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Altro is natural leader in biophilic design for Edinburgh Schools

Altro is working closely with City of Edinburgh Council to enhance learning environments in schools by using the principles of biophilic design to increase wellbeing, calm and improve learning.

Interior designer at City of Edinburgh Council, Lesley McMillan, has worked with Altro for a number of years, and has recently completed a number of school projects using Altro’s Wood Safety range to help ‘bring the outside in’. Her belief in the benefits of biophilic design is at the heart of her work with schools.

“Biophilic design brings the beauty and colour of nature into the built environment,” says Lesley. “Research has shown that we need to connect with nature and that exposure to it lowers stress, elevates mood, creates a relaxed feeling and improves cognitive function.

“This also applies very strongly to learning environments, such as schools, where we have seen that by introducing visual and tactile references to nature — such as patterns, colours, flooring and motifs — we can positively impact on children’s physiological and psychological behaviour, overall mood and capacity to learn. We know they are happier and more productive in this type of environment.

“This is why I have been using Altro Wood Safety flooring for our primary schools projects. Altro’s floor and wall systems give designers freedom and possibilities. They recognise and understand the benefits of incorporating natural themes into spaces such as schools and hospitals, and their forward-thinking attitude and excellent research is in line with what we want to achieve.”

Altro Wood Safety is an attractive, general purpose 2mm wood-look flooring, available in a range of designs with different plank sizes and shades including a bamboo-look fine-line design and wide plank classic and rustic designs. It is designed to cope with medium to heavy traffic and has sustained slip resistance for the lifetime of the floor.

Altro Wood Safety has matching colour and design options with Altro Wood Safety Comfort, a 2.85mm thick safety flooring that offers aesthetics combined with comfort and 14dB sound reduction.

Lesley has used flooring from these ranges for two recent school projects. “Altro Wood Safety is a product range that ticks so many boxes for us, and there are many criteria it has to meet. Firstly, it’s a great safety flooring; reliable and hard-wearing. But it also strongly meets our need for a beautiful, natural-looking, surface.

“It has a nice texture and delivers slip resistance to give flexibility in areas which have wet play, but not too rough where comfort is required. I generally follow the principle of using 100% vinyl flooring and rugs where needed. In many situations this is more practical, flexible and cost effective than fixed sections of carpet.

“St Margaret’s School, in South Queensbury, Edinburgh, was a fascinating project where we used Altro Wood Safety throughout. It was the refurbishment of a wing at the school, for children aged four to nine.

“As part of Scotland’s ‘Schools for the Future’ scheme, we wanted to totally engage the children in the interior design at St Margaret’s, to create a childlike design with them and build a space that was the product of their imagination. Teachers and children were all involved and they visited schools, offices and many other spaces to develop ideas.

“The final design reflected the arrival of Queen Margaret in Scotland, a journey over the ocean. Altro Wood Safety in the shade Mountain Oak was used to represent the wooden deck of the ship. There is also a library learning cave — based on the cave Queen Margaret used to pray in — where we used a rich dark shade called Vintage Cherry. There were also many other historic inspirations from the local area.

“Altro Wood Safety was used as a base, combining shades to create an environment which has warmth, depth and a rich natural feel. This project perfectly represents the principles of biophilic design and the overall effect is superb.”

Head teacher at St Margaret’s, Katy Westacott, said: “We are really pleased with the Altro flooring in the school. Aesthetically it’s a lovely looking surface; very natural and rustic, and Lesley chose the perfect shades to create a warm, homely feel.

“The floor brings the character of the space to life and brings nature indoors. Using the flooring to represent the deck of the ship and the cave was a stroke of genius by Lesley, it adds such an authentic feel.

“We were considering laminate flooring initially, but this vinyl surface is so much better acoustically, and from a safety point of view it gives us peace of mind that the children won’t slip and slide, even if the floor gets wet.

“The surface also gives us great flexibility to use the space for a number of activities; we can move furniture, use rugs, and can consider a wet play area too — very adaptable. Cost was also key for us, and this is such a robust and durable flooring, so we know it won’t wear out or need replacing for many years to come.

“The children love their new space, and they are so excited to have played a huge role in its concept and design. I would recommend this Altro flooring to anyone who is looking to create a lovely warm, flexible work and play area for children.”

Altro Wood safety Comfort was the flooring of choice at the recent refurbishment project at Murrayburn Primary School, as Lesley explains. “Here we used Altro’s Wood Safety Comfort flooring throughout to not only deliver the same biophilic principles as St Margaret’s, but to also maximise comfort underfoot and address the acoustic needs of the space and reduce noise.

“This project was the refurbishment of a multi-use room at the school that adjoined a community kitchen. So its needs were many – it had to be flexible and cater for all ages as a classroom, community space and somewhere for families too.

“The comfort and noise-reducing properties of Altro Wood Safety Comfort were key for this space. Many of the children attending the school have special learning needs, such as autism, so it was paramount that the space was quiet and comfortable with minimal noise. The flooring is also ideal for shoeless learning because it’s so comfortable to walk on.

“In addition, the flooring offers low residual indentation, which for a flexible space like this is essential, as it means furniture can be moved and rearranged without marking the floor.

“We used the shade Veteran Oak throughout, which is a lovely rich colour, and the result is so effective. The space is comfortable, peaceful and the flooring brings nature inside and creates that wonderful homely feel.”

Leanne Hepburn, Head Teacher at Murrayburn Primary School, is delighted with her new space. “It is being used on a daily basis by both adults and children and the overall feeling is that the flooring helps creates a very grand and special atmosphere.

“When the room was empty and the new flooring was down it immediately had a wonderfully imposing feel. Having a good, high quality flooring really lifted the entire room and set the scene for a very special space. It really looks lovely and the colour is perfect.

“People behave differently in here because of the feel; they talk more softly, walk more slowly and generally behave better. The school is 80 years old, but this hub gives the school a new lease of life. From an acoustic and comfort point of view the flooring works very well. The children use it as a library space, so it’s very much a quiet place to read and reflect. They are more than happy to take their shoes off and walk on the floor, because it’s so comfortable. They would never do that in the gym!

“We have seen first-hand how the right flooring can completely transform the personality and functionality of a room. Introducing natural themes into the school has brought calmness and there is a very different, positive mindset among pupils. Lesley McMillan has done a wonderful job in creating this for us.”

About Altro – www.altro.co.uk
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Altro serves up dream kitchen for celebrity chef

An Altro floor-to-ceiling solution has helped to provide celebrity chef, Richard Bainbridge, with a dream kitchen for his award-winning Norwich restaurant.

Richard won BBC2’s Great British Menu in 2015, and opened Benedicts, in Norwich, three years ago. The restaurant has since won a raft of awards and been named in The Times Top 100 Restaurants in the UK, Square Meal Top 100, and been awarded 3AA Rosettes.

“We opened Benedicts on a shoestring, all we had was passion and dedicated staff,” says Richard. “I’m delighted to say that our hard work is now bringing us some great success, and first on the list was that new kitchen. My vision was to expand, with a new extension into the back-of-house to form a larger, more open working environment, with dedicated preparation areas, including a new bakery and butchery zones.

“I promised my staff that as soon as we had the money, I would put in the professional kitchen they deserved, one that we would all be proud to work in, which is what we’ve now done.

“It was essential that the kitchen was modern, well-equipped, easy to maintain and clean, safe, practical and the best possible working environment for my staff. I approached Elite Foodservice Design with my brief and they immediately understood what we wanted to achieve.

“They also impressed me as having superb knowledge, experience and some great ideas — one of which was their recommendation of a top-down Altro solution of floors and walls to give us the integrated, hygienic, sealed box I wanted to work in.”

Daniel Ridd, Design Manager at Elite, says: “The proven combination of Altro Stronghold 30 safety flooring and Altro Whiterock White wall sheet is one we install widely in hard-working commercial kitchens.

“It’s a bullet-proof system that always delivers, so we knew it would be ideal for Benedicts too. Elite has been an Altro Whiterock Premier Installer for many years, and this system is the best you can get.”

Richard Bainbridge adds: “We now have a beautiful new kitchen and everyone at Benedicts is so proud of it. The Altro floor-to-ceiling solution is playing a key role in bringing everything together and it completely delivers on its promise.

