03.03.2010 - Design & Architecture

A forest floor for the office

We walk all over it, cover it in dirt, mistreat and ignore it. Usually, the only time we notice it is when it has become unsightly – the humble floor. And yet, it has so many important functions: its surface has a major influence on indoor climate, acoustics, aesthetics and, not least, our individual experience of walking on it. Now, at the international furnishing show ‘imm Cologne’, a new carpeting material was introduced that provides a completely new walking and standing experience. Developed by Bayer MaterialScience on a polyurethane foam basis in combination with a special textile material, this visco-elastic carpet feels just like walking on soft moss. Aptly named PURE MOSS, the carpet is marketed by kymo GmbH in Karlsruhe.

“The foam is designed not to be fully compressed as you walk on it, but only to a certain depth. The underfoot area yields without taking the surrounding material with it, so the foam surrounds the foot and provides firm support. The result is a completely new walking, standing and, indeed, sitting experience,” explains Manfred Naujoks, polyurethane foam expert at Bayer MaterialScience. The carpet consists of four layers. The bottom layer is a thin reinforcing fabric that stabilises the entire structure and protects the less tear-resistant layers above against tensile forces, for example when laying the carpet. Above this is a rebonded foam layer made from recycled polyurethane material, followed by a layer of visco-elastic polyurethane foam, which, together with the layer below, creates the unique walking experience. The two layers are characterised by very different degrees of hardness: while the upper visco-elastic layer is very soft, allowing the foot to sink in, the layer below is much harder and stops the foot from sinking in too far. Above the two foam layers is an overlay of bi-elastic knitted fabric with a soft, long-pile texture, which ensures that the foam layer only gives way directly underfoot, without pulling the surrounding fabric along with it.

Potential applications for such a luxurious floor covering are wide-ranging. Especially in modern office environments, the moss-like carpet makes an attractive feature for lounges, relaxation or creative zones, “thinking cubicles” or fitness areas. The carpet also reduces impact and airborne noise, thereby creating a peaceful and calming atmosphere that aids concentration – ideal for conference and meeting rooms. Modular seating units using Pure Moss are already being considered, and this could open up a whole host of new applications. Pure Moss offers architects and interior designers a highly versatile new material to play with. With its fresh, cutting-edge designs, the young carpet design business kymo has already made a name for itself in Germany, attracting commissions from high-end companies such as Hugo Boss, Mercedes-Benz and Montblanc. Kymo’s team will be looking to create distinctive designs for the different types of environment Pure Moss is likely to be used in. W.O. Geberzahn More information: http://www.bayermaterialscience.de http://www.bayermaterialscience.de http://www.kymo.de http://www.kymo.de