The Visual porcelain stoneware collection as the protagonist Ceramiche Refin, a company specialising in porcelain stoneware tiles, played a key role in the project to restore Wiltshire County Hall, the administrative headquarters of Wiltshire Council, in the city of Trowbridge, England. Tiles from the Visual collection were used for the flooring of the hall and the entrance to the library. A simple yet technical style, inspired by natural elements and colours, delicate graphics and attention to detail are the characteristics of the collections that, in the 60x60cm size, blends in perfectly with the linear and refined architecture of the administrative building. Thanks to the use of the tile in the Zinc hue, the Visual collection brings a sense of luminosity and expanse to the space and is able to convey a continuous effect along with the rest of the decor and furniture, which also have a minimal, functional and clean design. Designed by UK architects Stride Treglown, the Wiltshire Council building has been completely renovated and revived: various areas, which used to form part of the outside of the building, have now been completely absorbed to form part of the inside of the building, thanks to a new roof that has been built over the courtyard. This regeneration of the site means that the original patio has now been transformed into a new, modern atrium; a structure that emanates a sense of light, thanks to the glass panels that make up the floor and the entrance hall as well as the reception area, that are now overlooked by the offices on the upper floor. But ample space has also been set aside for use as a public service hub: from a coffee bar to the reception, the information point and the exhibition area. The concept behind Wiltshire County Hall was that of flexibility. The finished project is testimony to the versatility of the space, with numerous areas able to adapt perfectly to meet the needs of various initiatives, ranging from official ceremonies to exhibitions in the atrium or even seminars, but also aerobics classes that can be held in the restaurant area.
The “inclusive” approach of the project, intended as the integration of different surfaces, creates a perfect final outcome, where every single space, combined with different elements, stands out and, at the same time, reinvigorates the one next to it in extraordinary balance. The prestigious building with its wide and modern windows of great aesthetic impact which are adjacent to ancient walls of the building, offers a spectacular atmosphere and becomes a bridge between tradition and modernity, the merger of classic and innovative spaces in a view of abating the formal distance between the citizen and the state. The Wiltshire County Hall headquarters have been renovated and transformed into a functional and informal structure, able to encourage the co-operation and integration of employees, in an extremely open-minded vision. The use of materials that guarantee quality, resistance, respect for the environment and that, at the same time, exalt the aesthetic and formal characteristics of the building, are unavoidable elements at the basis of the final outcome of the project. This context perfectly fits Visual, the porcelain stoneware collection by Ceramiche Refin featuring attention to detail: unabated yet meticulous planning represents the key element of the flooring of this prestigious public palace.
PROJECT DETAILS: Project name: Wiltshire County Hall Location: Trowbridge, England Year: 2012 Architect’s studio: Stride Treglown Materials: Refin porcelain stoneware tiles, Visual collection, 60x60cm Supplier: Domus Tiles, the leading supplier of ceramic tiles and marble in the UK
Ceramiche Refin web site: www.refin.it
