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Talking Architecture &amp; Design (TAD) remains committed to exploring the evolving world of architecture and design, ensuring that its listeners stay informed and inspired. TAD just celebrated 220 published episodes, establishing itself as a key voice in the architecture and design community.Hosted by Branko Miletic, who has over 25 years of experience, as a journalist, editor and Talking Architecture &amp; Design host. Branko brings a wealth of diverse knowledge and rich experience that allows him to quickly get to the heart of the issues been discussed.&nbsp;We were thrilled to sponsor TAD for a second year in 2024. Read our Podcast series e-book to discover our podcast episodes across 2024, where we were lucky enough to hear from a range of industry experts.Download this e-book today!

The best bits of our Talking Architecture & Design podcast from 2024 discussing all things design, sustainability and product development with a range of guests.

Talking Architecture & Design Podcast eBook 2024

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the deep, enduring connection the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with the land. This connection informs their traditions and art, and by incorporating these values in their designs, architects and designers can contribute to and support a strong and vibrant Indigenous culture in our built environment. Adding these design elements to our buildings, private and public infrastructure gives spaces more depth, meaning, and authenticity while also acting as a sign of respect and reconciliation.This whitepaper discusses some of the key concepts and approaches that are important to understand for designers looking to incorporate Indigenous design into their projects. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide but a starting point for further exploration and research. By fostering a respectful approach and a willingness to learn, architects and designers can contribute to more inclusive, culturally rich design outcomes.

Incorporating Indigenous design into projects.

Respecting Indigenous Design in Commercial Projects

As architects and designers, you play a pivotal role in shaping the spaces that reflect our national identity. However, incorporating First Nations culture into the built environment in a respectful, ethical, and meaningful way can be challenging. That’s why we have created “New Wave of Indigenous Design”, a CPD session designed to provide foundational knowledge on this crucial aspect of design. Created in collaboration with our partner, Dreamtime Flooring, an 100% Indigenous Owned Business.&nbsp;Learning Outcomes:&nbsp;<ul><li>Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s aspirations to care for their Country and how these inform design.</li><li>How to incorporate First Nations design into your commercial interior?</li><li>How to understand and respect country in a meaningful way throughout the design process?</li><li>How to bring participatory design principles into your design process to effectively collaborate with local mob and your First Nations representatives?</li><li>How to address procurement targets whilst still meeting client brief requirements?</li></ul>By participating in this CPD, you will gain insights into how to enrich your design projects with Indigenous narratives and create spaces that honour the deep history and cultural significance of First Nations communities. You will also explore how to apply procurement strategies that support Indigenous businesses, aligning with national policies like the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP).&nbsp;Australia: <a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/new-wave-of-first-nations-exploration">Watch webinar via partner Archify</a> and claim 1 formal CPD Point (Design Competency).&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/new-wave-of-first-nations-exploration"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/archify.png" alt></a>

Incorporating First Nations Culture in Design 

GH Commercial is excited to announce that we have earnt a Gold medal rating by EcoVadis[1] for the second year in a row. EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, as a recognition of their EcoVadis Rating. EcoVadis measures a company’s improvement in its whole supply chain and production towards the transition to a sustainable economy. The results put GH Commercial in the top 95th percentile of more than 100,000+ rated companies in the EcoVadis global network.&nbsp;The Ecovadis methodology is built on international sustainability standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000, covering 200+ spend categories and 175+ countries. The Sustainability Scorecard illustrates performance across 21 indicators in four themes:<ol><li>Environment</li><li>Labour &amp; Human Rights</li><li>Ethics</li><li>Sustainable Procurement</li></ol>At GH Commercial, we are dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint through careful and responsible resource management and the continued investment in new technology to improve our processes.<a href="https://ecovadis.com/">Learn more</a>

GH Commercial is excited to announce that we have earnt a Gold medal rating by EcoVadis for the second year in a row. EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, as a recognition of their EcoVadis Rating.

GH Commercial achieves Gold Medal rating by EcoVadis

Our carpet products are available in a range of different backing types. Read on to find out more about our carpet backings and how they are designed to enhance the performance of your carpet, increase comfort and improve indoor environment quality. Our backings have been engineered to reduce the risk of complications of high relative humidity and PH in concrete subfloors. Also, our unique backing has been designed to reduce the risk of off-gassing and other potentially dangerous chemicals associated with some plastic compounds. All carpet tiles and plank backings are fully recyclable and qualify for takeback at the end of their life under our GH Commercial ReCover Program.

Our carpet products are available in a range of different backing types. Find out more about our carpet backings and how they are designed to enhance the performance of your carpet, increase comfort and improve indoor environment quality.

Carpet Backing Options

Amanda York is a highly accomplished Interior Designer with over 20 years’ experience and is currently the Interiors Lead for Grimshaw Architects.Amanda has been responsible for delivering a wide variety of award-winning projects throughout Australia including public/cultural, hospitality/hotel, retail, sports, education and workplace. Most notably she was the Interior Design Lead for Optus Stadium Perth and Marvel Stadium Melbourne where she played a key role in the design of the team facilities, function rooms and hospitality offerings across the general admission and premium product spaces.Amanda has always been drawn to ambitious large-scale cultural and community projects that require a deep understanding of the importance of designing for the human experience. With the aspiration to design highly considered and curated spaces, Amanda is passionate about all aspects of design with a focus on creating places that provide meaningful experiences and ultimately bring people together.Amanda explains how design-related issues, specifically the use of custom add value, design authenticity, and help with designing for place.<blockquote>“When designing projects, we are quite specific, and without customisation we would be limiting ourselves to not having a wholistic design strategy, it’s about building that materials palette”</blockquote>Amanda discusses how interior design has become more artistic and creative over the years,<blockquote>“there is a much greater emphasis on curated spaces and curated experiences”</blockquote>She explains that clients are far more sophisticated and in tune with design than what they used to be,<blockquote>“there is an expectation that we will create an experience for them that is tailored to their ideas, brand and that it sets up that brand identity”</blockquote><blockquote>“The custom features are crucial to the success of projects. We want to create an architectural experience that is connected to place.”</blockquote><a href="https://podcast.architectureanddesign.com.au/episode-221-amanda-york-from-grimshaw-on-design-authenticity-designing-specifically-for-place/">Listen to Episode 221:</a> Amanda York from Grimshaw on design authenticity and designing specifically for place.

Amanda York is a highly accomplished Interior Designer with over 20 years’ experience and is currently the Interiors Lead for Grimshaw Architects. 

Talking Architecture & Design with Amanda York

As a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, the World’s largest flooring company, and part of the Segment Flooring Rest of the World, we are proud to publish our second Oceania Regional Impact Report highlighting our local environmental and social initiatives.Our approach to sustainability is based on authenticity and meaningful actions which seek to improve this place for our people, customers and future generations. We capture these actions within the three pillars of People, Performance and Planet.Within our 2023 ESG Report, we outline our united efforts globally, and draw on cases locally, across a range of environmental, social and governance issues. Some key achievements to note are we celebrate publishing our third Modern Slavery report in Australia, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to identifying, managing and mitigating modern slavery risks in our supply chain. We launched a new lighter weight carpet backing system, and published our first sustainable packaging performance summary report and action plan in 2023, committing to our responsible packaging framework and waste reduction by 2025.In addition, GH Commercial delivered bespoke Continued Professional Development modules to our market, presented by leaders within the business. We collaborated with internationally acclaimed interior designer Lorena Gaxiola, winning Best New Product at Better Future Awards for our product collaboration.We have a clear vision, are aligned on our common goals and are proud to have the support of our passionate and motivated people to help us make a true difference.You can read further about our local and global achievements in our complete report.<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/v1/apps/ghc-web/sustainability/docs/Mohawk_ESG_Report.pdf">Download ESG Report</a>

As a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, the World’s largest flooring company, and part of the Segment Flooring Rest of the World, we are proud to publish our second Oceania Regional Impact Report highlighting our local environmental and social initiatives.

Latest ESG Report

For every square metre sold of Chromatic Cadence, we will donate $1 to genU Arts Programme.

Part of our Believe in Better® approach to business focuses on people. Having been a part of our community for over 150 years, we wanted to give back and support community initiatives. Our latest Chromatic Cadence Collection is proud to support the genU Arts Programme, donating $1 per square metre sold on a bi-annual basis.&nbsp; 

Originally founded in Geelong as a play-centre for children with disability in 1952, genU services and support have greatly expanded over their 70+ year history. Today, they are a team of 3600 employees and volunteers across 169 locations across Australia. They are also profit-for-purpose and committed to reinvesting surpluses into services to promote inclusion in the community. Through their Arts Programme, genU offer day programs across five locations, James Street Gallery studio and further diverse community art programs.

Our partnership with genU started in 2023, through the launch of our Social Canvas Collection. “We wanted to give back to local community in a meaningful way, the genU Arts Programme had such strong roots in Geelong and what they had created for artists with disabilities was really inspiring”. – Joel Williamson, National Sales Manager.&nbsp; 

“Artists within the programme create artwork of their own making, meaning the studio artist led, it certainly allows for a level of expression that is not available to these artists usually in a verbal way. The programme that we offer here allows clients to have access to an income, which isn’t available to many artists, let alone in disability.” – Teresa Lawrence, James Street Gallery Coordinator.

One of genU’s Arts Programme’s is run at James Street Gallery. Through our Social Canvas collection, we made an annual donation that allowed the gallery to commission a soundscape element to RISE, an exhibition held at Geelong Gallery. 

