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