, and as we approached our 10th anniversary we felt it was the right time to make the move to a space where we could be more connected to each other. ‘We wanted a really well designed workspace that could help to build relationships between people and between teams. The reason for this location was that we wanted to run more client events and we wanted our clients to be at the heart of our office – so where better than slap bang in the heart of London! ‘Another part of the brief was to design an area of the office where our staff could come together and socialise – hence the café. People laughed at us when we said we were going to build a fully catered wellbeing café with the choice of restaurants on our doorstep, but it’s been one of the best decisions we made because the whole office comes together and has lunch here every day. ‘There is a really good connection between what the Reward Gateway product is – their offering, their culture – and how this is now reflected in the workspace,’ James explains. ‘Now, every time we go to the space, they are showing people around. They are really using it as a tool to improve their employee engagement. This isn’t just an office, it is something that is going to help grow the business.’ ‘It’s not just a nice area to be in,’ Andrea continues. ‘There are some really unusual, unique elements throughout. The toilets, for example, are gender neutral and have a vanity area and they have chosen an amazing selection of furniture, such as the Oxford chair. There is even a little description next to the classic furniture.’ u

UK LEADING FURNITURE MANUFACTURER t +44 (0)1685 352222 sales@triumphfurniture.com www.triumphfurniture.com

@triumph1946

Visit our NEW London Show-Space G17, 31 Clerkenwell Close, EC1R 0AT call 01685 352258

Case Study

Super Acoustic Bricks

Change your environment in minutes... 1. Choose the size, style, colour and

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the posts to the required height

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01604 674674 @OceeDesign ergonomics@oceedesign.com www.oceedesign.com 74

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Case Study - Reward Gateway

We do normally start with quite ambitious plans when it comes to agility and then people reign it back a little – but they really stuck with the concept throughout

‘The level of detail is incredible,’ James agrees. ‘We’ve never had a client like Glenn (Elliott, Reward Gateway CEO), who is really into product design – that’s his background – so the level of detail that we went to in understanding the individual’s user journey and what they might want from that office space was amazing. That level of detail is what takes it from a really nice space to an incredible space. ‘You can ask anyone in that office about how to use it and why it is the way it is and they all understand the rationale behind it. They are all totally on board. As I said, the staff engagement was so important to them – that’s what they do after all.’ We haven’t even talked about the fact that this space is completely agile. ‘That came about through necessity really,’ James recalls. ‘It’s about 4,700 sq ft with 85 people working in it – and yet it still feels spacious.’ ‘We were told to push the boundaries,’ Andrea grins. ‘We wanted to push as hard as we could, knowing that we could pare it back if necessary. ‘With their culture and their demographic, there was a really obvious opportunity to introduce that. For us, agile working is now part and parcel of what we do.’ ‘We do normally start with quite ambitious plans when it comes to agility and then people reign it back a little – but they really stuck with the concept throughout,’ James adds. ‘We really brought our employees along on the journey with us,’ Charlie tells us. ‘Nobody has a fixed desk here and there are no offices – none of the leadership team has an office. The space reflects the different types of work that people do in an office through the day and provides facilities that suit the different tasks. It's wrong to think that a desk and chair is suitable for everything – by providing comfy seating, stand up seating, quiet spaces, places for introverts, as well as places to collaborate, you can really optimise how people work.’ The flexible and versatile space supports Reward Gateway’s newly mobile workforce in a way that maximises the square footage while adding a sense of energy – a real buzz. An intentional ‘collision course’ breaks up the space and enables people to work with those they might not otherwise encounter. There is a natural synergy between the personality of the brand, the spatial aesthetics and the brilliant colours used throughout. Reward Gateway’s new workplace also includes a number of spaces that support staff wellbeing, such as a reflection room and an on-site library, which nods back to the u Ver ne rP a