We are thrilled to continue to build on this partnership, extending our support on an ongoing basis to the genU Arts Programme through our Chromatic Cadence Collection. Inspired by artist and veteran Yvette, who spent more than 20 years in the US army, we are proud play a small part in supporting genU, and their mission of building inclusive communities and opportunities for artists with disabilities. “This partnership with GH Commercial is going to be really exciting, it will mean we could possibly expand the projects that we do. We like to give back as much as we gain from the community, which is an empowering thing for our clients.”&nbsp; - Teresa Lawrence, James Street Gallery Coordinator.

Learn more about the genU Arts Programme today: <a href="https://www.genu.org.au/services/disability-services/lifestyle-and-participate/arts/">genU | Disability support services | Participate | Arts</a>

Our latest Chromatic Cadence Collection is proud to support the genU Arts Programme, donating $1 per square metre sold on a bi-annual basis.

Proudly supporting genU Arts Programme

GH Commercial, supporting Rone with his latest exhibition Time, in Flinders Street Station Melbourne.

Artist Rone x GH Commercial 

We are excited to be partnering with Dowel Jones in their longest exhibition to date, ‘Ten Years of Dowel Jones’ at the National Wool Museum from the 26th of July to 24th of November 2024. This exhibition celebrates the Dowel Jones story, sharing their journey from university classmates to a small furniture studio and now an international design house.&nbsp;

Dowel Jones

The first ten years of <a href="https://doweljones.com/">Dowel Jones</a> &nbsp;has seen founders Adam Lynch and Dale Hardiman build a reputation for design that is defiantly democratic, and their staunchly unique pieces have swept awards and built a cult-like following across the globe. On Australian shores, Dowel Jones are recognised for their commitment to local design and their proclivity for collaboration, where the creative process is just as integral as the end result.&nbsp;

Dowel Jones is known for its unique and authentic designs, ranging from vibrant to conceptual. Collaborating with local brands and makers, they have fostered a community committed to extraordinary creativity, elevating Australian design globally. Their work exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in contemporary design.

 
Celebrating Design + Local + Manufacturing

The exhibition at the National Wool Museum shines a spotlight on the collaborations that Dowel Jones have forged paying homage to their penchant for the local with installations and collaborations that explore the magic of modern-day craftsmanship. With Dowel Jones holding the importance of local manufacturing close to the heart of their business they also see benefits of reduced transport impact upon the environment. This exhibition shares our values of championing local manufacturing and design and proudly highlights a range of collaborations that continue to design and manufacture locally in Australia.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
“As time goes on it seems less and less furniture companies are interested in doing this, so we feel it's important that we continue to. We set out 10 years ago to offer Australian made furniture and lighting, and thankfully next month we'll be able to celebrate 10 years of achieving this.” - Dale Hardiman, Dowel Jones Co-Founder.
</blockquote>

 
‘Ten Years of Dowel Jones’ Exhibition

Here at GH Commercial we are proud to be a part of this exhibition and collaborate with Dowel Jones on a unique suspended carpet-art piece as well as a range of custom flooring. This custom-art piece is an extension of the Dowel Jones ‘<a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/142454/">Never Grow Up</a>’ bench which is in the National Gallery of Victoria permanent collection. In creating the work, Dowel Jones partnered with MoPA (Museum of Play and Art) where over a one month period 648 children drew self-portraits, which will be brought to life by our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/designer-jet">Designer Jet®</a> technology.&nbsp;

“The use of the carpet within the space originated from producing the MoPA Portrait work. GH Commercial offered an amazing process to print the 600+ hand drawn portraits from the kids of MoPA directly onto the 10 metre long roll of carpet. This collaboration also inspired us to print custom carpet for the flooring to really enhance and encapsulate the Dowel Jones experience and identity… and thankfully working with the GH Commercial team we've been able to bring that vision to life.” – Dale Hardiman, Dowel Jones Co-Founder.

More about <a href="https://doweljones.com/">Dowel Jones</a>.

We are excited to be partnering with Dowel Jones in their exhibition at the National Wool Museum from 26th of July to 24th of November 2024. 

Dowel Jones x GH Commercial 

In 2024 we were proud to support the Australian Interior Design Awards, a not-for-profit program that strives to celebrate interior design excellence via their industry-based program which is supported by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and Artichoke. Endorsed by the DIA and the Australian Institute of Architects this awards program is the professional program of choice amongst the established design community. With a range of awards categories spanning across all commercial market segments, a truly diverse range of top projects are celebrated.

In 2024 the awards program included seven primary categories, two optional categories and four automatic categories of awards. In 2024 GH Commercial are supporting the ‘Best of State for Commercial Interior Design’ category which encapsulates the best of interior design across all commercial primary categories which spans across a broad range of commercial segments. Here at GH Commercial, we are passionate about design and striving to provide flooring solutions to create beautiful interiors. Supporting the Australian Interior Design Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate leading designers and draw inspiration from the impressive portfolio of projects recognised.

Proud Supporter Of The Australian Interior Design Awards 2024

100% Scholarship opportunity for Living Future Accreditation &amp; Regional Intensive Course 2024

As a strategic partner of the <a href="https://living-future.org.au/">Living Future Institute of Australia</a> we were excited to offer one full scholarship position for the Living Future Accreditation &amp; Regional Intensive Course in 2024. This scholarship covers 100% of the course fees ($3,740 value) and was open to built environment professionals who are eager to take action to transform the industry towards a regenerative design philosophy.

This professional credential, created by the International Living Future Institute, recognises proficiency in the world’s most ambitious, regenerative and holistic design standards such as the Living Building Challenge. With a Living Future Accreditation, students in the course have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and expertise at the leading edge of regenerative design and Living Future programs.

The Living Future Accreditation (LFA) offers a mix of online and in person learning sessions with a range of educational resources explored throughout the course. This accreditation further offers a global connection to LFA peers, development of advanced regenerative design knowledge and future project opportunities.

With so many deserving applicants, it was a difficult decision for the judging panel, who felt two applicants would benefit greatly from the course. Through the generous support of the LFIA alongside us at GH Commercial, two individuals were granted a full scholarship in the Living Future Accreditation &amp; Regional Intensive Course 2024. We wish them the very best in their studies! 

More about the <a href="https://living-future.org.au/event/living-future-accreditation/">Living Future Accreditation</a> and Regional Intensive Course.

We're excited to be offering one full scholarship position for the upcoming course in 2024.

Living Future Accreditation Scholarship

<h3>WILD Design Awards for 2024</h3>

We are honoured to have been recognised at the Better Future Wild Design Awards 2024 and the winning Silver in the Product Design – Commercial and Industry category. This award celebrates creative and innovative design that is courageous for either a component or overall product. The awards create future recognition from past projects. The projects in the WILD Design Awards are sourced from the BETTER FUTURE regional, design capitals and sector award programs - representing an unparalleled collection sourced from the world's largest network of design awards.

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The WILD Design Awards for 2024 are composed of award nominations from the following regional and design capital programs; AUSTRALIAN Design Awards 2024 - PARIS Design Awards 2024 - BERLIN Design Awards 2024 - MILAN Design Awards 2024 - GOV Design Awards 2024, plus a special set of wildcard nominations directly into the awards. The Better Future Awards proudly recognise courageous, diverse and excellent design across the globe.

<a href="https://betterfutureawards.com/wld24/project.asp?ID=32598">Learn More</a>

GH Commercial awarded Silver in the Product Design of the Better Future Wild Design Awards 2024.

Award Winner Wild Design Awards 2024

The thoughtful integration of zoning and wayfinding within commercial design can prove to have a range of benefits. These methods not only elevate the aesthetic appeal of a space but also play a crucial role in optimising the flow of people. Carpet tiles are a versatile floorcovering option that can assist in achieving zoning and wayfinding patterns.&nbsp;

Zoning for Purposeful Design

Zoning, in the context of commercial design, involves the segmentation of spaces for different uses. Imagine a vast office floor seamlessly divided into collaborative workspaces, private offices, and recreational zones. The use of carpet tiles to change the colour and design of the flooring in specific areas, creates visual cues that subtly signal transitions between zones.

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Wayfinding: Guiding the Way through Design

Wayfinding, on the other hand, involves creating directional pathways within a building. It's the silent guide that directs foot traffic seamlessly. Carpet tiles can be instrumental in this process by facilitating transitions in design and colour. Bold changes or subtle shifts in the carpet pattern can be strategically employed to guide individuals through a space, improving navigation and overall user experience.

Endless Possibilities with Carpet Tiles

Carpet tiles offer an extensive palette for use within integrating a wide range of wayfinding and zoning designs. From vibrant colour blocking that creates distinct visual separations to more nuanced transitions between different designs and textures, the possibilities are nearly endless. The adaptability of carpet tiles allows for a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Carpet tiles are a versatile floorcovering option that can assist in achieving zoning and wayfinding patterns.

Enhancing Commercial Spaces: The Power of Wayfinding and Zoning with Carpet Tiles

Here at GH Commercial we are proud to continue our support of the Architecture &amp; Design Sustainability Awards in 2024 as an official award partner for a third year, in the Interior Design category. With 18 categories covering Projects, People, and Innovation, there's an opportunity for entries of every size, type, and budget to participate and be celebrated for their positive impact on a greener future.

<h3>Sustainability Awards – Interior Design</h3>

The Interior Design category champions projects that feature a renovation or fit out of the interior of an existing building where the sustainable design is involved with such factors as determining the efficient and effective use of space, selecting construction materials that offer low environmental impact and lowering pollution, waste, and the lowering of the overall energy consumption. 
This category recognises projects that have undergone a refurbishment or a re-fit. These projects hold sustainability at the core of their design and carefully consider efficient use of space, low environmental impact of construction materials, and a reduction in pollution, waste, and overall energy consumption are central.

