The GAIL’s Bakery Headquarters project blends sustainability with functional design, using Tarkett’s eco-friendly flooring like carbon-negative linoleum and recyclable carpet tiles. The project delivered durability, ease of maintenance, and a welcoming aesthetic that aligns with GAIL's brand. The adhesive-free installation further supports environmental goals, showcasing how thoughtful material selection can deliver both style and sustainability.
GAIL’s, a popular bakery chain with over 140 locations across London and the surrounding areas, is known for its commitment to using natural ingredients and sustainable products in its baked goods. So, when GAIL's required a new office for its headquarters that could also function as a bakery, academy, and development space, it was crucial to create a multi-functional space that reflected the brand's culture and energy.
The goal for GAIL’s HQ, located at Hawley Wharf in Camden, was to create a new space that was inviting, without feeling too corporate and would be environmentally sustainable in every possible way. This would be achieved with Object Space Place by adopting a brand-led utilitarian design that consisted of exposed concrete columns and ceilings, along with warm-crafted elements, and sourcing only natural and sustainable materials.
GAIL's has been using Tarkett safety floors for a while now and has installed them in around 20 locations. However, one of the main challenges of this project was to create an environmentally friendly, multi-purpose headquarters using natural materials and sustainable products. To address this challenge, Tarkett was chosen to provide the flooring for the project. As a leader in sustainable flooring solutions, Tarkett focuses on producing products that have a minimal environmental impact and can be recycled at the end of their life. Additionally, many of these products are made from natural materials and are Cradle to Cradle Certified®.
Tarkett provided a mix of flooring solutions for this project, including carpet tiles, linoleum, and vinyl safety floors. DESSO Retrace 100% recyclable carpet tiles, which have an impressively low Circular Carbon Footprint of 1.27 kg CO2/m2 and EcoBase backing, were installed throughout the first-floor office space. Safetred Serenity vinyl safety floors were installed on the first floor and the ground floor, where safety was of utmost importance. This multifunctional and circular product helped to reduce the environmental impact of the space by requiring adhesive-free installation and being fully recyclable at our in-house recycling facility in Kent. The project also incorporated recyclable post-use Etrusco Linoleum and Style Emme Linoleum, which are made with up to 97% natural raw materials and are carbon-negative from cradle-to-gate. These two products were chosen for select spaces on the first floor and the ground floor, where extreme durability, easy cleaning, and cost-effective maintenance were the main concerns.
The use of Tarkett's sustainable flooring solutions helped to create an environmentally friendly space that embodies the culture and energy of the GAIL's brand. The flooring solutions are durable and low maintenance, which is important for a high-traffic office space. The mix of materials used in the design has helped to create a unique and eclectic look that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Tarkett's commitment to sustainability and circular economy has helped create an environmentally responsible and socially conscious workspace that reflects GAIL's commitment to high-quality products, traditional methods, and sustainable practices.
“We have used natural materials wherever possible, like cork on the walls and linoleum on the floor. All the flooring has come from Tarkett, who are pioneers when it comes to sustainability and circular economy. These materials all have a very low environmental impact and Tarkett can recycle them at their end of life too.” ― David Chenery, Director at Object Space Place
“It was a pleasure working with the entire team to outfit GAIL’s Bakery’s new sustainable headquarters. We collaborated closely with the GAIL’s and OSP to select a beautiful flooring solution that aligned with their commitment to eco-friendly design. The final result is a warm, inviting space that showcases their brand while prioritising environmental responsibility.” ― Ben Campbell, Senior Workplace & Hospitality Consultant at Tarkett
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Tarkett, a global leader in recyclable flooring solutions, has launched its groundbreaking virtual reality 'Human Conscious Design Platform' (HCDP). This technology enables users to experience how physical spaces may look, sound and feel from the perspective of someone who is neurodivergent.
One in seven people is estimated to be neurodivergent, meaning their brain functions, processes information and reacts to sensory stimuli differently than those considered neurotypical. Common examples include ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dementia. Increasingly, communities and organisations recognise that fostering true inclusivity requires designing environments suitable for every neurotype.
"Our new Human Conscious Design Platform represents a major leap forward in Tarkett's 'Human-Conscious Design' philosophy of creating spaces that are good for people and planet. It builds on our existing industry-leading work around designing for dementia and the ‘Through their eyes’ VR experience that we launched in 2018," said Shaz Hawkins, Segment Marketing Manager at Tarkett.
"This latest technology continues our drive to cultivate invaluable empathy and understanding amongst architects, designers, organisations and the public by allowing them to experience an environment through a neurodivergent lens first-hand. This can help shape more accommodating, equitable spaces where all individuals feel welcomed and are able to thrive."
The HCDP has been developed following a couple of years worth of research and development including interviews with neurodivergent individuals, teachers, businesses and support organisations as well as extensive desktop research.
The platform immerses users in virtual environments like offices, schools, hospitals and care homes rendered to highlight sensory stimuli that may overwhelm, understimulate or distress someone with sensory processing differences. Users can toggle augmented sound, lighting and other elements to vividly experience an environment from multiple neurodivergent perspectives.
To support the launch of the VR platform, Tarkett is also rolling out a RIBA-accredited Human Conscious Design continuing professional development (CPD) course to educate architects and designers on the principles and best practices for inclusive design addressing neurodiversity.
The team has also published a report, Human Conscious Design Principles, to help organisations and designers understand neurodiversity better along with practical advice on how to create inclusive spaces.
To download the guide and learn more about Tarkett's Human Conscious Design approach and the new HCDP virtual reality platform, visit the website.
Architects and designers interested in the RIBA CPD course can find out more here.
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