|||
Rolls-Royce is one of the most famous names in engineering. Despite being established over 100 years ago, the company is striving to deliver clean and safe solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs. Creating a balance between the company’s heritage and its role as a global innovator was the challenge modular flooring manufacturer Interface tackled when helping to redesign Rolls-Royce’s Data Experts Office in Derby.
Home to an expert data analytics and innovations team, the office is a global centre for technological advancement that aims to unleash the potential of data to influence our changing world. Rolls-Royce was keen to breathe life into the old and uninspiring building and push the boundaries to create a fresh, inspiring and collaborative work environment to develop and fulfil the company’s vision.
To transform the 1,700m2 Data Experts Office, which covers one floor, into a multifunctional hub of creativity and productivity, Interface worked alongside workplace design company Source8. Rolls-Royce needed a multipurpose space that encouraged social interactivity with the other business groups occupying the floor. The company needed meeting rooms, breakout areas, quiet zones and a wellness room, and wanted to incorporate an urban and industrial feel using textures, patterns and colour.
Interface concept designer Donna Dent commented: “The brief was to produce a New York loft-style space with an industrial feel, using textures, raw materials and soft edges. We wanted to introduce pathways in the floor scheme using subtle influences from street markings, which also helped to support Source8’s street seating design. We knew that Rolls-Royce wanted to combine a number of products, but the firm was unsure about how to blend these together seamlessly.”
To incorporate these subtle pathways, the concept design team opted to use Equal Measure, a collection inspired by traditional cobblestone streets. This created the look of a lived-in street, mapping out different ways through the office. This was blended together with the Human Nature collection. Taking inspiration and cues from nature, the range incorporates the principles of biophilic design to support wellbeing and encourage creative thinking in the workplace. The collection was used to subtly imply a flexible, barrierless environment, while still defining the transition between areas. To align with the space’s New York theme and introduce colour, Human Nature in Maize helped filter hints of taxicab yellow into the design. This carpet tile also provided the perfect accompaniment to the planters included in Source8’s design.
To complement the natural textures of Human Nature and support the cobblestone pathways mapped out by Equal Measure, the team also used the World Woven® collection. Made from 100% recycled content nylon, the warm and uplifting patterns help to foster a positive working environment.
Lauren Marshall, interior designer at Source8, said: “Interface listened to the brief and presented a design that did not disappoint. The concept design team’s blended approach and use of a variety of designs and textures, particularly from the Human Nature range, meant there wasn’t a straight line in sight. The biggest challenge was convincing everyone that floor coverings don’t have to be a block of colour or follow a structure. Interface added huge value to the project. All parties involved from Rolls-Royce to the carpet installers are more than pleased with the final result.”
Find out more about Interface’s Concept Design service here.