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<h3>Sustainability Awards Program &amp; Summit</h3>

The Sustainability Awards is Australia’s longest running and most prestigious awards program dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating excellence in sustainable design and architecture. Entries for the 2024 Sustainability Awards are now open, and winners will be announced at the annual gala event in Sydney on Thursday November 14th at the Fullerton Hotel. The Sustainability Summit will be hosted earlier that day, where a range of industry experts including our very own, Joel Williamson - National Commercial Sales Manager will explore a range of sustainability topics. 2024 marks the 18th year of the program and we look forward to viewing all the amazing projects featured throughout the awards.

<h3>GH Commercial Supporting Architects and Designers</h3>

GH Commercial are proud to support architects and designers in their pursuit of pushing the boundaries of sustainable architecture and design to new frontiers. GH Commercial are on a continuous journey to Believe in Better® to work towards increasing sustainable practices across our three pillars people, performance and planet. Undertaking the challenge to do better every day in everything we do. 
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Proud supporters of the Architecture & Design Sustainability Awards in 2024.

Proud Partner of the Sustainability Awards 2024

As one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and exporters of residential and commercial carpets, Godfrey Hirst produces thousands of metres of carpet in state-of-the-art Australian facilities every day.

We proudly operate four carpet manufacturing facilities, three yarn processing facilities, 10 distribution centres, and 14 sales offices across Australia and New Zealand. Currently, Godfrey Hirst employs over 1,000 people, of which roughly half are employed in Australia and half in New Zealand. Our partnership with the official Australian Made campaign aligns us with Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol, underpinned by a third-party accreditation system that authenticates genuinely Australian products.

Our local investment in people, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution provides total supply chain capability, ensuring quality control and consistency from product design, right through to delivery.

The stories of people from one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and exporters of residential and commercial carpets.

Faces of Manufacturing

Presented by Lorena Gaxiola, in partnership with The Local Project and Indesignlive.&nbsp;

This year's Melbourne Design Week (23 May – 2 June) promises an exhilarating fusion of creativity and innovation as we proudly share our design collaboration with Interior Designer and Architect, Lorena Gaxiola, in partnership with the renowned interior surfaces company, Cosentino. Nestled within Cosentino's stunning city showroom, we are thrilled to showcase our Lorena Gaxiola + Feltex designs for the duration of Melbourne Design Week.

As a testament to our commitment to fostering dialogue and forging connections within the design community, we are thrilled to announce a captivating design talk event hosted in collaboration with Lorena Gaxiola and Cosentino on the 23rd of May. Hosted within the Cosentino City Showroom ‘Design Knows No Borders: Unlocking collective strength through alliance’ will feature thought-provoking discourse from industry leaders Lorena Gaxiola, Joel Williamson - GH Commercial, and Itay Shimoni - Cosentino and moderated by James Lyall-Smith from The Local Project.

Our distinguished panel will delve into a myriad of topics, from the nuanced intricacies of achieving commercial and aesthetic harmony to the strategic imperatives driving successful partnerships. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into harnessing the transformative power of collaboration to expand market reach and drive sustainable growth. With a focus on leveraging diversity as a catalyst for innovation, the discussion will illuminate the path towards cultivating cross-cultural working environments that inspire creativity and drive business success. This event offers business owners, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals a unique opportunity to explore the intersections of design, sustainability, and innovation.

Join us as we celebrate the transformative power of collaboration and embark on a journey of discovery, unity, and innovation at Melbourne Design Week 2024. 
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Presented by Lorena Gaxiola, in partnership with The Local Project and Indesignlive. 

Melbourne Design Week – Design Knows No Borders

Joel Williamson is the National Sales Manager of GH Commercial and Josh Haddock is the Managing Director of Dreamtime Flooring.&nbsp;

Together they have embarked on a journey that has seen them create a partnership between the two companies that is designed to help indigenous artists expand their reach into the world of commercial flooring and providing a whole new inventory of flooring designs, while also go some way to helping Close the Gap for Indigenous Australians.

They give us an insight into how they’ve achieved this and where it’s taking both companies in this exclusive interview.

<a href="https://podcast.architectureanddesign.com.au/episode-202-taking-commercial-flooring-to-the-next-social-level-gh-commercial-dreamtime-flooring-collaboration/">Listen to Episode 202</a>: Taking commercial flooring to the next social level: GH Commercial &amp; Dreamtime Flooring collaboration design.

Josh and Joel give an insight into how bringing together indigenous art and commercial flooring to the next level.

Talking Architecture & Design With Josh Haddock And Joel Williamson

Each year Mohawk Group develops a theme to help drive product development. This year it is Designing for Care.

“The theme is really meaningful to us …it’s something that’s driving culture and therefore the language of design,” Senior Design Director at Mohawk Group, Royce Epstein says.

“This year we are talking about the culture of care. It really looks at how we can use design as social practice in the service of care for people, place and planet,” she says.

Designing for Care proposes that we don’t just receive care in traditional healthcare buildings. Care can extend from spas and biohacking centres to designing housing that’s human-centred or education and workspaces that embrace wellbeing.

Royce points out that an office space designed solely for productivity can be really demoralising for people.

“That’s why there is a hesitancy to return to the office because people want to hang on to the self-care that they can have in their home environment or out in nature”.

Royce says when designing through the framework of care, designers can consider such ideas: How can we embed optimism into places? What about inclusivity? Wellness for physical, mental and emotional health? Can spaces not induce anxiety and instead help us heal from all the trauma in the world?

“I think this is going to be the next generation's work to design within the culture of care”.

“As designers, we have to consider how our projects affect all people…is the project respectful to all parties? Not just the owner but the end users and the staff who use the space and what about the community who interact with the building and the people who are working in the space?”

Royce points to a great example in Queens in New York City where a mixed-use project has been designed to give back two acres of open space to the community. The development will include health and wellness facilities, affordable housing and dedicated units for unhoused people. It will also create thousands of jobs when it’s finished and opens to the public.

“It’s part of New York City’s response to the pandemic where they undertook city space and created a vibrant walkable community. The project shows you can design buildings and communities for a client while at the same time serving a larger population within that culture of care”

Royce says the culture of care also incorporates rewilding, a concept that seeks to restore ecosystems to allow nature to thrive while repairing, regenerating and reversing the destruction of the natural world. Creating these healthier spaces ultimately give humans and other species a better chance to thrive.

“I think a lot of designers are really excited about moving away from the traditional model of design that’s been practised the same way for many years… into a much more holistic view where we are always thinking about people, place and planet. And that’s why talking about culture of care is so important,” Royce concludes.

<a href="https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/episode-186-judy-lea-engel-on-how-healthy-floor">Listen to Episode 186</a>: Royce Epstein on how Culture of Care can be applied to interior and architectural design.

<a href="https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/episode-198-royce-epstein-senior-design-director">Episode 198</a>: Royce Epstein, Senior Design Director, Mohawk Group talks about the ‘Culture of Care’ in design | Architecture &amp; Design (architectureanddesign.com.au)

Royce Epstein on how Culture of Care can be applied to interior and architectural design.

Talking Architecture & Design with Royce Epstein

Exploring the Importance and Effects of Floor Colour. As the largest surface area within an interior space, the floor is not only crucial for setting the desired ambiance but also for ensuring functional effectiveness.

This whitepaper aims to explore the nuanced effects of floor colour on the human experience, providing architects, designers, and stakeholders with valuable insights to guide informed decisions when selecting floor colours for diverse spaces.

Exploring the importance and effects of floor colour.

The Colourful Canvas

As one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and exporters of residential and commercial carpets, Godfrey Hirst produces thousands of metres of carpet in state-of-the-art Australian facilities every day.

We proudly operate four carpet manufacturing facilities, three yarn processing facilities, 10 distribution centres, and 14 sales offices across Australia and New Zealand. Currently, Godfrey Hirst employs over 1,000 people, of which roughly half are employed in Australia and half in New Zealand.

Since 1865 – Celebrating Australian Made Week at Godfrey Hirst.

Celebrating Australian Made Week

On the 15th of March 2024, GH Commercial held our largest Take 3 for the Sea clean-up event to date, but this time in our Head Office’s backyard alongside the Barwon River with our biggest team yet! We are proud to be an official supporter of the Take 3 for the Sea organisation for the fourth year in a row. 
In just an hour, our team of 40 people, along with Take 3 for the Sea representatives, collected 1,488 litter items weighing an astounding 34.5kg altogether! Take 3 for the Sea is an important organisation that works to remove litter from our environment which helps to protect our animals, ecosystems, and waterways.

The GH Commercial&nbsp; team joined forces with Take 3 for the Sea along the Barwon River in South Geelong for a riverside clean-up event. A total of 34.5kg was collected by the GH Commercial team, totalling 1488 items in one hour, the litter filled 5 garbage bags!&nbsp;

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"It was fantastic to see some familiar faces for the annual clean-up. The turnout was great for a Friday afternoon with about 40 staff members joining in to clean up their office’s backyard! Their enthusiasm and dedication was awesome to see, with some groups spending almost the whole clean up in one spot, carefully collecting the enormous amount of cigarette butts and other rubbish from a car park.” Abbey Jacob, Take 3 for the Sea Educator
</blockquote>

Proudly supporting Take 3 for the Sea for the fourth year in a row.

