When Premier League football team, Aston Villa FC decided to transform one of the hospitality lounges at Villa Park, it was in need of practical flooring that could cope with a high level of footfall and provide excellent slip resistance. Amtico Spacia 36+ stepped up to the spot.
Designer and main contractor Benchmark was tasked with converting the North Stand’s existing lounge and 18 small hospitality boxes into a brand-new suite – The Gas Lamp. The brief was to create a modern, yet history-fuelled space, while offering superb views of the pitch.
For the bar area, Benchmark chose a contemporary and welcoming aesthetic, while paying homage to the 145-year-old club’s history and founding story of four members meeting under a gas lamp to form Aston Villa FC. The aim was to create the perfect space for fans, friends and family to meet up before heading to the lounges for the match. Neutral oak tones and mid-grey concrete hues, from Amtico’s Spacia 36+ collection, were chosen as the main flooring solution for the open-plan bar, as well as the hospitality boxes, corridors and stairs.
As large areas formed part of the emergency escape route, Building Control requested that the flooring had high slip resistance. To meet these requirements, Benchmark opted for Amtico’s Spacia 36+ Luxury Vinyl Tile safety floor, which boasts enhanced slip resistance for the lifetime of the product and antimicrobial technology, which protects against bacteria including MRSA and E. coli. The collection is available in tiles and planks, offering greater design possibilities including parquet. This allowed the design team at Benchmark to successfully achieve a stylish and practical space, creating walkways and specific zones using the collection’s Featured Oak and Metropolis Smoke in contrasting laying patterns.
Paul Smith, Projects Director at Benchmark, explains why Amtico was specified: “The Gas Lamp was an important project for Aston Villa FC, Levy UK and Benchmark, bringing an underused area up to high-quality hospitality use. Due to the layout of the space, a large proportion of the floor areas were on an escape route and needed to have slip-resistant properties to meet the requirements of Building Control. The Spacia 36+ range allowed the flooring to be stylish, functional and cost effective.”