“The Altro floor is incredible; it’s not only great to look at, but very safe underfoot, and so easy to clean. Elite put in some gulleys so water drains away, and that’s particularly good for the cleaning regime, as it dries very quickly.

“The wall sheet is superb, with nowhere for the dirt to hide, it’s professional, bright and, again, very easy to clean. When you work the long hours we do, you want to spend as little time as possible cleaning, but it’s so easy to keep this system pristine.

“Our dream of a beautiful kitchen is a reality. We are now happy to show customers around the kitchen. With our reputation growing, having a kitchen like this is a huge boost and has made us even more ambitious. It will enable us raise our game, set higher standards for ourselves, and create even better food for our customers.”

The Altro floor-to-ceiling solution

Altro Stronghold™ 30 achieves Altro’s highest rating for slip resistance and is designed to minimise risk in areas exposed to grease, oils and fats for the lifetime of the flooring. As well as helping to keep staff safe from slips, it also helps reduce their fatigue, thanks to its 3mm thickness which provides noise reduction and comfort underfoot.

Altro has added five new colours to the Altro Stronghold range and also increased the guarantee from 15 to 20 years.

Altro Whiterock White is the perfect, hygienic alternative to ceramic wall tiles, offering a proven, high performance option. Impact resistant, grout-free and easy to clean, its smooth white surface and classic purity make it a timeless choice for any interior.

Altro Whiterock White is made from a high-quality, food-safe PVCu polymer that can handle temperatures up to 60°C. It meets all current European Union (EU) Directives on health and hygiene, making it particularly suitable for commercial kitchens.

About Altro – www.altro.co.uk
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Altro Ensemble hits perfect note for music store

Altro Ensemble luxury vinyl tiles have been used in hi-fi and home cinema specialist Fidelity Acker & Buck’s flagship Hamburg store.

The store concept includes six studios designed by renowned artist Margarita Kriebitzsch, giving Fidelity’s customers a realistic impression of how their chosen home entertainment system could look and sound at home. Each studio features different design and equipment, and there is also a headphone lounge for audio / video installation systems – a comprehensive sound universe.

For the 1,000m² of floor space for the studios on two floors, the designer Roman Mundhenk of WildWalls recommended Altro Ensemble modular flooring system, which offers 15dB sound reduction, to Fidelity. The premium floor combines the functional requirements of the studios with their aesthetic and high-quality atmosphere.

Fidelity took several months to design and implement the studios, which included testing Altro Ensemble at the studio. This showed its 15dB sound reduction meets the requirement for a noise-reducing environment. The high-quality flooring was also selected as it is extremely hard-wearing and durable, while being easy to clean.

“It was very important to us that the floor is absolutely quiet, so that our customers can hear very fine signals undisturbed,” explains Hans-Joachim Acker, Managing Director of Fidelity. ” The room acoustics are excellent.”

Altro Ensemble modular flooring system is the next generation of luxury vinyl tiles that combines design possibilities for creating stunning effects, superior function and durability, and ease of installation. The four modular sizes and choice of inspiring colours, textures and designs can be mixed and matched to create unique patterns. The low-reflective surfaces, good acoustic properties with 15dB reduction in impact noise, sound transmission, and 2.6mm thickness with added comfort underfoot and durability, make it perfect for reception and general circulation and living areas as well as student accommodation and dining areas in restaurants and cafés.

About Altro – www.altro.co.uk

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Future-proofed bathrooms

Smart bathroom flooring choices can help people stay independent in their own homes for longer, explains Esther Bond, Housing Consultant at Altro.

Home adaptations allow individuals who are disabled, ageing or vulnerable

to continue to live in their own homes for longer. This does require, however, homes to be adapted to provide a safe and comfortable environment for them to live in. When houses are adapted, you need to not only consider the needs of the individual now, but in the future. Physical and mental health can deteriorate over time, and to have a familiar environment that does not have to be changed reduces stress and confusion after the house modification.

The bathing experience is an important part of life and environments should help people feel safe and relaxed. Colour is a way of achieving this, creating a warm, comforting and homely environment, even where the home is adapted with specialist equipment. We can recommend colour combinations that are appropriate for people with dementia and those with visual impairments.