Take 3 For The Sea Barwon River Clean-Up 2024

Care is the attention or provision of what is vital for health, welfare, support and protection of people, place and planet. Traditionally, we care for each other and the things we hold dear. There is, however, a more expanded definition of care that extends to our design industry. We are facing unprecedented challenges that require even more specialized care in the face of social upheaval, climate crisis, and post pandemic problems.

How can we use design as a social practice in the service of care for self, others, community, and nature? How can we prioritize care in our design industry? This CPD seeks to answer these questions while examining the role of design as a Culture of Care.

Learning Outcomes:

<ul>
	<li>Discover Nurture Culture, which fosters both emotional and physical care.</li>
	<li>Examine Care of People through the lens of design that heals.</li>
	<li>Explore the Care of Place as it relates to community and space for healing.</li>
	<li>Consider Care of Planet in new ways that shape Eco Behaviours.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Australia: <a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/culture-of-carex?domain=archify.com">Watch webinar via partner Archify</a> and claim formal CPD Points. 
New Zealand: Watch webinar via partner Teulo and claim formal CPD Points. <a href="https://teulo.co/events/teulo-ed_parttwo/">Teulo Ed: High Performance Building Solutions, Joinery, Flooring + Special Finishes: Part Two - Teulo</a>

<ul>
	<li>1 Australian Formal CPD Point (Design competency)</li>
	<li>10 NZRAB Points (10 Design competency)</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/contact">Contact us</a> to schedule an in person CPD presentation.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/culture-of-care"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/archify.png"></a> 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/nzia-approved.png"> 
<a href="https://teulo.co/events/teulo-ed_parttwo/"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/teulo.jpg"></a>

How can we use design as a social practice in the service of care for self, others, community, and nature? How can we prioritize care in our design industry? This CPD seeks to answer these questions while examining the role of design as a Culture of Care.

Culture of Care

<h3>The Festival</h3>

Here at GH Commercial, alongside Godfrey Hirst, we are thrilled to announce our continued support as festival partners with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2024. This year we are proud to again supply a range of custom carpets throughout selected festival venues. With a commitment to irreverence, innovation, inclusivity, and free expression, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is dedicated to discovering and showcasing exceptional talent to entertain and inspire a diverse audience in Australia's comedy capital.&nbsp;

As local manufacturers, we value supporting community events such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, allowing us to engage with our local community. We have a passion for creativity, fun and inclusion here at GH Commercial, so our decision to partner with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival provides the perfect opportunity to align our values and celebrate performance and creativity.

Supplying a range of custom carpets throughout selected venues for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2024.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival x GH Commercial

Here at GH Commercial, we are proud to continue to sponsor the Living Future Institute of Australia’s (LFIA), National Biophilic Design Awards, in the Interior and Renovation category in 2024. The LFIA host the awards to recognise achievements in Australian buildings, interiors and communities that demonstrate the principles and benefits of biophilic design.

Entries are now open until the 28th of March.&nbsp;

Successful projects within the awards will highlight the biophilic design process and notable outcomes. The biophilic design narrative should tie together key design strategies to intended and desired outcomes and should describe how these were achieved. Narratives that affect occupant health, well-being, and orientation to nature will be highly considered.

Projects that explore multi-sensory experiences should provide images and videos of significant moments and attributes as well as the story/intent behind them.

Submissions are encouraged to highlight everyday life and the use of spaces.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Living Future Institute of Australia

Established in 2012, The LFIA is an affiliate of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). ILFI is an environmental NGO committed to creating communities that are socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. It operates the Living Building Challenge, the built environment’s most ambitious performance standard, as well as many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future.

We have been a major sponsor of the LIFA since 2019, where we were the first flooring manufacturer in Australia to achieve Declare Red List Free accreditation. Declare is a platform to share and find healthy building products. Manufacturers voluntarily disclose product information used by leading designs to specify products they know they can trust. Today, we hold most Declare Red List Free labels in Australia, and the portfolio continues to grow.

Many of our products are designed with biophilia in mind, purposefully incorporating colours, textures, and patterns found in the natural environment. We are thrilled to be sponsoring the very first LFIA’s National Biophilic Design Award, resonating closely with our Believe in Better philosophy as we are passionate about improving the health and well-being of occupants in the spaces that we live and work in. 
&nbsp;

Sponsoring the Living Future Institute of Australia’s (LFIA), National Biophilic Design Awards, in the Interior and Renovation category in 2024.

Proud Sponsor Of The Biophilic Design Awards 2024

To celebrate International Women’s Day we're shining the spotlight on some inspirational women in our business.

Bianca Juresko, Senior Team Manager – Infrastructure

Bianca reflects on International Women's Day (IWD) by emphasising the theme of ‘Invest in Women’. With over 20 years of experience at Godfrey Hirst, she acknowledges the positive changes in the company's gender representation, particularly in the executive leadership team. While celebrating progress at her workplace, Bianca recognises the global disparities where many women still lack access to things that we take for granted.

Her proudest achievement revolves around being part of successful, collaborative teams at Godfrey Hirst. Bianca values shared success alongside respected and admired colleagues. To support gender equity in the workplace, she advocates for fair treatment, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity where all employees feel valued and supported.

Surrounded by inspirational women daily, Bianca highlights the lasting impact of her late mother-in-law, a gentle and intelligent soul who encouraged continuous learning and finding value in everyone. As a leader, Bianca prioritises creating an environment where everyone feels heard and valued, embracing and celebrating differences to propel the organisation forward as a diverse and modern entity.

<blockquote>
“Working within an environment where everyone feels valued and heard is fundamental to me” – Bianca Juresko, Senior Team Manager – Infrastructure
</blockquote>

&nbsp;

Jane Fletcher, AU Chief Operating Officer

For Jane, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality. While Godfrey Hirst has achieved equal representation at the senior management level, Jane acknowledges the global challenge with women in leadership positions, especially in societies where basic rights are denied. Despite the need for a dedicated day, she emphasises the ongoing struggle for women's rights.

Jane's proudest achievement in her 29-year tenure at Godfrey Hirst is her contribution to reshaping the company's culture. She attributes Godfrey Hirst’s progress to a mindset valuing skill and dedication over gender, with cultural change supported at all management levels. Jane stresses the importance of embedding gender equity into the organisation's DNA through decision-making and policies.

Inspired by numerous talented women daily, Jane, as a leader, prioritises both employee well-being and the company's success, viewing them as interconnected goals. For her, leadership involves fostering a safe, nurturing environment while driving business growth.

<blockquote>
“Everyone deserves the right to work in a safe and nurturing environment” – Jane Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer
</blockquote>

&nbsp;

Renee Smith, Chief Marketing Officer

To Renee, IWD is a moment to express gratitude for the impact and inspiration these women bring to diverse aspects of her world. In a career marked by milestones, Renee’s proudest achievement is reaching the 10-year mark with an iconic Australian brand. This brand not only resonates with Australian women but has also empowered a generation of young women to embrace their true selves.

When it comes to supporting gender equity in the workplace, Renee advocates for lending a helping hand irrespective of gender, emphasising the importance of supporting colleagues in various aspects of work.&nbsp;

Reflecting on the women who inspire her daily, Renee mentions her friends, nurturing mothers, supportive partners, powerful entrepreneurs, astrologers, gardeners, growers, interior designers and musicians. As a leader, Renee talks to the importance of fostering a strong leadership team, empowering her colleagues to be their very best and producing the best marketing in market!

<blockquote>
“IWD is an opportunity to celebrate women from all areas in your life. To acknowledge them and be thankful for who they are, how they show up and the impact and/or inspiration they have on you” – Renee Smith, Chief Marketing Officer 
&nbsp;
</blockquote>

&nbsp;

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/v1/articles/9e66bf1d-7c65-4747-a0e1-2e235494f188/photography/iwd-2024-news-inset-img_001.jpg">

Lisa Norton, NZ Chief Operating Officer

IWD carries profound meaning for Lisa, symbolizing the celebration of women's contributions in various aspects of life.

Lisa's proudest career achievement revolves around transforming a disengaged team into one that thrives on positivity and consistently delivers for the business. Through her leadership, the team's culture underwent a remarkable improvement, reflected in an external engagement survey that soared from 67% to an impressive 90%. Her commitment to fostering engagement, development, and effective leadership created an environment where individuals felt empowered to make a difference.

When it comes to supporting gender equity in the workplace, Lisa advocates for increasing the presence of women in manufacturing leadership, particularly in engineering and mechanical roles. In Lisa's everyday life, she draws inspiration from Deena Clarkson, CEO of CODA Group, not just for her outstanding business leadership but also for her approachability and authentic care. Deena's transformative impact on businesses and the mentorship she provides to numerous women resonates deeply with Lisa.

As a leader, Lisa emphasizes the importance of being consistent, calm, and curious - qualities that contribute to treating everyone fairly, creating a sense of safety, and expressing genuine passion for people and their endeavours. Through Lisa's perspective, International Women's Day stands as a pivotal moment to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, stories, and potential of women worldwide.

<blockquote>"International Women's Day offers a platform for women to share their many achievements and stories from the year that was." - Lisa Norton, NZ Chief Operating Officer</blockquote>

&nbsp;

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Inspirational women from our business.

Celebrating International Women's Day

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/colour-theory">Colour Theory</a> brings a broad spectrum of 45 vibrant carpet tiles designed to transform any commercial space with a spectrum of captivating colours. Elevate your interior environment by harnessing the power of colour application, unlocking a world of connectivity and emotion within your commercial interior.

<h3>A Curated Selection of Hues</h3>

Our curated selection of hues spans from bright and beautiful tones to subtle warm, cool, and neutral shades, providing endless possibilities for injecting personality into your space. With the flexibility to mix and match colours, you have the freedom to create bespoke areas that resonate with your brand and style.

