Flotex FR
Enhancing the Eleanor Roosevelt Ferry with Flotex FR
TRANSPRESS
Baleària’s 'Eleanor Roosevelt', which serves routes to the Balearic Islands, features over 2000 square metres of Flotex FR. We spoke with Iñigo Oliver from Oliver Design, who designed and fitted out more than 2200 square metres of interiors on the fast ferry, about why Flotex FR was the perfect floor covering choice.
The 'Eleanor Roosevelt' is the world's first fast ferry powered by natural gas engines, resulting in reduced emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases. This fast ferry measures 123 metres in length and is 28 metres wide, making it the longest in the world in its category.
Oliver Design based in Spain, specialises in naval design and interior outfitting, completed their work in just nine months –from July 2020 to March 2021– at Astilleros Armón in Gijón.
We spoke with Iñigo Oliver, General Manager at Oliver Design, to learn more about their experience working with Forbo Flooring Systems and why Flotex FR was chosen.
Why was Flotex FR chosen for the ferry?
Iñigo explains "We wanted a product with similar qualities and aesthetic as a carpet, such as greater comfort, acoustic performance, and slip resistance, but the floor covering needed to be able to perform in a high traffic environment such as a ferry, where there could be thousands of passengers a day. Flotex FR offered all the benefits of carpets as well as it being durable, easy to clean and lightweight, so it was a great choice."
What was your experience working with Forbo Flooring System?
"Working with Forbo Flooring Systems was a good experience, we had strong communications with both the commercial and design teams during the whole process. The Forbo design team gave us some initial designs, but because of the capability to digitally print onto Flotex FR, we were able to design our own custom floor coverings in collaboration with Estudio Belloch, in order to give a personal touch to the interiors of Eleanor Roosevelt" says Iñigo.
Would you recommend Flotex FR for other marine vessels?
Oliver explains "Flotex FR is a good solution if you are looking for a textile floor covering where design freedom is needed to match to interior design schemes. It is also a very durable product which is easy to maintain, perfect for vessels such as ferry where there are many people every day."
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Photo credit: Oliver Design