More accidents happen at home than anywhere else. That’s why safety should always be an important consideration when adapting a home. Slips and trips can easily happen when floors are wet or there is an uneven surface. Wet environments are not just about water; it’s also what we use in those areas, including shower gel and shampoo. The slip risks that these contaminants create are potentially dangerous and could cause serious accidents.

Slips and falls aren’t the only consideration in wet environments. Indoor humidity and poor cleaning can lead to build-ups of bacteria and mould, which can impact health as well as the appearance of the rooms.

For bathrooms, look for safety flooring that guarantees to reduce the chance of a slip or trip to one in a million, for the lifetime of the flooring so you can rest assured your home adaption will be safe for years to come.

In practical terms, adaptions that are easy to clean and maintain is an important consideration. Quite often carers are in the workforce or are themselves elderly. Having an environment that is easy to keep clean makes life easier – and safer – for everyone. Surfaces that are impervious and can be washed and even steam cleaned allows the highest levels of hygiene to be maintained.

Look for bathroom solutions such as a watertight and integrated floor and wall system that is easy to clean and is safe with a number of contaminants such as shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Also look for the latest specialist safety flooring, designed to keep you safe in wetrooms, bathrooms, toilets, whether you are barefoot or wearing shoes, so you are safe no matter what you’re wearing (or not!).

There are many reasons to choose safety flooring over tiles in domestic bathroom adaptations. Tiles and grouting are porous, making them more susceptible to harbouring bacteria. Tiles chip andcrack more easily, allowing dirt and bacteria to collect and hide from cleaners. They can also allow water to reach the substrate, causing damage to walls. Grout lines are particularly vulnerable and even epoxy grout is susceptible. Unlike tiles, safety floors have no grout, giving bacteria nowhere to hide.

In people’s homes more than anywhere, a comfortable, welcoming and attractive look matters. There are plenty of safety flooring options with contemporary shades that suit any domestic environment, including latest innovations with a soft-look finish that is more homely than traditional safety flooring.

Specifying checklist

Floors

  • Drainage/existing substrate
  • Type of equipment that will be used in the room
  • Extra impact resistance for walking aids and wheeled mobility aids
  • Cleaning
  • Stairs or ramps
  • Ground floor or upper floor location
  • Shoe and barefoot usage
  • Spillages of food, bodily fluids or chemicals
  • Potential for staining of floor
  • Contrasting colours on walls and floors, which can help those suffering from dementia or visual impairments
  • Design and appearance
  • Time available for installation

Walls

  • Existing substrate/wall finish
  • Extra impact resistance for walking aids and wheeled mobility aids
  • Pipes, vents, ducts, wall furniture, window and door frames
  • Colour/contrast finish requirement
  • Hygiene requirement
  • Cleaning
  • Time available for installation
  • Coved skirting for hygiene and easy cleaning

 

About Altro – www.altro.co.uk
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Altro now recommended supplier for Procure22

Altro has been appointed as a recommended supplier of Wall & Door Protection by the PSCPs on the Department of Health & Social Care’s ProCure22 Framework for NHS and social care construction schemes in England. Altro wall and door systems, including Altro Whiterock and Altro Fortis systems, are recommended for use throughout healthcare environments.

The ProCure22 (P22) process is designed to achieve improved value for money and reduce exposure to risk through a simplified capital procurement procedure.

With up to 20 year product guarantees, Altro can ensure healthcare environments provide an impervious and hygienic environment, meeting the stringent requirements in critical hygiene areas. With up to 43 colour choices and new Altro Whiterock wall designs, a warm and welcoming environment can be created to reduce stress and improve patient and staff wellbeing.

Altro

Altro also provides a wide selection of floor solutions that can be used in all areas of healthcare environments, including specialist safety solutions for areas of high slip risk including bathrooms and kitchens.

Altro is the only walls manufacturer on the P22 supplier list to have been awarded DSDC accreditation and is the only walls and doors manufacturer to have HACCP approval for wall and floor products.

“Altro pioneered hygienic wall sheets and we have over 35 years of experience providing these solutions in healthcare environments, including many projects within the NHS and social care,” says Mark Johnstone, Head of Commercial – UK, Middle East & Ireland. “We are proud our wall and door solutions have been recognised as a cost- effective and durable solution for healthcare, which supports our commitment to creating environments that are designed for the wellbeing of everyone who uses them.”