<h3>Near Endless Possibilities for Design</h3>

Imagine promoting collaboration in dynamic learning environments, fostering focus in bustling workplaces, or instilling a sense of calmness in healing spaces. The opportunities are boundless, and Colour Theory is here to cater to every need. Designed and made in Australia Colour Theory can be delivered in as little as 3-4 weeks from order date.

What sets Colour Theory apart is its innovative design – a striated gradient pattern that seamlessly implements a colour shift across each individual carpet tile. This unique approach allows for greater variation in colour across installation patterns, creating a visually stunning and one-of-a-kind effect on the floor.

A spectrum of 45 vibrant carpet tiles designed to transform any commercial space.

Introducing Colour Theory - Freedom To Create With 45 Hues

GH Commercial are proud to supporters of the Joy exhibition at the Immigration Museum as the Flooring Partner. We were thrilled to work with four local artists within the overall exhibition to create a custom carpet that added an extra element to each unique joyous installation. Joy is open for viewing from the 1st of March 2024 – 29 August 2025.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h3>Joy exhibition</h3>

The Joy exhibition at the Immigration Museum sees a range of artists create an installation experience that reflects their own personal representation of Joy. Creating a space where people can come together to connect and experience sparks of joy in a range of structures and formats. Exploring colour and storytelling, seven individual leading Victorian based artists have created their own unique expressions of Joy to create an emotive adventure for individuals from all walks of life.

Visit <a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/whats-on/joy/">Joy</a>.

Proud supporters of the Joy exhibition at the Immigration Museum as the Flooring Partner. 

Joy x GH Commercial

GH Commercial along with Godfrey Hirst are proud to be an Official Partner of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2024 for a second year.

GH Commercial along with Godfrey Hirst are proud to be an Official Partner of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2024 for a second year.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2024 x GH Commercial

<h3>The Design Institute of Australia</h3>

We are excited to share that we are partnering with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) in 2024! The DIA is a national industry body that shares knowledge and thought leadership to provide greater access and inclusivity to Australian designers and raises the value of Australian design as a whole. The DIA is the only professional body that champions the value of all design and the impact of Australian designers. They further work to advocate for Australian designers to assist in leading industry initiatives to improve professional environments and outcomes. By practicing inclusive group decision making across their associated member body, the DIA fosters a strong community where designers can collaborate, advocate and learn together.

&nbsp;

<h3>GH Commercial in Partnership</h3>

We are proud to come on board as a Community Partner of the DIA in 2024, here at GH Commercial we value design and supporting the industry that we all are immersed within and finding greater opportunities to connect meaningfully with each other. This is an exciting opportunity to further connect with a range of designers within the industry across Australia. In addition, DIA supports a vibrant and relevant learning program, which it explores through people, members, collaborators, and partners, with the overall vision to empower designers to understand the world and they can change it. In 2023 we were delighted to share our knowledge as an industry leader and provide insight into the world of flooring and how this impacts the specification space through our CPD training. Through the DIA’s learning program we will be able to further share these learnings with the broader design community.

We're partnering with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) in 2024! 

Partnering With The Leading National Organisation For Design, Design Institute Of Australia.

The best bits of our Talking Architecture &amp; Design podcast from 2023 discussing all things design, sustainability and product development with a range of guests.

Request a copy of this Whitepaper below:

Talking Architecture & Design Podcast eBook 2023

Flooring provides the foundational backdrop to an interior and often has the largest footprint within a space. Creating a luxurious environment is simple our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/chateau-oak">Chateau Oak</a> engineered timber by Godfrey Hirst. In 2024, <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/chateau-oak">Chateau Oak</a> has been updated with a new oak core and refreshed colour palette providing a range of new timeless selections. This unique core construction utilises a whole-tree approach to constructing engineered timber flooring and not only using the select parts of the timber. This results in an oak floor that still achieves the stability benefits of cross-grain engineered timber flooring but utilises a single species approach.

Available in a selection of contemporary colourways that offer a clean yet distinctive character to each and every board, the updated range retains the most popular colours, including Alpine Oak, Summer Blonde and Autumn Amber. Additionally, new hues will constitute a fashion-forward colour palette with a mix of neutral tones and reactive stains that are designed to accentuate the natural grain variation found in European oak as well as promote a unique aged and rustic look.

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/chateau-oak">Chateau Oak</a> is <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/technical/product-certifications/pefc">PEFC</a> (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) Chain of Custody certified, meaning it has been sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests that adhere to the highest ecological, cultural, ethical and environmental standards. The PEFC Chain of Custody certification accounts for every log from forest to floor, guaranteeing the timber in these products has been ethically produced.

With a real European oak surface, <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/chateau-oak">Chateau Oak</a> provides a luxurious look with true-to-life distinct knots and grain variation. Perfect for commercial applications within multi-residential and office spaces, it performs well in high-traffic areas thanks to a board thickness of 14.2mm.

Welcome to the Chateau. With a unique tri-layer oak core, our Chateau Oak engineered timber range will leave you floored.

Welcome To The Chateau

Selecting the right flooring within senior living and health care spaces can be critical to ensuring the safety, wellbeing and comfort of patients and healthcare workers. With frequent high traffic activity with persistent wheeled traffic through many zones, installing the ideal hygienic flooring solution is important.

<h3>Impervious Carpet Backing for Hygiene&nbsp;</h3>

Maintaining a hygienic environment is crucial in healthcare settings. Impervious carpet backing acts as a barrier against moisture and contaminants, assisting with bio contaminant control and preventing damage to the sub-floor. Our Health Bac® impervious backing is 100% PVC and BPA free and is designed to withstand the demands of health and aged care facilities as it prevents liquid spills from penetrating the carpet pooling on the subfloor, preventing the growth of bacteria and mould.

<h3> 
Slip Resistance for Safety</h3>

In environments where slip hazards such as liquid spills and leaks are prevalent, preventing falling injuries is paramount. Opting for slip-resistant flooring is a crucial step to mitigate these risks. Carpets, known for their inherently non-slip surface, play a pivotal role in reducing the incidence of falls. Health Bac® impervious backing further works to by containing liquid spills, significantly reducing the risks associated with slips.

<h3> 
Maximising Patient Comfort</h3>

Patient comfort is a top priority in healthcare and senior living facilities. Soft flooring, particularly cushion-backed carpet tiles work to enhance underfoot comfort. Our cushion backed carpet tiles made with our Enviro Bac Plus® can be strategically placed in common areas like waiting spaces and other 'dry zones' to provide a welcoming and comforting environment for patients and visitors.

<h3> 
Fatigue Reduction for Healthcare Workers</h3>

Healthcare professionals spend a considerable amount of time on their feet, which can lead to fatigue and discomfort. The installation of Enviro Bac Plus® cushion-backed carpet tiles can not only benefit patient comfort but also contribute to reducing the fatigue experienced by healthcare workers. This flooring choice provides a supportive surface for prolonged standing and can help to positively impact the well-being of the staff.

Browse our range of impervious backed healthcare carpets &nbsp;today or create your own custom carpet with our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/designer-jet">Designer Jet®</a> &nbsp;technology and add our Health Bac® impervious backing for your next healthcare or senior living project!

There are many factors to selecting the right flooring within senior living and health care spaces and it is vitally important.

The Best Hygienic Soft Flooring Choice for Healthcare and Senior Living Facilities.

Godfrey Hirst and GH Commercial are proud supporters of PNG Foundation, an organisation that provides Kamea people in remote Papua New Guinea access to health, education, and infrastructure.

The PNG Foundation aims to provide primary healthcare access for all Kameas, improve nutrition status, improve hospital buildings and implement an effective vaccination program to prevent communicable diseases. They believe that education is the foundation for children to reach their full potential. Their aim is to improve school infrastructure and provide access to supplies, electricity and communication.

Every year, PNG Foundation welcomes volunteer health and other professionals from Australia to visit Kanabea. These skilled individuals, including doctors, nurses and allied health workers, provide valuable services to the clinic and outposts. Additionally, other professionals such as plumbers, painters, and carpenters have also contributed by renovating existing buildings. School supplies were donated to the Kanabea primary school and cement for 2 additional classrooms.

Godfrey Hirst and GH Commercial are proud supporters of PNG Foundation.

Supporting The PNG Foundation

Good flooring design can have a major impact on the health and productivity of occupants explains textile scientist and product developer at GH Commercial, Judy-Lea Engel.

When it comes to selecting flooring for busy commercial or educational settings Judy-Lea says you cannot go past selecting carpet and underlay to achieve good acoustics.

<blockquote>
“Background noise drowns out conversation. The installation of carpet and underlay is the best method available for drowning excessive noise generated by impacts,” she says.
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
“Soft surfaces absorb sound waves across a large range of frequencies and, in particular, soft surfaces absorb particularly well at high frequencies Hard surfaces reflect sound waves at these frequencies so they bounce back into the classroom where they can cause echoes.”
</blockquote>

She points to the GH Commercial carpets that were specified for Melbourne’s first vertical school Haileybury College to help absorb noise.

Judy-Lea says carpet can also have great anti-fatigue properties for people who spend large amounts of time on their feet, such as teachers. Standing on hard surfaces for a long time can lead to sore legs and feet as well as injuries such as chronic plantar fasciitis.

<blockquote>
“Modular carpet is one of the few types of flooring with anti-fatigue properties. Cushion underlays do not provide anti-fatigue properties. Even though they are softer they do not provide the same degree of support.”
</blockquote>

Colour is another key consideration for flooring design. Judy-Lea says there is research with tangible evidence to show that certain colours can have an array of positive outcomes from increased attention spans to lower levels of eye fatigue.

