Naomi House

When Naomi House Children’s Hospice underwent a substantial refurbishment, it was in need of a stimulating and calming environment for children that also addressed key areas such as infection control. Such specific flooring requirements meant that they called upon Forbo Flooring Systems and its integrated portfolio of products to help transform the building.

David Golland of Building Surveying & Project Management Ltd managed the partial demolition and rebuild of the hospice, he said: “I have worked with Forbo on many projects over a long period of time so I have a good relationship with them.

They were very helpful in assisting in the selection of appropriate products, including Marmoleum Striato, Flotex Vision and Eternal.

“One area that worked very well was the corridor. The building is built on a curve so it was important to find a product that made a feature whilst working well. It was suggested that we try Marmoleum Striato, which has stripes like a children’s crayon picture. It looks great and now makes a real statement.”

A particularly calming pattern has been created in an area used by parents visiting using Flotex Vision. David said: “The cobblestone patterns are in a quiet seating area where parents can take a break and enjoy the views of the garden. The area has full height glazing so the cobblestone effect Flotex flooring ‘brings the outside, inside’. This flooring is fully washable and resilient but has the look and feel of carpet so was ideally suited in creating a comfortable environment.”

Mark Smith, Chief Executive of Naomi House said: “A key part of the project design brief was to balance the clinical needs of a modern hospice, particularly those relating to infection control, whilst creating a homely environment for the children and their families who use the building. The age of the children who use the facility range from 0-18 so the interior design needed to suit all age groups. The team at Forbo worked with Naomi House to select a variety of floor coverings for the different parts of the building, creating innovative design solutions whilst satisfying the requirements of infection control which has resulted in a fabulous interior which is enjoyed and admired by all who use it.”