The following products are included in the P22 standard components list:

  • Altro Whiterock White
  • Altro Whiterock Satins
  • Altro Whiterock Chameleon
  • Altro Whiterock wall designs
  • Altro Whiterock Splashbacks
  • Altro Fortis Titanium
  • Altro Fortis corner protection
  • Altro Basis
  • Altro Whiterock Digiclad
  • Altro Whiterock hygienic Doorsets

This award is valid until October 2020.

For further information please visit www.altro.co.uk
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Altro Orchestra looks the part in eye clinic

Altro Orchestra™ smooth flooring has been used to transform the eye clinic at Torbay Hospital, South Devon’s main hospital. The flooring, ideal for areas where comfort and sound reduction are important, was used to replace old carpet floor tiles that were no longer suitable.

The Estates Building Supervisor worked closely with and was fully supported by Altro to choose the right product for the clinic. Altro met with the ward and building supervisors to discuss floor options.

Roberts Flooring installed the Altro Orchestra. Scott Andrews, Estimator at Roberts Flooring said: “We fitted out the Eye Surgery Waiting Room in two contrasting colours Altro Orchestra ‘Bassoon’ and Altro Orchestra ‘Soul’. Aesthetically the design looks really good. The floor was easy to fit, which you would expect from Altro.”

Paul Gaunt, Building Maintenance Manager, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said: “The installation went really well, there was a noticeable difference to the floor area as the installation progressed. The waiting area now benefits from a more professional look with improved natural light using the two colours. Altro Orchestra is really easy to clean and can be machine cleaned.”

2.85mm Altro Orchestra has been engineered to create the ideal environment to learn and live. Low residual indentation facilitates the flexible use of equipment and furniture, including hospital beds. At the same time, the integrated impact sound insulation system cuts impact sound by up to 15dB.

It offers comfort underfoot making life easier on the feet of patients or students, but particularly hard-working staff who spend countless hours on the move.

With a palette of 40 colours and designs varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature, to vibrant shades, Altro Orchestra allows you to create the right atmosphere every time. It coordinates with Altro Operetta and Altro Serenade for a complete look throughout.

For further information, please visit www.altro.co.uk
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New Altro ensemble is the stylish choice for Radisson Blu

New Altro Ensemble modular flooring system is delivering on chic style and sound reduction at the four-star Radisson Blu Hotel in Mannheim, Germany. Designers of the contemporary 229 room hotel used Altro Ensemble luxury vinyl tiles to create the perfect ambience in the guest rooms, restaurant, corridors and state of the art conference area.

Altro Ensemble modular flooring system is the next generation of luxury vinyl tiles. From colour blocking to geometric patterns, with a range of plank and tile sizes and textures, Altro Ensemble gives design freedom to create luxurious floors for commercial interior spaces. With 57 options to mix and match, the modular flooring system has natural wood and stone designs and bloc colours too. Altro Ensemble is 2.6mm thick with a 0.55mm wear layer, 15dB sound reduction qualities and added comfort underfoot, with minimal residual indentation and excellent durability. A truly exceptional material, it combines these features with unique flexibility and is lightweight, making it easy to transport, cut and handle for installation.

“We paid particular attention to sound reduction when choosing the flooring,” explains Raimund Förg, project manager at Diringer & Scheidel. Designers also considered comfort and sustainability when making their product choices. Altro Ensemble has the benefits of local sustainably sourced raw materials made to Altro’s exacting manufacturing standards, which ensure high quality, excellent durability and high-performance characteristics.

In developing the new Altro Ensemble collection, the design team has taken inspiration from the Bauhaus design school’s philosophy of bridging the gap between form and function to engineer products that meet the customers’ biggest challenges, such as the need for cleanability, sustainability and flexibility. The result is a premium modular flooring system that offers variety and design freedom to create sophisticated, contemporary and striking designs.

Altro Ensemble is the perfect partner to Altro Whiterock wall designs – a new vision in wall decoration with natural wood, stone and linen options plus stunning metallic designs to give elegance to interior walls.