on nt t lights erpo low -f

The gallery

Case Study - Reward Gateway

Huddle Booth

company’s original London address and even has a mocked-up front door of that building. There is also a series of stand-height, private ‘phone booths’ for individual working. And as we walked past, each and every one was being used! Located within the heart of the office space is the impressive HR Hero café, which – as mentioned earlier – has been designed to encourage interaction between staff and their clients. Judging by the lunchtime throng here, we’d say it’s succeeding in doing just that. Smart team working booths are dotted throughout the space – we particularly like the gentle instructional sticker on the edge of the worksurface here, reminding people that these are indeed for team and not individual working. In addition, state-of-the-art technology is used throughout, which includes a fully equipped TV and photography studio, whilst meeting rooms are enhanced with the latest cable and controllerfree video conferencing technology, helping London-based employees to more easily collaborate with Reward Gateway’s 350 global staff. The one facility we haven’t yet mentioned (and we’re saving the best until last here) is the brilliant Secret Garden. This tranquil, biophilic team space is hidden in plain sight – its door looking for all the world as if it were a brick wall dead-end. Many of the ambitious and forward-thinking elements employed here at TCR are now being taken on in cities spanning the globe, starting with Sydney and Boston. ‘Part of the brief was to create a playbook that could be rolled out across other offices,’ James tells us. Talk about practicing what you preach! On the subject of talking, if you’re lucky enough to have a golden ticket for the upcoming MixInspired (mixinspired.com) event in London, you’ll be able to hear Reward Gateway’s Glenn Elliott talk in more detail about this brilliant business and its equally brilliant space. l

Shell Chair - Hans J.Wegner

Seating area

Case Study

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Case Study

In Short Founded in the Netherlands in 1891 Frans van Houten has been CEO of Royal Philips since 2011 Brand value in 2015 was $10.9 billion Ranked as one of the 50th most valuable brands in the world

e e on th n o y r e v rings e ss undertaken b t n e anagem gement proce m orking e g w n d a a e h n c d a e lu Effectiv .The change m the move inc se workforce. r here up to he dive t s s journey onths leading o r c rom a in the m h champions f it closely w

Case Study - Philips

ELECTRONIC From televisions and DVD players, through to lighting products, home and in-car audio and grooming, oral healthcare and personal health devices, the chances are that you have the Philips brand in your home, in your car or on your person. How many brands can you say that about? Not that many.

The Dutch technology company is headquartered in Amsterdam with primary divisions focused in the areas of electronics, healthcare and lighting. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. The company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. While the business is globally headquartered in the Netherlands, we’ve travelled to the leafy commuter town of Guildford, which boasts the new Philips UK head office, covering Healthcare, Lighting and Consumer Lifestyle. Staff members at Philips’ UK HQ have successfully transitioned to their new agile working environment, a culmination of many months of research and preparation. Located adjacent to the company’s former offices, the new facilities achieve 30% greater density while offering a vastly improved environment for the flexible workforce. Spread over two floors, the offices feature open plan and sit/ stand desking, meeting rooms, new dropdown collaborative areas, breakout spaces and focus rooms.

KI has helped Philips create the happier, healthier, high performing working environment with its range of UK designed and manufactured furniture products including UniteSE workstations, Work2 Sit/Stand workstations, Meet4 collaborative tables and 800 Series Storage lockers. Prior to the relocation, extensive research was conducted around how the 530 staff utilise their space. The new environment was planned specifically to enhance the company’s flexible working culture while simultaneously introducing agile working. With the exception of selected roles such as the order desk, which requires non-standard IT or telephone systems, the office is arranged into neighbourhoods of unassigned desks. Pedestals have made way for lockers and desk phones have been eliminated. A clean desk policy is in place, each position furnished such that anyone can sit anywhere at any time. The provision of approximately 10% sit-stand workstations throughout the office reflects the company’s health and wellbeing brand. Working within Philips’ internal guidelines and learnings from the group’s HQ’s in other countries, the team at Guildford teamed up with designer Stuart Aitken of TDA Interiors

to bring the new headquarters to life. Warm red and cream shades are featured in the main office areas, complemented by neutral greys and white, while blues and greens distinguish ‘away from the desk’ spaces such as meeting and focus rooms. The project’s success can be greatly attributed to the early research and planning that was carried out. One example of where this directly improved the outcome can be seen in the provision of fewer traditional meeting rooms in the new office, replaced by focus rooms, and more casual collaboration and breakout areas. The 22 focus rooms allow quiet work and meeting space. Better suited to user needs and more space efficient than traditional meeting rooms, they are designed for no more than two people at a time, offering privacy and isolation when required. ‘This was a huge project for Philips as they were relocating from 50,000 sq ft down to about 35,000 sq ft without any reduction in staff,’ Stuart explains. ‘This was achieved by working closely with Philips’ Workplace Innovation (WPI) programme. The creation of neighbourhoods meant that working adjacencies could be maintained, together with the addition of focus rooms, u