One study Judy-Lea refers to showed that the judgement on the passage of time varies by up to 45 minutes depending on the colour of the room.

She says pre-schoolers and primary school students respond well to warm bright colour schemes, particularly colours that may create patterns, while soft cool colours improve concentration in secondary and tertiary settings. She also recommends designs that “tap into the power of nature” to help with learning outcomes.

<blockquote>
“Fractals have been incorporated into some of our carpet designs and it gives a powerful connection to human emotion as well as reducing mental fatigue,” she says.
</blockquote>

When considering the impact of the flooring products being specified, she advises choosing a brand with third party certifications, GH Commercial hold several of these certifications as part of their commitment to transparency and healthy indoor environments. One of the third-party certifications GH Commercial products holds is the Declare® label.

<blockquote>
“They’re very much like a nutrition label they have the ingredients…the manufacturing location end of life options…as well as the life expectancy of the product, they also include VOC content, and they have a declaration status. At the very bottom of that label, they have what’s called red list free and that’s very much about ingredient disclosure. It cannot contain any of the items that are on the red list, and it means it also meets emission testing and the requirements for the Living Building Challenge Certification standard,” she explains.
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
“All of these things can give a specifier or a designer information about the product they are looking at.”
</blockquote>

<a href="https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/episode-186-judy-lea-engel-on-how-healthy-floor">Listen to Episode 186</a>: Judy-Lea Engel on how healthy floor materials &amp; designs are vital for designers &amp; users alike.

Good flooring design can have a major impact on the health and productivity of occupants, acoustics and colour are two notable considerations.

Talking Architecture & Design Podcast With Judy-Lea Engel

Understanding the effects of floor colour on the productivity, health and wellbeing of individuals when designing commercial spaces and education settings is vital.

&nbsp;

<h3>Light Reflection Values</h3>

&nbsp;

The way in which colours of particular surfaces, such as carpet, absorb and reflect light can be tested and assigned a Light Reflection Value (LRV). This value is expressed as a percentage of light that is reflected from a surface. Lower light reflectance causes the pupils dilate whereas, higher light reflectance causes the pupils’ contract.&nbsp;

LRV is a key consideration when selecting colours within a space as the internationally accepted normal is maintaining a 3:1 ratio of LRV between the walls, floor and furniture. Therefore, when selecting the colour of flooring for a space the overall colours selected and their LRVs within the space must also be considered. This ensures for the control of extreme contrasts in dark and light within a space. &nbsp;

Understanding the effects of floor colour on the productivity, health and wellbeing of individuals when designing commercial spaces and education settings is vital.

The Effect Of Carpet Colour In The Classroom

Discover how flooring plays a pivotal role when approaching human centred design in education. From reducing noise, improving acoustics and safety underfoot but also how modular flooring solutions like carpet tiles allow for wayfinding and use of colour in a purposeful way that can impact a students learning.

Australia: <a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/education-flooring-approaching-human-wellness">Watch webinar via partner Archify</a> and claim formal CPD Points. 
New Zealand: <a href="https://teulo.co/events/flooring-in-education/">Watch webinar via partner Teulo</a> and claim formal CPD Points.

<ul>
	<li>1 Australian Formal CPD Point (Design competency)</li>
	<li>10 NZRAB Points (10 Design competency)</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/archify.png"> 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/nzia-approved.png"> 
<a href="https://teulo.co/events/fractal-design/"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/teulo.jpg"></a>

Discover how flooring plays a pivotal role when approaching human centred design in education. 

Education & Flooring: Approaching Human Wellness

When designing for public spaces choosing a vibrant design can provide an instant impact and play into the aesthetics of the space.&nbsp;

Carpet installations in large commercial interiors require a lot of thought. That’s because while aesthetics and ambience are essential requisites, you’ve also got to weigh in crucial aspects like resilience, durability and maintenance. What's more, different kinds of spaces have different needs.

For instance, carpets in public spaces get soiled quickly. So, how do you choose a carpet that remains unfazed in the face of dirt and grime? Then again… what is the most effective solution for high traffic zones? And how do you work around issues of regular wear and tear, to help your client avoid the risk of frequent and expensive replacements?&nbsp;

If any of these and other similar questions have ever crossed your mind, this guide might just be the answer to your queries. Read on for the latest tips and ideas on choosing the most suitable carpeting solutions for public spaces. 
&nbsp;

A guide to help you choose the right flooring for your public space.

Vibrant Public Space Design: Selecting The Best Carpet For Public Spaces

Around 1 in 2 people in Australia will struggle with their mental health during their life. For more than 20 years, Australians have placed their trust in Beyond Blue as a reliable source of mental health information, support, and hope.&nbsp;

As one of Australia’s most well-known, trusted and visited mental health organisation, GH Commercial are proud to be supporting Beyond Blue with an annual donation of $10,000 to help their 24/7 Free Support services, aligning with our ‘Better for People’ core value. Beyond Blue focuses on tackling depression and anxiety – the most common mental health conditions in Australia – and through this they also contribute to suicide prevention.&nbsp;

With a vision for all people in Australia to achieve their best possible mental health, Beyond Blue’s strategy focuses on making it easier for people to access high-quality mental health support earlier. With around 3.3 million people in Australia living with anxiety and around 1.5 million people living with depression, Beyond Blue aims to provide a safe and reliable place to access information, advice, and support. &nbsp; &nbsp;

To read more about Beyond Blue, head to <a href>www.beyondblue.org.au</a>. 
&nbsp;

GH Commercial proudly supporting Beyond Blue.

Proudly Supporting Beyond Blue

For Lachlan Howell, passion for sustainability was born alongside the Great Ocean Road – and it’s been a crucial part of his career path ever since. Here, Lachlan talks about how his perspective on sustainability has evolved, GH Commercial’s updated sustainability framework – and the company’s latest initiatives in that space.

Download this whitepaper today.

Download our Sustainability eBook 2023 today

Sustainability eBook 2023

Our local investment in people, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution provides total supply chain capability, ensuring quality control and consistency from product design, right through to delivery. We are proud to have a loyal and long-serving inclusive and diverse workforce while managing organisational renewal to ensure an excellent mix of new thinking and deep knowledge.

Celebrating the incredible faces behind our local manufacturing.

Faces Of Australian Manufacturing

Together, we are stronger. Here at GH Commercial we have come together with Dreamtime Flooring to create a partnership that is a first of its kind and distinctive within the Oceanic region. GH Commercial and Dreamtime Flooring bringing First Nations artists work to life in a distinctive alliance unlike any other.

Dreamtime Flooring is a 100% Indigenous owned flooring business that aims to provide the missing link connecting culture, artwork, and flooring. Josh Haddock the Managing Director of Dreamtime Flooring is a proud Yorta Yorta man raised in Morwell, Victoria on Gunai Kurnai Country, Josh wanted to create a business that celebrated Indigenous culture through flooring while engaging with other Indigenous owned businesses, helping to streamline income back into Indigenous communities.

With over 150 years manufacturing experience, we wanted to take our learnings as a business, and share our knowledge across manufacturing, sales and our wider business with Josh, and his team of flooring experts, to help further Dreamtime Flooring’s success. The partnership model flips the traditional method where ultimately sales are kept with Dreamtime Flooring, which ensures that growth is kept with an 100% Indigenous owned business, creating a unique model that is unlike any other within the current industry.

<blockquote>
“Partnering with GH Commercial has been an incredible journey, developing from two very different business dynamics that through time and understanding created the building blocks to pave the road towards a real partnership”. - Joshua Haddock, Managing Director of Dreamtime Flooring
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
“We are here to break the mould as a large corporate business. Our goal is to build on a foundation of collaboration and as the Dreamtime Flooring x GH Commercial partnership continues, each respective business grows and creates a stronger community of businesses, artists and support for social needs around our country.” – Joel Williamson, National Commercial Sales Manager, GH Commercial.
</blockquote>

Here at GH Commercial we are excited to work with Dreamtime Flooring and to continue support their growth to continue to be the leading partnership within this space as well as continuing the inspiring changes that Dreamtime Flooring are influencing with the Indigenous community. In 2024 we are taking our partnership with Dreamtime Flooring and launching our official product collaboration!

Coming together with Dreamtime Flooring in a unique alliance.

Together We Are Stronger - Dreamtime Flooring Partnership

Visualise in real time using GHC Go!&nbsp;

Here at GH Commercial we are excited to launch our GHC Go Visualiser App that provides a new tool to assist in finding the best flooring solution for your next project. Browse a wide range of our commercial flooring styles, from carpet tiles, to hard flooring and broadloom carpets directly on the GHC Go App.

Visualise your flooring selections in real-time using built-in augmented reality within your space. With GHC Go, virtual reality makes selecting a commercial flooring for a project a breeze. With no log in required, visualise your flooring in real time on this immersive platform.

Available now on the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/ghc-go/id6450460139">Apple App Store</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mohawkgroup.ghcgo&amp;pcampaignid=web_share">Google Play Store</a>.

