Interior Design Studio Johnson Ribolla was tasked with transforming an under-utilised storage room into a welcoming and joyful space for young residents of the Thames Quarter build-to-rent development in Reading.
Once construction of the development had completed and residents had begun to move in, it became apparent that there was a higher volume of children than initially expected, with calls for a bespoke space to be created, allowing the younger residents to meet and play together safely.
Giacomo Ribolla, director at Johnson Ribolla, says: ‘A key challenge of the Kids Quarter fit-out was how we could create multiple different zones within the single space, including a play area, cinema, and arts and craft space.’
Johnson Ribolla specified Forbo’s Marmoleum throughout the play and craft areas, in various green tones from the Real, Fresco and Walton ranges. Ribolla explains: ‘Given that we expected the area to be heavily used, we needed a single-finish flooring that was both easy to clean and maintain. From a design perspective, given the lack of natural light, we were also relying on the flooring to bring some much-needed brightness and colour into the space. ‘Its carbon credentials were another advantage.
Created from up to 98% natural raw materials, and being PVC and Phthalate free, we were confident that it would contribute to the health and well-being of the residents.’
The cinema space has a range of seating options, including beanbags. Understandably, the brief was different for this zone, as Ribolla explains: ‘For the flooring, we needed something soft and comfortable, like a carpet, but was still durable and cleanable. Forbo’s Flotex offers a textile feel while also being incredibly hard-wearing.
‘We opted for quite a funky geometric pattern from Forbo’s ‘created by Galeote’ collection, in keeping with the wider scheme aesthetic.’ www.forbo-flooring.co.uk
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