Case Study - Philips

breakout spaces, and bookable meeting rooms. This ensured that staff are never too far away from finding a quiet working space if required.’ Effective change management brings everyone on the journey here. The change management process undertaken in the months leading up to the move included working closely with champions from across the diverse workforce. Feedback, consultation and tours of the new facilities during the construction phase were all part of a programme to ensure that all employees could hit the ground running from day one, confident and familiar with the new space and new workstyle. FAQs were posted on the company intranet, and pilot furniture layouts were set up in the old building. Information sessions were held to reassure those who were nervous that they might not be able to find somewhere appropriate to sit in an agile workspace. Post-occupancy surveys have revealed an overwhelmingly positive outcome. Some individuals have had the opportunity to meet colleagues they otherwise would never have interacted with, while others expressed that they were happier than expected. One of the challenges here was to find the right furniture partner. With a clear idea of what furniture was required early on in the process, the team was able to focus on finding the right partner to help realise the vision. ‘We worked closely with KI when assessing and selecting the new workstations,’ Stuart continues. ‘This was a key part to the project as we were reducing the footprint of the desks from the old 1,600mm corner cores, down to 1,200mm rectangular desks set within a bench format. KI set up sample desking at Philips’ old office to facilitate detailed assessment by Occupational Health and IT, which passed with flying colours. We also incorporated a number of KI Work2 Sit/Stand desks into each working neighbourhood so as to give staff the flexibility and choice. Philips’ Yvonne Hanson-Nortey agrees that the team made the right choice of furniture partner for the project. 'KI's furniture got the balance right for us – great quality and design, local manufacturing and excellent value for money. The end result speaks for itself. The products we have selected have a value that extends well beyond functionality. They come together to create an overall workspace that communicates a strong mesage to our team – that their working environment isn't an afterthought.'l

Essentials Client Philips UK Design TDA Interiors Project Manager Royal HaskoningDHV Main Contractor Maris Interiors Desking Systems/ Lockers KI

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Review - Stockholm Furniture Fair

STOCK

We have to admit that we gave each other a wry smile when, just days after this year’s Stockholm Furniture Fair had come to a close, we were offered a little bit of advice from a young furniture dealer. ‘You should get yourselves out to Stockholm,’ he told us. ‘It’s a pretty cool fair – you can get in and out in a day.’ Solid advice. He’s right, of course. It is a cool fair and it is of a scale that you can navigate in a day. The reason for our smiles, however, was that – without wishing to sound unbearably smug – we’ve been out to Stockholm more times than we could shake a stick at. It’s nearly a decade since our first foray, and we’ve yet to leave disappointed. This year, however, we left the foraging and critiquing to a number of industry experts, who were looking at the show and the city’s numerous concurrent events, with fresher eyes than our own. Here’s what they had to say about Stockholm’s 2017 edition. 83

Kinnarps

Elena Panagiotidis, Interior Designer, Perkins+Will Best Products: New products on show were few and far between – there were updates to previous designs and accessories were very much at the forefront. An interesting new piece by Lammhults was Penne, with laminated timber legs. This product was previously a plastic chair –now however, through some clever innovative thinking, they are producing a lightweight veneer tube for the legs that is not only aesthetically pleasing, it can be used in heavy wear environments. Another interesting product was from Jorgensen, designed by Anne Boysen. The Shuffl sofa modular system was a stand-out for this type of furniture. It was well presented and also able to be flexible once installed, which differentiated this modular sofa from many others.

Adam Giffard, Spatial Best Products: Sound adsorbing Wall tiles from Nordgröna – multicoloured tiles made from treated Reindeer Moss from the forest and mountain areas of northern Scandinavia. The tiles provide a perfect balance between having a vibrant living wall yet something that is functional and more maintainable than a living wall. A stunning product that left a lasting impression.

Best Stand: The stand that really impressed me was Foscarini – very simple and elegant, featuring division of space with sheer fabric, to blur one view into the next. Overall Impression: Overall, if a piece of furniture could be upholstered then it was shown in velvet. There was a clear understanding as you walked through the fair this was the key trend of SFF17. Petrol blue velvets, natural leathers and brass highlights sustained their presence, continuing the trends of 2016 through into this year. SFF17 left me a little underwhelmed – it seemed most manufacturers were holding back and this was reflected in their stand designs and also the small amount of new product on show. There was a sense that we will have to wait until Milan for any new, innovative designs from the big manufacturers.

