Nature's Corner

Inspired by the food philosophies of nature recovery, organic production and wild cooking is the construction of Nature’s Corner – a kitchen and bakery, farm shop, and more. Set on a 2,000-acre farmland in Dereham, Norfolk, this community space has sustainability and nature at its core, with Forbo’s Marmoleum flooring perfectly reflecting this ethos.

Appointed by Alex and Rosie Begg, architect Juliet Moore has set out on a mission to develop and design a space within the landscape that brings together the many different facets of sustainability. The vision for the space is clear: a series of terraces with a huge glasshouse, designed to inspire a connection to nature. The absence of artificial temperature controls allows visitors to further experience and connect through seasonal adaptations - not only through food, but climate as well. Visible through large glass windows is the lightweight timber structure that forms the kitchen, allowing the theatre of cooking to be visible.

With sustainability and nature clearly present throughout the whole project and its wider ethos, the environment was a key driver throughout the design and specification process.

Speaking about the project, Juliet Moore, Architect, said: “After living in Australia for over 20 years, I have developed a strong history sourcing Forbo Flooring for projects and as a result know firsthand the benefits of Marmoleum. Made from materials like linseed oil, pine rosin and wood flour, and with a jute backing, this solution is one of the most sustainable choices on the market! We’re even looking into using Marmoleum for the tabletops in restaurant booths and shop counters. It’s soft, smooth and has a beautiful underfoot comfort, as well as being easy to clean and durable. I wanted a floor that isn’t going to need a lot of maintenance or premature replacement.

“We decided to go for Marmoleum Cocoa in the Hummus colourway. It’s a gorgeous natural colour, with the earthy palette embracing a biophilic design. This perfectly matched the remainder of the building’s interior, with all colours selected to help bring the outdoors in - for example, the brickwork flooring in the shop and outdoor terrace reflects the colour of healthy soil.”

Connecting modern nature through climate positive (carbon negative) flooring, Marmoleum is Forbo’s own brand of linoleum and is manufactured using up to 98% natural raw materials. The Marmoleum Cocoa range in particular combines the liveliness of cocoa husks (a waste product from the cocoa industry) with the calmness of mineral tones. With an embodied carbon of -1.57kg CO2 / m2 (achieved without offsetting and verified by an independent EPD), it is manufactured in a factory powered by 100% renewable electricity. PVC and phthalate free with low emissions, Marmoleum positively contributes to healthy indoor environments