In completing the £21M Park Hill Flats restoration project on a Sheffield housing development Kier Construction and architects Whittam Cox specified 4000m2 of high-quality vinyl flooring from international flooring specialist Gerflor.
The project would provide a showcase for two of Gerflor’s signature flooring products -the Taralay Impression Compact heterogenous collection and their slip resistant Tarasafe Standard safety range. Both these innovations would prove to be the ideal solution for Beton House which is the third phase of the Park Hill Flats estate. Beton House has recently been nominated as a 2022 Regional Finalist in the Civic Trust Awards under the AABC Conservation Award Category.
Park Hill Flats is Europe’s largest listed building, located just outside Sheffield City centre. The phase three refurbishment covers 13,000m2 and follows phase one (completed in 2011).
The challenge was refurbishing phase three of the derelict Grade II-listed Park Hill Flats estate to 356 bedrooms of student accommodation while respecting the identity and integrity of the iconic building. Appointed as the first design practice in the Sheffield City Region, Whittam Cox have played a key role in the transformation of Park Hill, adding student accommodation to the mix of commercial and residential uses at the Grade II-listed landmark blocks.
Whittam Cox delivered the student bedrooms for occupation in the 2020/21 academic year, with the proposals being designed as eight bedrooms with shared living space in an innovative three-storey ‘townhouse’ model arranged within a unique format, including entrances from the ‘streets in the sky’.
Deciding on the flooring element of this huge refurbishment would be a crucial decision. In choosing both Taralay Impression Compact and Tarasafe Standard from Gerflor the rigorous specification standards set by both Whittam Cox and Kier Construction would easily be met.
Andy Gordon, Gerflor Area Sales Manager, Northeast commented, “We collaborated with the architects Whittam Cox in the first instance and wrote a specification which included three thousand square metres of our Taralay Impression Compact flooring for the communal areas and one thousand square metres of our slip resistant Tarasafe Standard for the student bathroom areas.”
The Taralay Impression Compact range from Gerflor is the ideal solution for heavy traffic areas as it comes with a 0.70mm PVC wear layer and Group T wear rating. This vinyl flooring is safe and reliable with improved R10 slip resistance.
Treated with Protecsol® 2 surface treatment to ensure no polish is needed for the entire lifetime of the product. The Taralay Impression Compact collection also delivers a range of eye-catching innovative designs in a wide array of stunning colour choices. It’s the perfect flooring choice for specifiers and designers who are seeking safety and durability, together with having the ability to access a range of sophisticated modern designs.
Tarasafe is a range of slip resistant sheet flooring that meets HSE guidelines. It is constructed from vinyl with deeply inlaid mineral crystal particles (patent pending) and coloured chips for a decorative design. Contains no Carborundum. Tarasafe Standard PUR is reinforced with a glass fibre grid and is suitable for use in all areas of heavy traffic where slip-resistance, durability and hygienic conditions are required. The Tarasafe Standard range comes with a unique UV cured PUR surface treatment which maximises its hygiene properties. This product also comes with a 12-year warranty and is 100% recyclable, when the product is at the end of its’ life.
On specification and colours Andy Gordon added, “The colours specified by the architects were greys throughout helping to create a muted tone within the building. The aim was to develop a seamless look which would be easy on the eye, yet still providing a real sense of style, together with providing the all-important safety and durability aspects required.”
Andy Gordon further commented, “The Park Hill Flats project was completed over three phases in what is the largest listed building in Europe. The sheer volume of flooring throughout Park Hill Flats makes the project quite unique.” Andy Gordon concluded, “The client is absolutely delighted with the final outcome of the Gerflor flooring, and we understand the flooring is performing exceedingly well and meeting all the clients’ expectations.”
Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 03332 412901, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations