At the heart of the new Reuben Young People’s Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was a focus on rewriting the clinical feel that can often be associated with healthcare spaces, instead creating a welcoming space that promotes healing and well-being. With the flooring a critical element of the refurbishment, White Arkitekter trusted Forbo’s flooring portfolio to support their strong design narrative.
Flooring was a critical element of the redesign, providing both durability and comfort. White Arkitekter specified Forbo Flooring Systems’ Sphera Energetic homogeneous vinyl in the Shimmer Lace colourway, installed in all clinic spaces, bedrooms and corridors.
Ana explained: “Having worked with Forbo before, we’ve used similar floor coverings and colourways on previous healthcare projects, with great reviews. We primarily selected Sphera Energetic for its outstanding performance, aesthetic versatility, and sustainability credentials, with the flooring helping us to achieve a non-institutional, welcoming feel, all while meeting the stringent hygiene and maintenance needs of a busy paediatric and adolescent ward.
“Sustainability was embedded from the very outset of the project, even by choosing to refurbish and upgrade the existing facility, rather than building new. With this in mind, building materials were selected for their longevity and low environmental impact, with a focus on reducing PVC where possible [KW1.1]and improving the overall indoor environment. Forbo Sphera contributed to this ambition through its low emissions, durability and recyclability.”
In addition to Sphera, a combination of Forbo’s Surestep Original and Surestep Laguna safety flooring was installed across the centre’s wet rooms and shower rooms in the Snow and Sand colourways. As well as providing guaranteed lifetime slip resistance, all Surestep floors are finished with a protective PUR coating, resulting in exceptional stain, scratch and chemical resistance.
| Commissioned By | CW+ |
| Interior Architect | White Arkitekter |
