Behind the Collection: Marmoleum Linear
Marijke Griffioen, Senior Designer, Forbo Flooring
December 2021
Earlier this year we refreshed our Marmoleum Linear collection. Designed to bring warmth and comfort to a space, to reflect the changing trends of public buildings, we caught up with Marijke Griffioen, Senior Designer at Forbo, to learn more about the range and what inspired the update.
Can you describe the design of Marmoleum Linear?
The Linear pattern has an intuitively strong reference to nature. With its irregular stripes, it associates with natural materials such as wood, emphasising softness and comfort. There are soft subtle striped patterns within the collection, alongside more outspoken, contrasting ones thus offering a broad diversity in potential applications.
For example, Linear can serve as a subtle directional and connective guide between different areas within a building, yet it can also be used in a more architectonic, monumental way to make a strong and outspoken spatial statement.
What current flooring trends influenced the refresh of the collection?
We aimed to create a different look and feel for Linear, compared to our Marmoleum Solid and Marmoleum Marbled collections. As public spaces move away from the institutional look and adopt a more human centric approach – where the focus is on the health, wellbeing, and comfort of end users – our mission was to drive that ‘feel at home’ atmosphere.
This primarily means introducing more natural colour palettes to bring warmth and comfort to a space. Other trends that influenced the range were the increased desire to bring nature inside and also the need for flexible spaces that can easily adapt to suit a variety of functions, such as in offices, through the concept of floor zoning.
So, how has the colour palette been updated?
When we reviewed our existing Marmoleum Striato Linear collection, which was originally launched back in 2016, we found that the neutral colour options proved to be the most popular. Market research then confirmed to us that these colours drive the ‘feel at home’ experience and are purposely used by our customers to create a friendly atmosphere within a space. Therefore, we built on this information to develop the range.
The Marmoleum Linear collection now consists of 16 items (11 colours of which are new), split into four neutral colour groups, with four colours within each. These are: cool greys, warm greys, earth tones and warm browns. All four cool grey shades are completely new, and I think that the addition of this group really enriches the range further.
Where would you recommend using Marmoleum Linear?
Linear has proven its strength across all sectors over the years worldwide. The warm and natural colour palette of this refreshed collection is perfect for creating a homely feel in application areas such as communal spaces, waiting areas and patient rooms in hospitals and care homes, where you want people to be at ease and relaxed. In education, it is perfect for areas such as libraries and study zones.
However, the natural striated, linear design also offers great opportunities for use in offices, as well as leisure and hospitality. The natural linear design actually lends itself to hiding soil too, while the Topshield finish ensures easy cleaning and maintenance for end users.
What are the sustainable credentials of Marmoleum Linear?
As with most of our Marmoleum product ranges, the weighted average of Marmoleum Linear is confirmed as climate positive (cradle to gate) without offsetting. This is critical, particularly in the current climate where the need to make conscious decisions couldn’t be more emphasised.
Made from 97% natural raw materials, Linear is low in emissions, free from plasticisers and synthetic additives. Comfortable by nature, the flooring solution contributes to creating healthy and sustainable indoor environments.
How can Marmoleum Linear be combined with other products from the Forbo portfolio?
Not only can colourways in the collection be used together to create beautiful floor designs but they also work perfectly with other Marmoleum ranges.
It’s easy to mix and match with items from our Marmoleum Solid or Marbled ranges, for example, creating cosy corners and seating areas with a residential look in public areas and circulation spaces.
What are you most proud of with this collection? ?
I am very happy that we succeeded in creating an accessible and versatile collection, with a straight-forward, simple and convincing story. It feels like a collection that is very true to its unique characteristics. While the design itself is quite minimalistic, the collection still feels very rich to me, with lots of layers and the potential for a variety of aesthetics to be achieved.
Furthermore, I am very satisfied with the result of the studio photography. The images perfectly illustrate how Marmoleum Linear can be used to create a contemporary and comfortable environment with a warm and welcoming feel, in any application area or segment.
To find out more about Marmoleum Linear, follow the links below or contact us today.