SPONSOR PROFILE: DESSO

The Desso Group focuses primarily on superior floor design and Cradle to Cradle® in providing high quality carpet tiles and broadloom.  Its commercial product offering, business carpets, represents more than half of total sales and can be found in offices, banks, retail units, public buildings, schools, universities and care centres.

Desso's innovation strategy is concentrated in 3 key areas: Creativity, Functionality and Cradle to Cradle®. For Desso, creativity is synonymous with CARPETECTURE®, which is a powerful example of Desso's commitment to creative carpet design and its dedication to meet the needs of architects, interior designers, building owners and end users.  In the field of functionality, Desso develops pioneering solutions that make a difference for health and wellbeing.  As a result of this innovation and creativity strategy, Desso has launched a number of patented products like DESSO AirMaster®, for 8 times lower fine-dust concentration in the air (versus hard floors), and DESSO EcoBase®, which enabled Desso to achieve a Cradle to Cradle® silver certificate for an entire carpet tile product.

Desso's creative carpet design and service oriented approach has enabled Desso to become a leader in developing solutions for the Hospitality, Marine and Aviation (HMA) markets. Desso's HMA division works with companies such as Hilton, Intercontinental, Maritime, KLM, China Airlines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Holland America Line.

Desso Sports is a leading player in the provision of artificial turf for sports fields and hybrid natural grass systems that provide the perfect playing surface at every level of sport. DESSO GrassMaster® is a high-tech hybrid sports field of 100% natural grass reinforced with Desso synthetic grass fibres, which has been installed in two Euro 2012 stadiums and at the 'football temple' Wembley.

SPONSOR PROFILE: LAUFEN

LAUFEN, the premium brand under the ROCA umbrella, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of bathroom fittings with a global distribution network.

The company's core competence is its knowledge in the area of sanitary ware manufacturing.  For over 120 years, the LAUFEN brand has been using the oldest malleable material known to man to make innovative sanitary products in state-of-the-art plants with legendary Swiss precision.  

Knowledge of the bathroom as a whole developed from the competence of LAUFEN in ceramics manufacturing, and sophisticated design.  What makes LAUFEN products unique at the first glance is that their Swiss design unites two major design trends: emotional Italian design from the south and the northern tradition of design precision and clarity.

Although exquisite craftsmanship has always been a trademark of LAUFEN products, a great deal of thought goes into their design too.  For several decades now, LAUFEN has had positive experience of the successful collaboration with outstanding architects and designers.  In the development of new bathroom suite concepts, the expectations of the designer are met by the experience and precision of modellers, product developers and engineers.

The result: a highly functional and aesthetic product range.  From ceramic sanitary ware, through to faucets, bathroom furniture and mirrors, to shower trays, bathtubs and whirl systems - in all price categories.  At the same time, we use our knowledge and experience to achieve a high degree of individuality, in line with the wishes of our customers.  As well as additional colours, surface finishes and motifs, made-to-measure washbasins that can be cut to the required size are possible, also with short delivery times.

The aesthetically-appealing design and high compositional quality of LAUFEN products have won over many international judges and independent organisations, with awards being won by individual products, whole product ranges and even innovative materials and showrooms.

NEW SPONSOR BEALE & COMPANY JOINS THE AIA UK

The AIA UK board of directors is excited to announce specialist construction law firm, Beale & Company, as a new chapter sponsor!  With offices in London, Bristol, Dublin and Dubai, they have a long history of acting for consultants and architects, both in the UK and abroad.

A new benefit for AIA UK members and a key part of their sponsorship, Beale & Company is providing a free legal helpline to members!  This entitles chapter members to a free 20 minute consultation per month (although there is some flexibility here!) to cover typical issues faced by members, including those arising from appointments, collateral warranties, novation, health and safety and so on.  To access the Helpline, simply call +44 (0) 20 7469 0400 (please quote “AIA UK Helpline”).  Further details of the Legal Helpline can be found here.

Beale & Company will continue to present various legal lectures throughout the year, dealing with a range of ‘hot topics’ of interest to architects.  To date, Beale & Company have hosted three legal lectures for the chapter and one webinar.  These have been very popular and we look forward to continuing our “Legal Lecture” series later in the year.  If you have any suggestions for lecture topics, please let us know at chapterexecutive@aiauk.org

Please join us in welcoming Beale & Company to the AIA UK!