黑洞社区

a. Because it鈥檚 high spec

The Dutch are renowned for their design prowess and there was definitely no short-sightedness in this application, for an optician in Veenendaal, a smallish town in central Holland. The architect, aware of the client鈥檚 reputation for quality interiors, specified Tandus Haiku tiles for the 425 m2 installation. Part of the Jhane Barnes collection of carpet tiles, they are apparently designed using the principles of fractal mathematics to create tiles with geometric patterns. With Haiku, narrow stripes are formed in seemingly random clusters, which gives different effects depending on how the tiles are laid. The floorcovering at Prummel Optiek is in 36in square tiles, emphasising the visual effect. Get your eyes looked at here and the carpet could well be part of the test.

b. Because they鈥檙e light and long

Let鈥檚 face it, distribution centres are never going to win the Stirling Prize. But that doesn鈥檛 mean they can鈥檛 showcase clever design solutions and use state-of-the-art materials. This shed in Wooton Basset near Swindon has almost doubled its capacity with a huge mezzanine floor using a total of 99 lattice beams from Metsec. These beams combine lightweight construction with the strength to span the entire shed. They can carry a dead load of 1.0kN/m2 and an imposed load of 3.5kN/m2. The joists range from 1300mm deep, 17.3 metre spans to 450mm deep, 4 metre spans, but in the main 700mm deep, 8 metre spans have been used. If there was a Stirling Prize for sheds, this would surely be on the shortlist.

c. Because it鈥檚 non-slip

While BDP undertakes a high-profile 拢34m redesign of Aintree Racecourse, one low key aspect of the job 鈥� the flooring of corridors leading to the jockeys鈥� weighing room 鈥� demanded careful specification. Horse racing

is dangerous enough for jockeys without the worry of slipping on the floor before the weigh in. So the designers specified Peran STB, a fast-track flooring system from Flowcrete which combines durability with slip resistance. Using a mechanised pump system, the flooring is also fast to install and fitters find it easier too as they are not applying it on their hands and knees. Contracts director Dougie Parker, says: 鈥淭he installation took two men only four days.鈥� Definitely worth a punt.

d. Because it鈥檚 great for weight loss

The problem with concrete floors is their weight. But what if all the properties could be retained, but in a lighter format? 鈥淭he stuff in the middle of a typical concrete floor doesn鈥檛 do anything for you 鈥� it鈥檚 dead weight,鈥� says Megan Yates of structural engineer Techniker. 鈥淪o why not remove it and reduce material usage and loads on columns and foundations?鈥� That鈥檚 exactly what two firms, Cobiax and Bubbledeck, have done with great success. Hollow spheres 鈥� or 鈥渂ubbles鈥� 鈥� are used to fill the void at the centre of the concrete and experts claim the technology can reduce floor weights by up to 35% compared with solid floors.

Cobiax says it has shifted in the region of 35,000 m2 of the stuff in the past three years, with several universities, including Sheffield (pictured) and Aberdeen, specifying it for their newbuild projects. Techniker and the architects behind the as-yet-unbuilt Peterborough Innovation Centre are keen to use the product as it will boost the building鈥檚 sustainability profile.

e. Because it鈥檚 easy to clean

This application, for Cropton Brewery in Yorkshire, was a sticky problem and no mistake. Several demands had to be met: chemical resistance, ease of cleaning and slip resistance. A joint free finish was also needed to meet health and safety legislation. Specialist flooring firm Ashley Industrial Flooring advised Cropton to opt for a heavy-duty polyurethane screed - Ardex R 90 P 鈥� which has been used extensively elsewhere in the drinks processing industry. Installation was aided by Ardex itself which visited the site to inspect work and offer technical advice. Ashley says Cropton is 鈥渄elighted鈥� with the result and praised Ardex鈥檚 partnership on the job. We鈥檒l drink to that.