GHC Go Visualiser App

On the 12th of October 2023 we were thrilled to host our Design Discussion Event at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane. The night entailed a mix of intriguing discussions, inspiring art installations and networking opportunities for our interior design and architect community. This evening was designed to foster connections and bring industry professionals together, whilst exploring the challenges and opportunities around participatory design.&nbsp;

We were honoured to begin the night with a private viewing of the ‘Gone Fishing’ exhibition and be joined by graduate of the National Gallery of Australia’s Indigenous Arts Fellowship program, and curator of ‘Gone Fishing’, Katina Davidson where she took us through the creation of ‘Gone Fishing’ and the meaning behind the exhibition. Drawn from the QAGOMA Collection, ‘Gone Fishing’ presents Indigenous Australian artists’ works that affirm this cultural, social and recreational activity. Alongside the display of fish traps, spears, nets and depictions of leisure, the exhibition also showcases works responding to discussions of rising and warming seas, water contamination, and the struggles faced by Traditional Owners to continue to care for their sea Country.

We then invited our guests to be seated in the elegant River Lounge space within QAGOMA that boasts views over the Brisbane River that were illuminated by the city lights. Claire Beale, Head of Learning at the Design Institute of Australia joined us to moderate our evening of in-depth discussion. Claire currently works with the Design Institute of Australia teams to deliver programming that enables designers to continue their own professional learning and share their expertise. Discussion surrounding the importance of participatory design and the relevant limitations was undertaken within each group which uncovered a range of individual insights that illustrated the breadth of experience within the room. Inspiring discussion flowed throughout the night alongside an expertly crafted two course meal that showcases the best fresh local produce.&nbsp;

Claire then formed a panel comprised of a mix of individuals from different regions across Australia where all those in attendance where able to listen in on the differing learnings of individuals in relation to the discussion topic. With Claire’s own extensive experience within the design field led an authoritative discussion that embraced all experiences within the room. Thank you to all of those who attended and contributed towards such distinguished and impactful discussions!

Design Discussion Event - a night to bring industry professionals together to explore design challenges and opportunities. 

GH Commercial Design Discussion Event

Geelong Arts Centre has recently reopened after extensive renovations bringing revitalised performing and event spaces to the art community of Geelong and surrounds with a unique design that reflects Geelong’s history, culture and creativity. Here at GH Commercial we are proud to support the Geelong Arts Centre through a donation to The Church Giving Campaign. This campaign focuses on the redevelopment of the mid-1800s Church located in the heart of the Geelong Arts Centre creative campus. &nbsp;Through The Church, the Geelong Arts Centre will be able to further nurture and foster incredible talent and to provide opportunities and pathways for artists to practice and further hone and develop their craft. We are also proud to be a part of the Name A Seat Campaign where our donation is recognised in The Story House where some of the top regional performances will be held. &nbsp;

Supporting the Geelong Arts Centre through a donation to The Church Giving Campaign.

Geelong Arts Centre Donation

The presentation equips architects and designers with essential insights to confidently specify carpet products for diverse projects. It begins by highlighting the importance of carpet fibres, covering both natural and synthetic options. The process of fibre treatment and preparation is explored, emphasising its impact on the final product's performance and appearance.

Key takeaways for architects and designers include understanding the factors influencing fibre selection, ranging from aesthetics and performance needs to location considerations.

Furthermore, the presentation offers a comparative analysis between cut pile and loop pile carpets, elucidating how fibre choice influences the visual and tactile qualities of each type.

Fibre Significance: Grasping the role and types of carpet fibres in production.

Selection Expertise: Navigating the selection process based on aesthetics, performance, and location.

Impact on Carpet Types: Discerning how fibre choices shape the unique attributes of cut pile and loop pile carpets, enabling precise design decisions.

&nbsp;

Australia: <a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/carpet-construction-and-performance-unravelling-the-craftmanship-underfoot">Watch webinar via partner Archify</a> and claim formal CPD Points.

New Zealand: <a href="https://teulo.co/events/teulo-ed-acoustic-thermal-wastewater-carpet-fibre-and-roofing-part-two/">Watch webinar via partner Teulo</a> and claim formal CPD Points.

CPD Points:

<ul>
	<li>1 Australian Formal CPD Point (Design competency)</li>
	<li>10 NZRAB Points (10 Design competency)</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/carpet-construction-and-performance-unravelling-the-craftmanship-underfoot"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/archify.png"></a> 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/nzia-approved.png"> 
<a href="https://teulo.co/events/teulo-ed-acoustic-thermal-wastewater-carpet-fibre-and-roofing-part-two/"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/teulo.jpg"></a>

Discover the factors influencing fibre selection, ranging from aesthetics and performance, providing confidence to correctly specify carpet products for your projects.

Carpet Construction & Performance: Unravelling the Craftsmanship Underfoot

GH Commercial&nbsp;is a supporting sponsor of Geelong Connected Communities (GCC), which provides a 24/7 online grants platform to help not-for-profit organisations fund their programs. &nbsp;

With a history of over 150 years of local manufacturing in Geelong, we share a value in giving back to the local community and supporting like-minded organisations in diverse industries like arts and culture and events.

GCC has established partnerships with more than 300 non-profit organisations in the area. Together, they have successfully completed 777 meaningful projects and distributed a total of $2,199,118 to support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people in Geelong.

GH Commercial&nbsp;are proud to support GCC’s goal of 1000 grants by 2025, helping keep the Geelong region strong through all community segments.

Photography: <a href="https://www.planetdesigns.net/planet-designs-overland">Planet Designs Overland</a>

GH Commercial is a supporting sponsor of Geelong Connected Communities.

Supporting Geelong Connected Communities

As part of US Climate Week, Mohawk Industries, our parent company is proud to announce the release of their global ESG Report. For us in Mohawk Oceania, there is a lot to celebrate having been the first carpet manufacturing company to achieve carbon neutral organisational status in both Australia and New Zealand, completed our first Reconciliation Action Plan and more. You can read further about our local and global achievements in our complete report.&nbsp;

Within our inaugural localised ESG Report, we outline our united efforts globally and draw on cases locally, across a range of environmental, social and governance issues. In performance and governance we continued to deliver a Zero Harm workspace achieving ISO 45001 standard in all Australian sites. We delivered our third Modern Slavery report continuing our commitment to ensuring our suppliers meet our expectations laid out in our Supplier Code of Conduct. Our connection to community continues to play a pivotal role through our local and national initiatives.&nbsp;

As the Oceanic subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, we are proud to belong to a global network of leading products, brands and world-class manufacturing and we know that our future depends on the work we do today. Here at GH Commercial, we summarise our commitments to our planet, people and our performance within our Believe in Better® framework This framework outlines how we challenge ourselves to do and be better every day, how we make decisions, how we reinvest in our people and our planet, and how we define what matters most as we work to deliver value for generations to come.

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability">Learn More</a>

<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/v1/apps/ghc-web/sustainability/docs/Mohawk_ESG_Report.pdf">Download the Sustainability Report (10MB)</a>

Announcing the release of Mohawk Industries global ESG Report.

2022 ESG Report

In pursuit of celebrating artists with disabilities in the Oceanic region, our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/social-canvas">Social Canvas Collection</a> is proud to support genU’s Arts Programme by providing an annual donation. genU is an organisation that is driven to ensure everyone’s lives are happier and healthier, especially people with disabilities, the ageing and those experiencing disadvantage.&nbsp;

Originally founded in Geelong as a play-centre for children with disability in 1952, genU services and support have greatly expanded over their 70+ year history.

Today, they are a team of 3600 employees and volunteers across 169 locations across Australia. They are also profit-for-purpose and committed to reinvesting surpluses into services to promote inclusion in the community. Through their Arts Programme, genU offer day programs across five locations, James Street Gallery studio and further diverse community art programs.&nbsp;

This donation supports James Street Gallery by providing a soundscape element to support their upcoming exhibition RISE, at the Geelong Gallery. The James Street gallery provides artists experiencing disability access to studio use, their mission is to provide a welcoming and accessible studio for artists with disabilities. Since 1997, they have supported local and studio artists in more than 140 exhibitions.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.genu.org.au/">Learn more about genU</a>

The RISE exhibition features a collaborative installation created by the various artists from genU’s, James Street Gallery and Eastern Hub Studio located in Geelong. The totemic structures are created from paper mache and individually express each artist’s unique markings. The exhibition enables each artist to showcase their own individual creativity whilst presenting amongst other artist’s works as a whole. The structural whole signifies a community that can rise through mutual support while celebrating and encouraging diversity.

At GH Commercial, our commitment to our planet extends beyond just products and processes: it’s how we challenge ourselves to do and be better every day, how we make decisions, how we reinvest in our people and our planet, and how we define what matters most as we work to deliver value for generations to come. We work to partner with local and global community initiatives that strive to improve lives where our team members, customers, and stakeholders live and work in order to contribute back to the communities that we operate within.

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/social-canvas">View our Social Canvas Collection</a>

Our Social Canvas Collection is proud to support genU’s Arts Programme by providing an annual donation

In Support Of genU

Lorena Gaxiola + Gallies have partnered with the Feltex design team to bring an entirely new concept of floor coverings and fashion-inspired carpet designs to life. Drawing from a diverse range of creative disciplines, this exclusive collection is set to add vibrancy and life to any space.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/lorena-gaxiola">Collection </a>available now.

The result is a captivating combination of unique, artful pieces and gentle movements that come together in a curated series of prints that can be used to create either subdued or vibrant atmospheres within any commercial interior.

&nbsp;

<blockquote>
"Crafting self-identity through unique floor coverings &amp; fashion-inspired carpet designs." - Lorena Gaxiola, Interior Architect and Designer
</blockquote>

Lorena Gaxiola + Gallies have partnered with the Feltex design team to bring an entirely new concept of floor coverings and fashion-inspired carpet designs to life. 

Lorena Gaxiola + Feltex Collection

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/v1/apps/ghc-web/images/lorena-feature-sm.jpg">

Lorena Gaxiola, an internationally acclaimed interior architect and designer renowned for her expertise in creating bespoke spaces that add value to any project.

