Page 67 - CFJ_Feb26

NEWS REVIEW

roof, which reopened on Saturday 7 June to
celebrate World Ocean Day.
6 The installation is said to offer a new way
to walk across the world, one where oceans
connect rather than divide. The Spilhaus
Projection, rarely seen in such scale, places
the world’s oceans at the centre, challenging
traditional land-focused world views and exploring
our relationship with the sea. It'll also represent
the ocean depth and key features including the
Mariana Trench and Great Barrier Reef.
3 ‘Inspiration from nature drives our
sustainable initiatives’
Paragon, a UK-based commercial carpet tile
manufacturer in Yorkshire, prides itself on
using the latest manufacturing techniques and
DPM and acoustic underlay systems meet brief for The Octagon sustainable raw materials. Founded 29 years
CMS Danskin Acoustics’ REGUPOL moisture vapour suppressant, adhesive and acoustic ago as a purpose-built facility, it employs about
underlay system has been used in the world’s first pure octagonal high-rise residential 125 people across the group. ‘We’re in the
building, The Octagon, in the heart of Birmingham. Part of the £1.2bn Paradise top echelons of the commercial carpet sector,’
development and rising to 49 storeys and 155 metres, The Octagon is Birmingham’s says David Rhodes, group managing director.
tallest building and features 370 purpose-designed build-to-rent (BTR) homes.
Backed by Singapore-based City Developments and Paradise developer and asset 2
manager MEPC, the £110m project has been designed by Birmingham-based architects Industry legend Geoffrey Ball scoops
Howells with construction undertaken by high-rise specialist Midgard, part of the JRL Lifetime Achievement Award at
Group. CMS Danskin Acoustics’ REGUPOL barrier 99-201 moisture vapour suppressant CFJ Awards
has been applied to the floor screed across all The Octagon’s 49 storeys to provide a Geoffrey Walter Ball, great-grandson of
dampproof membrane. Francis Ball, who founded F Ball and Co
1886, delivered an emotional speech after
winning the Lifetime Achievement Award at
5 INTERVIEW A year of transformation 4 Harvey Maria ‘creates unique Ocean Floor the 2025 CFJ Awards in Dallas Burston Polo
Cathie Clarke joined the UK Sustainable map for the National Maritime Museum’ Club, Warwickshire. Geoffrey was integral
Flooring Alliance (UKSFA) as CEO just over Harvey Maria has been commissioned by in establishing the company’s standing as a
a year ago, in July 2024, and yet in that the National Maritime Museum to create a leading UK manufacturer of flooring adhesives
short time she has reshaped the organisation unique, custom-designed ocean floor map. The and subfloor preparation products, ‘known for
in some significant ways, not least by bespoke floor map spans about 440sq m and quality, innovation, exceptional service and
spearheading its recent transition from CRUK has been installed in the newly refurbished unparalleled technical expertise, as well as a
(Carpet Recycling UK) to UKSFA. Ocean Court, the central area under the glass conscientious approach to business’.

1

YOU, ROBOT?
The future is here – and while we may not be at Terminator 2 levels yet, it’s still
worth floorlayers keeping an eye on developments.
MY first experience with a robot was in September last year at an unlikely venue:
Kraków Airport in Poland. While settling down for breakfast before my flight back to
Kraków Airport in Poland. While settling down for breakfast before my flight back to
the UK, a friendly, even cheerful, robot slid over and asked for my order. A few things
the UK, a friendly, even cheerful, robot slid over and asked for my order. A few things
quickly became apparent: the robot was quick, efficient and even quite charming.quickly became apparent: the robot was quick, efficient and even quite charming.
And something else caught my attention: despite the restaurant being rather
And something else caught my attention: despite the restaurant being rather
sizable, it was served – other than the robot – by only one waitress.
‘Is it going to take your job?’ I asked mischievously. The waitress chuckled. ‘Not
‘Is it going to take your job?’ I asked mischievously. The waitress chuckled. ‘Not
yet,’ she said. ‘But soon.’ She told me that when the robot wasn’t operating for
whatever reason, children were visibly disappointed at being served by a humble
representative of homo sapiens.
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@CFJMagazine CFJ February 2026