Forbo Flooring Systems has announced the winners of its 2012 Fly Forbo Award. Two major prizes were awarded, one to an Australian project and one to a New Zealand project.

WMK Architecture of Sydney and Melbourne won the overall Australian award for its Yum! “Delicious space” office fitout, and CJM (a joint venture between Chow:Hill, Jasmax Limited and McConnel Smith & Johnson) won the New Zealand award for the Waikato Hospital Acute Services Building atrium.

Yum! (the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell) wanted a gathering space at its Australian headquarters to reflect the warm and vibrant culture of its business and to improve staff communication. The project also needed to reflect Yum!’s sustainability values. WMK responded with an inspiring gathering space for the whole company that features a town plan as part of the floor design, creating a hub where staff can relax, work, meet together and eat together.

Petra Bonamy of WMK Architecture explains that sustainability was key in all the finish choices. It was Marmoleum’s sustainability credentials and ability to create a visually descriptive identity for the space that made WMK Architecture choose it for the project. Marmoleum is used in red, grey, teal and black with striking results.

Co-judge Cameron Bruhn, editorial director at Architecture Media, said, “This project is a great example of the way urban design ideas are impacting on interior design and making workplaces that are better for people.”

Of the Waikato Hospital Acute Services Building atrium Bruhn commented, “Bold swathes of vivid colour and dramatic shapes create a visually exciting interior landscape. This is a dynamic, lively and uplifting space that is so much more welcoming and exciting than traditional institutional surroundings.”

The Waikato District Health Board wanted an inviting, relaxing space with a strong identity that related back to the local environment, giving people a sense of comfort and ownership.

Joint CJM project director Marko den Breems of Jasmax Limited led the design for the atrium (which is part of the bigger Waikato Hospital campus redevelopment). He said, “Usually atria are large spaces that people feel quite threatened to enter, but the Acute Services atrium is welcoming. Our design expresses the colours and undulations of farmland and rolling hills central to the Waikato area’s identity. A palette was created from greens, orange/yellow and slate-y warm dark greys.” 

CJM chose to use Marmoleum for its permanent, built-in antibacterial properties that kill MRSA and noroviruses.

Australian commendations

Harmer Architecture, using Marmoleum – Monash Peninsula Activity & Recreation Centre, Frankston, Victoria, Australia  
Suters Architects, using Marmoleum – Richmond Tigers Headquarters, Punt Road Oval, Victoria, Australia  
McBride Charles Ryan, using Marmoleum Striato Nature’s Grain – PEGS Junior Boys, Essendon, Victoria, Australia 
White Cube, using Marmoleum – the Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia

New Zealand commendations

Inside Ltd (Daniel Buxton), using Marmoleum – New Zealand Rugby Museum and Te Manawa Museums Trust development, Palmerston North, NZ 
Athfield Architects, using Marmoleum – Palmerston North City Library, NZ 
Jackson Architects Ltd, using Flotex – Waiouru Replacement School, Waiouru, New Zealand

The Fly Forbo Award recognizes, celebrates and rewards design achievement.