Modus

Custom Tile etching from Tilemark. A simple, large stand with an etching machine in the middle surrounded by large ceramic tiles that have previously been etched with a picture of a mountain landscape scene. To see the process happen in front of your eyes showed you how delicate and accurate the machine was, despite etching a large image across tens of tiles. Very impressive. Office Management & Ergonomic Software from EFG/ROL Ergo. A software suite designed

to help control the modern, flexible working environment. Incorporating personal health stats from individuals sat at desks (eg. time spent sitting or standing or being away from the desk), auto desk setup solutions through to individuals who set down at a desk and desk/ pod/meeting room orchestration. It also has the ability to book a suite or see which desks are currently occupied or not. Intelligent software catering for the future of an efficient office space. EFG 120 Deg Height Adjustable Desks on a shared leg platform was integrated with the Office Ergonomic software. This very clever solution allowed for a bank of 120 degree desks to have a cost effective, shared, height adjustable leg solution. The desks also integrated a wireless charging power supply and linked with the new software platform for ergonomic control and health stats for its users. Best Stands: Offecct (Best – 1st): A large and brilliantly arranged stand, taking up a decent position within Hall B. The stand successfully managed to display a vast array of products. It seamlessly showcased some of the best products and solutions at this year’s show on a stand that just flowed from section to section. Crowds flocked to sit in the various zones and partake in their outstanding hospitality. HomeLine (Beautifully Designed – 2nd): Designed by interior designers, Famos, the HomeLine stand elegantly showcased their soft seating and breakout furniture in a country house theme. Nice pastel colours and themed zones made it look just like a large country house. Byarums Bruk (Best Concept Design – 3rd): They designed a beautiful old Victorian train station type setting, including a mini steam train and

Review - Stockholm Furniture Fair

a building entry control mechanism. This made the lockers look very elegant due to the clean lines and lack of any handles or key locks.

Kerry McMahon, Designer, Select Property Group

Offecct (photo - Addam Giffard)

track to show off their classic outdoor bench products – very impressive. Honourable Mentions: Johnson (for the pure scale of the stand): A large and beautifully constructed mezzanine structure made out of wood and glass. FatBoy (most fun): A large, fun stand filled with vibrant coloured products coupled with tactile office accessories set out in a toy store design. If Ikea did toy stores, this would be it. Nordgröna (Stunning Product): A small stand that just popped with the colourful display of their products. The stand was small but the visual impact of the product just made it shine. It was a stunning visual display that made you leave the stand smiling at its simplicity and beauty of its product. Thors (simple elegance): A decent sized stand which was primarily taken up by a single, very long, rustic boardroom table made of exquisite reclaimed wood. A very simple and elegant stand, but the sheer imposing size of the table peaked your interest. Overall Impression: It was a very good show. There was an impressive turn out of manufacturers and the footfall attendance by

the trade was huge. The show was suitably busy with the hustle and bustle of trade visitors, but not too busy that you couldn’t move around. The majority of stands were decently designed to simply display the manufacturers’ products. Only a select few took their display stands to new levels and this showed. Sound absorption products were everywhere, primarily involving pod based solutions, the best of which came from Framery, Into, Orangebox and Fantoni. Almost every desk manufacturer had their own take of height adjustable desks, however, the most ingenious came from EFG and the best looking from Fantoni. An issue rising from sit/stand desks is fatigue on the ankle and foot by users shifting positions. To combat this, auxiliary products like balance boards and balance seating were huge at this year’s show. Some were better designed than others, but there was definitely an influx of products trying to solve this issue. Finally, keyless locker access was a big thing at the show. A new type of locking mechanism being touted by a lot of storage manufacturers allowed a user to have a key card that wirelessly unlocks locker and cabinet doors. This keycard can be linked to an office access card as part of 85