Discover more at www.altro.co.uk
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Altro brings all things bright and beautiful to Children’s Hospice

The brightest and boldest Altro floor and wall products have been used to refurbish Haven House Children’s Hospice, in Woodford Green, Essex, with rainbow staircases and cleverly colour zoned areas making the facility strikingly beautiful inside and out.

Haven House Children’s Hospice provides the highest level of respite and palliative care to families and young people from birth to 19 years old who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

In the hospice children benefit from a range of play activities, as well as day and overnight stays. They also have access to music therapy, aquatic physiotherapy, physiotherapy and therapeutic yoga. In the grounds there is a specialist play area and tranquil sensory garden surrounded by many acres of beautiful woodland.

Haven House Family and Community Support Manager Judi Porter says: “For the children at Haven House, colours, shapes, textures, light and other sensory stimuli make a very positive impact, and are so important for overall well-being. Our aim is to give babies, children and young people the best possible life and we knew that by bringing more colour to Haven House we could significantly improve their quality of life.

“Above all, Haven House interiors need to be hardwearing and functional, because a lot of areas are clinical spaces. Altro was recommended to us by Great Ormond Street Hospital, as they have the most wonderful colourful Altro floors and walls.”

A visit to Altro’s offices at Letchworth proved to be inspiration for the design scheme at Haven House, as Judi explains: “The moment we walked through the door there was an instant ‘wow’ factor. We were blown away by the incredible colour everywhere and the innovative and creative way they showcase their products.

“The most impressive part of the tour was Altro’s rainbow staircase, made out of different types of flooring, which is a stunning and beautiful thing. We were so uplifted and inspired by it that we knew we had to have something similar at Haven House.

“Altro helped us to see that we could use colour everywhere, in both a practical and aesthetic way, create a bright and beautiful interior and still fulfil our functional brief.

“We worked very closely with Altro to select the products that would help us achieve what we wanted. Many products are designed for clinical use, so we had huge flexibility with different shades, textures and finishes throughout the building. We actually have two rainbow staircases at Haven House, they really are our pride and joy, and you can’t walk up or down them without smiling!”

The Haven House rainbow staircase has been created from different colours of Altro SupremaTM and Altro WalkwayTM 20 safety flooring.

“Our aim was to create colour zoning in specific spaces, and Altro products played a significant role in this,” adds Judi. “Walking through the corridors at Altro’s HQ we were struck by how the floors and walls flow together beautifully, and we wanted to achieve that effect.

“Of course, we couldn’t use bright colour everywhere, because some of our children are sensitive to powerful shades, so we had to strike a good balance.

“We decided to focus on the five brand colours within our logo; orange, green, yellow, purple and blue, using matching shades of flooring and walling in key areas within the building to provide pockets of colour. It’s very effective and really pops!”

The entrance at Haven House has a green theme, provided by new Altro OrchestraTM smooth flooring in the shade Jungle, and Altro Whiterock ChameleonTM walling in Hawaiian Palm. Altro Orchestra has also been fitted in the shade Trumpet in the Family Room at Haven House, which transforms into a Sensory Room via a removable partition; and in the Activity Room in the shade Jungle. This ties in with the principles of biophilia – bringing the outside in and harnessing the healing powers of nature.

Continuing this theme, Altro WoodTM Safety flooring in Bleached Oak has been fitted throughout Haven House, in meeting rooms, cafe area, all corridors and bedrooms, creating a homely, non-clinical feel. On the entire first floor, the product has been fitted with Altro acoustic underlay to reduce sound levels.

“There is a real warmth about this wood-effect flooring, it looks lovely — something you would want in your own home and it’s not clinical at all,” says Judi. “The acoustic underlay on the first floor has really helped to bring the noise levels down, and this significantly improves the wellbeing of both staff and children.”

The orange-themed Changing Room at Haven House has been fitted with Altro Whiterock SatinsTM hygienic wall sheet in the shade Bergamot, with Altro SupremaTM safety flooring in Tangerine. “This is such a striking room, the colours are superb and the juicy orange combination of flooring and walling is beautiful,” says Judi.

