Global flooring manufacturer Interface is passionate about creating workplaces that are both beautifully designed and positively impact the wellbeing of the people who use them. The opening of the company’s new UK headquarters in Birmingham was an opportunity to bring this approach to life to create a collaborative, living workplace.
The Greenhouse, situated on the 10th floor of the Colmore Building, needed to be a space to not only inspire Interface’s team, but also to act as a shared hub for customers and stakeholders from across the country. Finding the right location for Interface’s new UK home was crucial to bringing the manufacturer’s vision to life. As the UK’s first biophilic bity and one steeped in manufacturing history, Birmingham provided an ideal setting to represent the company’s commitment to wellbeing and production expertise.
The Greenhouse is Interface’s first location in Europe to bring its family of carbon neutral products together, from carpet tile to Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and nora® rubber flooring. On entering the office, the eye is immediately drawn to a wisteria tree which sits in the centre of the open plan kitchen area. Its form is also reflected in the flooring through a custom made 50m2 nora® rubber inlay, designed to demonstrate the versatility of the range.
Alternating textures and patterns across the office take people on a journey through shared working areas, breakout zones, more traditional workspaces and meeting rooms.
Ice Breaker, a carpet tile range which mimics the effect of scratched ice, is just one way that nature-inspired design is incorporated into the space. Human Connections® a range which invokes the natural cues we seek in our busy lives, is also used in the space to encourage people to come together. It takes inspiration from the squares and piazzas found in European cities which are homes to communities and are spaces where people meet to spend time together. Interface’s LVT ranges seamlessly integrate with the carpet tile across high traffic areas.
Mandy Leeming, Interface Design & Development Manager, EMEA: “The design of our UK headquarters had to be a showstopper. The office needed to be explorative and immersive, encouraging occupants to move fluidly from individual and team working areas, to relaxing social spaces. We’re excited to see colleagues and customers coming together and making use of this incredible new co-working office.”
The space isn’t just beautifully designed, it is the embodiment of Interface’s commitment to its Climate Take Back Mission™, a commitment to run our business in a way that reverses the effects of global warming and creates a climate fit for life. All the products in The Greenhouse are carbon neutral throughout their whole lifecycle – this is achieved by reducing product carbon footprint or emissions combined with the purchase of offsets. Interface has also worked together with British manufacturers and furniture suppliers with similar sustainability credentials to help complete the workplace.
Alongside the new UK headquarters in Birmingham, Interface has opened a new EMEA design centre, called The Mill at Dean Clough and has invested in its Clerkenwell showroom in London to create a more open space for customers to visit and experience its range of products.