Best Products: Pahlfer – Mesh and Metal Chainmail. This product allows you to bring an element of rawness into a space; a trend very evident at this year’s show with the emergence of raw and ‘real’ materials. The use of the metal mesh to create screens and metal curtains for both indoor and outdoor uses creates both an aesthetic yet functional design application. I thought their interpretation of the metal mesh and their developed locking system allows designers to use a variety of shapes and textures. Within an evolving and progressive design industry, they provide a product of high quality that is fully recyclable. Gazzda: A Bosnian-based furniture company, the history of craftsmanship is evident in the beautifully crafted pieces with natural materials blended in with contemporary shapes and lines. They are designs for the home that add that ‘soul and warmth’ as was described to me at the exhibition. It is very evident that, as a business, they love what they do – which becomes very indicative in their furniture, especially that of the Leina Barstools. I also enjoyed their playful interpretation of their coat hooks, called Hook, that can sit within angled junctions on the wall and around corners. Best Stand: Kinnarps: I was really impressed by the Kinnarps stand. I thought their colour blocking and use of space was very effective. They were able to create a point of interest

Bolon

Review - Stockholm Furniture Fair

Kinnarps

from every angle. I really commend them for taking a system of modular furniture items and making them into a feature destination and point of interest. It was the best exhibition display of both product and creativity. Overall impression: It was my first time at the Stockholm Furniture Fair and I didn’t realise it would be as big as it was. I was quite overwhelmed by the vastness of exhibitions and products. There was a large attendance of people from the industry at the show and there was certainly enough to keep everyone entertained. In reflection of the fair, it was very evident that raw materials and natural tones are hot on the scene. Natural tones such as soft greens, purples hues and terracotta offset against a rich emerald shade made themselves present on many stands. With a design era surrounding the art of holistic living, the colours and materials are a reflection of sustainability and wellbeing. The soft and natural tones, offset against the raw materials and surfaces, create a very ‘moody’ feel about each collective palette. I was also intrigued by the emergence of architecturally led lighting, allowing for a versatility of use; from general house lighting to feature lighting within a space. I would definitely recommend a visit to the fair as I have walked away with information and ideas I will carry forward into future designs. At the end of the day, it’s important to keep your designs relevant and I think the Stockholm Furniture Fair allows

you to appreciate the classics and discover the evolving innovation of fellow designers.

Susie Rumbold, Creative Director, Tessuto, and President of the British Institute of Interior Design Best Products: I loved new supplier Gazzda – two boys from Bosnia doing beautiful innovative furniture. I especially loved their Tink Table and their clever coat hooks that go round corners. I also loved the chain mail curtaining by Pahfler. Best Stand: laCividina. Simple, elegant, beautifully made furniture.

Nord Grona (photo - Addam Giffard)

Overall Impression: The trends I spotted were as follows: Lots of forest green and dark teal in upholstery, and a lot of velvet. Dark green velvet chairs seem to be the ‘piece de jour’! Lots of planters and indoor planting. This is a continuing fashion, but this year it was specifically moss pots and moss balls. The boundaries between furnishings for the workplace and furnishings for the home continue to blur. Office furniture is far less ‘office-y’ and would feel quite at home in highend residential interiors. There were a number of meeting spaces/pods that had pitched roofs – like Wendy houses for grown-ups.

MODULEO TRANSFORMS DIAL HOUSE

MODULYSS SPARKS NEW LIFE IN GLANBIA OFFICE SPACE

Wilson Development opted for Moduleo’s Mountain Oak from the Impress

Glanbia called on the services of modulyss and its First Absolute

collection and the Classic Oak from the Transform collection for Dial

and Xtra Cambridge carpet tile collections to bring it’s offices a

House country manor, restaurant and hotel. Moduleo’s luxury vinyl flooring

striking look. Some 1,500 sq m of modulyss product was specified by

responds extremely well to wear and tear and is scuff and stain-resistant.

McLoughlin Architecture. McLoughlin's Mairead Hennessy explains:

Iain Wilson, Project Director at Wilson Development, comments: 'We were

'modulyss is a real favourite for this practice, its excellent choice of

looking for flooring with a traditional look, but with the added benefits of a

colour, pattern and texture allowing us to introduce fun, interesting

modern-day product - like luxury vinyl.' www.moduleo.co.uk

design work on the floors of our projects.' www.modulyss.com

KNAUF AMF DELIVERS FEEL GOOD ACOUSTIC DESIGN

WEAVING A PATH TO FLOORING STYLE With colourways and textures created to

ANTRON FIBRE STARS IN STELLAR CARPET CHOICE

Knauf AMF specialist acoustic ceiling solutions

co-exist in any interior scheme, Ntgrate

UK carpet manufacturer Burmatex has called

are installed throughout one of London’s

premium woven vinyl flooring from Quadrant is

upon INVISTA’s Antron carpet fibre to help

largest leisure complexes, Waltham Forest

winning fans for its practical, low-maintenance

deliver vibrant colour, tempting texture and

Feel Good Centre. The 8,000 sq m centre’s

nature and striking style. James Scully,

high-end performance to its latest carpet

two-storey building had to meet stringent

Managing Director of Quadrant, said: 'On

tile offering, Hadron. Inspired by the Hadron

acoustic criteria by Sport England. Jason

practicality alone, Ntgrate would be a great

Collider, the range benefits from 100% solution

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choice in a wide-range of commercial spaces,

dyed Antron Lumena polyamide. This high-

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but its unusual visuality really has high impact

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of design combinations, with bursts of accent

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for each area.' www.knaufamf.com

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What’s the colour of magic?

There are some colours that exist but we cannot see. But researchers are getting closer to understanding how we might glimpse them, writes Mark Eltringham.

In the Discworld novels, Terry Pratchett introduces us to the colour of magic. He calls it octarine, a sort of greenish purple, described as ‘the undisputed pigment of the imagination’. Surprisingly such unseeable colours exist for the human eye. They are invisible to us because of the limitations of our vision. Some invisible colours exist outside the perceptions of the human eye, including large parts of the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum. We cannot see them because, compared to many other animals, the human eye is only capable of perceiving light across a narrow band of wavelengths. Yet there are some within this band that we are still unable to perceive. These are the forbidden colours, which we tend to describe only in relation to others. So we might describe them as reddish-green or blue-ish yellow, but we should be careful we don’t assume they would then be like the results of a mix of those colours as pigment or paint. They exhibit characteristics of both frequencies which makes them fascinating as ideas but imperceptible to the eye. The reason we cannot perceive some colours is down to the way the cone receptors in our retinas limit our vision. There are three types of cone cells connected to nerve impulses through opponent neurons which respond to different colour wavelengths while inhibiting the response to others. So the same

cone cells that detect red light, dampen our response to green. The cones that detect yellow, inhibit blue. And a third set of neurons distinguish between black and white. While the vast majority of colours induce a mixture of effects in these sets of neurons, which our brains decode, pure red light exactly cancels the effect of green light and yellow exactly cancels blue, so our brains should never be able to perceive those colours as coming from the same source.

Some invisible colours exist outside the perceptions of the human eye, including large parts of the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum. However some scientists claim we can discern such impossible colours if we learn how to look. In 1983, two researchers called Hewitt Crane and Thomas Piantanida published a paper in the journal Science called ‘On Seeing Reddish Green and Yellowish Blue,’ which

claimed for the first time that these forbidden colours could be perceived by the eye. The researchers created pictograms in which red and green stripes or blue and yellow stripes ran next to each other. They showed the images to volunteers, using an eye tracker to hold the images fixed to ensure that light from each colour was picked up by the same parts of the retina. What they found was that the subjects of these experiments reported that the borders between the stripes in the images gradually disappeared and the colours themselves started to merge to form hues they had never seen before. The researchers concluded that by staring at the images, the brains of the subjects had learned to overcome the opponent mechanism in their eyes. The experiment was updated in 2006 by scientists at Dartmouth College in the US using computer images and concluded that what people are seeing in the experiment are not forbidden colours but a mix. The experiments remain controversial with researchers who are still learning about the eye as well as the characteristics of colour and light. But maybe one day they will reach a consensus not only about the exact nature of the forbidden colours, but also a way for us to see them easily and so open our eyes to colours about which we can still only dream.

Mark Eltringham is the publisher of workplace design and management website Office Insight. mark@officeinsight.org

ZÜCO SIGNO: ELEGANCE IS NOW COMFORTABLE

The main focus of the latest innovation from Züco is on design, comfort and quality. The upholstery of the backrest is not based on conventional upholstery materials but on a frame structure covered with flexible material. Thus, a very slim cushioning system and the high seating comfort can be achieved.

NEW ADDRESS LONDON OFFICE Dauphin HumanDesign® UK Limited 1 Albemarle Way I GB London EC1V 4JB Phone +44 207 2537774 I Fax +44 207 2531629 www.dauphinuk.com I info@dauphinuk.com

Chip is a new 4A USB charging module set to revolutionise the way we use on desk power. This stylish and fully integrated module simply connects to your under desk power using a Wieland or plug to offer 2 USB power supplies capable of charging all leading phones and tablets.

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