To create the yellow theme in Haven House’s Waiting Area, the design team chose Altro Whiterock Chameleon in the shade Bee, and Altro Suprema flooring in the shade Taxi Cab. “The installers fitted a very clever overlap between the walling and flooring too minimise the joint and make it flush,” says Judi. “This is also great for infection prevention and control, because the dirt has nowhere to hide.”

The disabled toiletat Haven House has a purple theme, with Altro Whiterock Satins on the walls in the shade Viola, and Altro Walkway 20 safety flooring in the shade Silk. The blue areas have Altro Whiterock Chameleon wall sheet in Ocean Blue and Altro Walkway 20 safety flooring in Lupin.

“Visual stimulation is very important for the children at Haven House, and we used Altro Whiterock DigicladTM walling to create some wonderful water-themed artwork in both the Hydrotherapy Bathroom and teenagers’ en-suite” says Judi.

“The aim was to make these rooms look colourful and less clinical, but the artwork also needed to be permanent, hygienic and hard wearing. Altro Whiterock Digiclad is perfect because it’s so simple, yet very effective. You can create any design you want, it’s wipe-clean, hygienic and it won’t peel off.

“We created an underwater theme in the Hydrotherapy Bathroom using Altro Digiclad — with exotic fish and coral — and various water and beach designs for each of the teenagers’ en-suites. We are thrilled with these images; the quality is superb, sharp and clean, and the children love them too.

Both these areas were also fitted with Altro PiscesTM safety flooring in the shade Jellyfish. “Safety underfoot in wet areas is vital, for both staff and children, and Altro Pisces has been specifically created for this need,” Judi says. “We can have total confidence that everyone is secure, whether they are wearing shoes or have bare feet, and the flooring looks great too.”

A few months after the refurbishment, the feedback from children, staff and visitors to their new colourful environment at Haven House has been overwhelming. Haven House Director of Care, Eileen White, says: “The new bright and colourful interior has had such a profound effect in so many ways, which is thrilling for us all because it’s exactly what we wanted to achieve.

“We have had very positive feedback from staff, children and visitors; the mother of one teenager cried when she saw the teenage wet room with the Altro Digiclad image.

“The wonderful colours have helped us to create an uplifting environment for staff and young people alike. The colour zones have enabled us to make positive experiences and happy memories, and the calming, bleached wood effect flooring reminds me of driftwood. Coupled with the Altro Digiclad tropical underwater wildlife and beach scenes, the imagination takes you to a warm, relaxing shoreline.”

Eileen continues: “So many people have exclaimed when they’ve seen the rainbow staircases for the first time. We’ve had comments such as: “They look amazing and entice you to go up and down – wow”. This was from someone who was visiting for the first time, something which a family, or individual, might not be looking forward to, but it’s so wonderful to start their experience with an invigorating rainbow of colours.

“On a more practical note, the floors and walls look as fresh and vibrant as when they were first fitted and are very easy to clean and take care of. We are using a steam cleaning system which is keeping the floors looking bright and fresh.”

The products used:

Altro Orchestra 2.85mm flooring has been designed for areas where comfort and sound reduction are important. Low residual indentation enables the flexible use of equipment and furniture. At the same time, the integrated impact sound insulation system cuts impact sound by up to 15dB.

It offers superb comfort underfoot, making life easier on the feet, and with a palette of 40 colours and designs varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature, to vibrant shades, Altro Orchestra allows you to create the right atmosphere every time.

Altro Whiterock Chameleon is ideal for making a bold statement. The glossy, vibrant and vividly colourful hygienic wall sheet is available in 16 high impact, high-design shades to add a little bit of affordable luxury to a range of environments. It has all the benefits of Altro WhiterockTM, offering a very durable, smooth, watertight, wipe-clean surface.

Altro Wood Safety is an attractive, general purpose 2mm wood-look flooring available in a range of designs with different plank sizes and shades, including a bamboo-look fine-line design and wide plank classic and rustic designs, helping to create the right look for areas where people live and work. The flooring is designed to cope with medium to heavy traffic and has sustained slip resistance for the lifetime of the floor.

Altro Whiterock Satins is ideal for creating a subtle mood using colour. This versatile and sophisticated wall sheet is available in a range of solid, decorative, satin shades – from soothing and healing through to bright and energetic. The product provides the impact resistance and hygiene you would expect from Altro Whiterock, with a stain-resistant, wipe-clean surface.

Altro Suprema is a stunning, non-sparkle flooring that gives complete design freedom. With 12 new colours including three ‘flake’ designs, one of its 40 shades will match the mood you want.

Altro Walkway 20 is a hugely popular, hard-wearing flooring with a range 42 colours. It gives sustained slip resistance throughout the lifetime of the product, and also includes abrasion resistance, PUR cleanability, and superior chemical and stain resistance.

Altro Whiterock Digiclad is created by reproducing a photographic image or vector art onto Altro Whiterock wall sheet, with consistent, photographic quality. It makes it easy to create a bespoke design on your wall. From a calming coastal landscape in a hospital ward, to a bold company logo in a reception area, the only limit is the imagination. Hard-coat technology provides scratch-resistant properties for added surface protection, making Altro Whiterock Digiclad ideal for areas where durability is important.

Altro Pisces provides superb performance whether wet or dry, in shoes or barefoot in wet environments where the likelihood of a slip is very high. With 16 soft-look shades, the result is the consistent, stylish appearance of domestic interiors, with the lifetime sustained slip resistance you expect from Altro.

For further information, please visit www.altro.co.uk
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New Altro Orchestra earns a gold star at Primary School

Brand new Altro Orchestra™ soft vinyl flooring is proving a big hit with pupils at The Lanner Primary School, in Cornwall, who have reported a significant improvement in acoustics and comfort.

The Acting Head Teacher, said: “We are always looking for ways to make cost effective improvements to the school for the safety and comfort of pupils and to enhance their learning and playing experiences where we can.”

“We fitted new Altro Orchestra flooring in the main school hall to reduce reverberation and boost overall comfort, and we are delighted with the results. The children have told us that it’s more comfortable to sit on than the flooring it replaced, and that the acoustics in the hall are much better.”

Altro Orchestra has been engineered to create the ideal environment to learn and live, specifically for applications such as schools and hospitals where comfort and sound reduction are paramount.

For primary schools such as Lanner, the new flooring offers the ultimate flexible, multi-purpose surface that can be used for both study and play areas throughout the school.

At 2.85mm thick, Altro Orchestra offers superb comfort underfoot, making life easier on the feet of both pupils and staff and, as the children have reported, it’s very comfortable to sit on too. In addition, the low residual indentation of the flooring means furniture and equipment can be used and moved flexibly without leaving tell-tale marks.

At the same time, the integrated impact sound insulation system cuts impact sound by up to 15dB. Specifying an acoustic flooring option, instead of a standard floor covering, can therefore improve the performance of space for children and those with hearing difficulties, and aid concentration, in addition to creating a more effective learning environment for teachers and support staff.

With a palette of 40 colours and designs varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature, to vibrant shades, Altro Orchestra allows the right atmosphere to be created every time. Lanner School selected the shade Guitar, a subtle green that creates a calm atmosphere.

The flooring was installed by Eden Flooring & Interiors.

For further information please visit www.altro.co.uk
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Win a trip to Bauhausfest with Altro

Altro is celebrating aspirational design and innovative use of its flooring and walling products with a unique photography competition. The prize is an all-inclusive trip to the internationally-renowned Bauhausfest (31 August – 2 September 2018) in Dessau, Germany.

Entrants are invited to submit images featuring current Altro products taken anywhere in the world over the last five years. Images should show how Altro products complement and enrich architecture – a celebration of the possibilities of design. The winning image will be decided by an online public vote.

Altro has long been inspired by The Bauhaus. This connection was strengthened further when leading German flooring company Debolon joined the Altro Group two years ago: Altro Debolon is based in Dessau, the centre of the Bauhaus movement.

“We have a strong sense of what we value and a way of thinking inspired by The Bauhaus – a balance of quality, form and design-led function,” explains Sarah de los Rios Commercial and Marketing Director at Altro. “This approach puts people’s needs at the heart of everything we do. It’s a human-centred approach to designing for the demands of 21st century life.”

Photographs can be submitted from 3 to 24 April 2018. Voting opens on 26 April 2018 and closes 17 May, 2018. Visit www.altro.co.uk/photocompetition2018 to find out more.
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