With over two decades of experience, Lorena has worked across Europe, the US, Australia and China, making her well versed in global market trends.

Based in Sydney, Lorena leads a team of multi-faceted female creatives, dedicated to offering clients a holistic approach, combining conceptual architecture, interior designs, product development and branding to deliver a client-centric service.

In this exclusive interview, she talks about the influences, concepts and ideas that have made her an award-winning Interior Architect &amp; Designer who provides strategic and unique solutions for progressive property developers across the world.

“My nature is to be very curious, and I am a gutsy person,” she says.

“I don’t tend to design under one aesthetic. I like to say that I bring form and function to my clients' requests or that I’m a curator of their vision”.

Lorena, who is American with a Mexican background, grew up in a family of architects and builders that inspired her down the path of interior design. She now heads up a renowned all-female creative agency based in Sydney that specialises in creating bespoke spaces.

When Lorena was working on interior design for the new 47-storey building, The Lennox, in Parramatta she was adamant that the many corridors would not have lacklustre carpets. She took this vision of stand-out flooring to the next level by designing her own carpets for the building in collaboration with GH Commercial.

“Working with the GH Commercial internal design team we were able to create a beautiful pattern inspired by the riverfront, and we were able to produce it and the builder liked it and the developer liked it, and it looks amazing. It’s an artwork in what could have been a dull corridor”.

Lorena went back to the GH Commercial team to discuss flooring designs for her upcoming projects. The team was keen to collaborate further, and she is now developing a bold new range of commercial carpets with them.

Lorena says the element of surprise is everything in commercial design.

“Operators need to have a sense of surprise, it’s highly competitive out in the market and travellers are becoming a lot more savvy. And then we have social media now as a way to express and show people how it can be an Instagramable moment so really this is why the pop of colour and strong artwork is important in dull spaces and I think this is where the trend is definitely heading in hospitality”.

She believes colour is under-utilised in hospitality design, with people underestimating the power of colour theory.

“Imagine how much information people are seeing every day through social media. How do you stand out? Colour is the way to stand out…It is a way to grab people’s attention because it’s a memory point. Colour really affects the mood of a space in a room”.

She says with people exposed to so much media and so many images these days it’s easy to be inspired by other designers' work and play on that. But when it comes to the big brands, they don’t want to look like anyone else.

“People need to be surprised. People need to be original, especially the big brands”.

When asked about her dream design project, Lorena said she is lucky enough to have ticked just about every box already.

“This year I’ve even been invited to design a synagogue in California. A yacht is the only thing I haven’t done yet, or perhaps something in the Metaverse”.

<a href="https://podcast.architectureanddesign.com.au/episode-176-lorena-gaxiola-on-the-changing-trends-and-challenges-of-hospitality-design/">Listen to Episode 176: Lorena Gaxiola</a> on the changing trends and challenges of hospitality design.

Listen to Episode 176: Lorena Gaxiola on the changing trends and challenges of hospitality design.

Talking Architecture & Design Podcast with Lorena Gaxiola

Better Future Sydney &amp; Australia Design Awards.

We are honoured to have been recognised at the Better Future Sydney Design Awards 2023 and the Better Future Australia Design Awards 2024 winning Gold in the Best Product Design – Commercial and Industry category. This award celebrates creative and innovative design for either a component or overall product. Consideration is given to aspects that relate to human usage, aesthetics, selection of components and materials, and the resolution of assembly, manufacturing and the overall function. As the world’s largest network of design award programs, Better Future acknowledge excellence in innovation and design.

The Better Future Awards proudly recognise courageous, diverse and excellent design across the globe. Hosting an annual awards program that cover 19 separate awards hosted every two weeks right across the globe. Starting with the Melbourne Design Awards, Better Future Awards have now extended to New York, London, Sydney, Paris, Berlin, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Brisbane, GOV Design Awards, Australian Design Awards and more. With a global community of 115,000 members that incorporate 9,600 brands and 2,900 studios, Better Future are quickly expanding across the design industry worldwide.

Recognised at the Better Future Sydney Design Awards 2023.

Better Future Awards

Lorena Gaxiola is an internationally acclaimed interior architect and designer renowned for her expertise in creating bespoke spaces that add value to any project. With over two decades of experience, Lorena has worked across Europe, the US, Australia, and China, making her well-versed in global market trends. Based in Sydney, Lorena leads a team of multifaceted female creatives dedicated to offering clients a holistic approach, combining conceptual architecture, interior designs, product development and branding to deliver a client-centric service.

Lorena's journey into the world of architecture and design unfolded naturally, driven by her profound fascination with the art of creating and shaping spaces. With her family's architectural and construction background and her collaborative work with her husband in building and development, Lorena has always been fully immersed in this field. As the years passed, her influence expanded beyond her immediate circle, encompassing a network of friends and colleagues in the arts. This diverse influence played a pivotal role in shaping Lorena's design philosophy, which she perceives not merely as a profession, but as an expression of her identity and the realization of her life's purpose.

Lorena first came into contact with GH Commercial when working on a custom hospitality project. This project required bespoke custom carpet for installation in the corridors of a 47-storey building.

<blockquote>
“When I was first looking at what was available in the market, I looked at vendors from overseas. The builder however, wanted me to work with GH Commercial, because they really wanted to deliver on time and on budget and that’s what GH Commercial is known for.” – Lorena Gaxiola
</blockquote>

GH Commercial sits down with Lorena Gaxiola exploring the inspiration behind her Terra Collection.

Lorena Gaxiola Q&A

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/v1/apps/ghc-web/images/Callie-Headshot.jpg">

As the founder of the Design Partnership, Callie van der Merwe began his career as an architect in the early 1990’s before changing over to hospitality architecture in the early 2000’s.

Since then, he has completed multiple award winning and successful hotel and hospitality interior spaces all over the world with a signature philosophical approach of design for predictive behaviour.

In this interview, he reveals the secrets of designing a successful and vibrant restaurant.

He says when it comes to design people commonly talk about layers, volumes, textures and balance rather than focusing on the behaviour of the people who will use the space. “Design is not a painting, design is for people” he said.

This signature approach of putting people’s predictive behaviour at the heart of hospitality design has seen Callie van der Merwe and his team create many award-winning commercial interior spaces across the world.&nbsp;

“We spent a lot of time on it and started observing. We looked at security footage we just spent more time in restaurants looking at what people do. We realised there are things people do 80% of the time and we were able to bank those behaviours. We know where people like to sit, how they like to move, how they like to be served” he said.

He said there are specific seating behaviours most people like in hospitality settings, such as sitting at bench seating along the perimeter of a restaurant or choosing slightly raised seating that allows them to scan the space and feel safer. They also discovered that the length of the stay in a venue is equal to the weight of the chair. If it’s a very light chair people stay for a shorter time, if it is a heavier chair they feel like it’s a better experience and tend to stay longer.

“We are all wired in a very similar way so if you get that right every single time then you make the space the kind of space where you want to linger longer and a space you go back to repeatedly.”

While van der Merwe and his team can predict many human behaviours in the hospitality space, he admits the science is always evolving.

“Every single restaurant we learn something new and we bank it”.

<a href="https://podcast.architectureanddesign.com.au/episode-171-callie-van-der-merwe-from-design-partnership-reveals-the-secrets-of-designing-a-successful-restaurant/">Listen to the podcast:&nbsp;Episode 171: Callie van der Merwe from Design Partnership</a> reveals the secrets of designing a successful restaurant

In this interview, Callie van der Merwe reveals the secrets of designing a successful & vibrant restaurant.

Talking Architecture & Design Podcast With Callie van der Merwe

Dubbed the Age of the Individual by Oracle, our technology-driven society has sparked a profound shift in consumer expectations, where tailored experiences are motivated by our individual acute awareness for our personal wellbeing, inclusivity, comfort, belonging and purpose, thus driving our overall happiness.

Human centred design is transforming the design and interior fit-out industry, in response to the demands of individuals to have their individual comfort needs met. A once brand or company dominated experience is now being replaced with an experience that addresses both company and individual. The desire to emanate happiness is now overwhelmingly driving the industry.

As we navigate the post-COVID era, our expectations for office environments have evolved. We now desire workplaces that provide a level of comfort and familiarity comparable to our homes. The fight is on by CEO’s of global businesses to ‘earn the commute’ back. Workers have a profound sense of appreciation for their personal wellbeing and awareness their environment impacts their happiness and are demanding a deep need for home comforts in order to return to the hybrid workspace.

Reflecting the broader cultural landscape, our society now yearns for public spaces that embody our identity and provide a sense of belonging. Simultaneously, an exemplary manifestation of these expectations can be observed in the realm of hospitality, particularly in restaurants.

Modern diners seek more than just sustenance; they crave a positive immersive dining experience that reflect current trends, deliver delectable cuisine, and envelop them in a personalized journey encompassing ambiance and culinary offerings delivering on their happiness radar.

Shifting expectations emphasize the need for personalised experiences and adaptable designs, as hospitality and office environments strive to mirror who we are and where we live in the pursuit of overall happiness.

This presentation explores three significant trends in the design and interior fit-out industry that have emerged from the global pursuit of happiness through customisation, with a particular focus on the role of bespoke flooring: 1. Enhancing the hospitality industry's experience through tailor-made fit-outs. 2. Transformation through personalized office spaces 3.

By incorporating bespoke finishes, public spaces gracefully intertwine the narratives of history, society, culture, and the unique geography of their location.

&nbsp;

Australia: <a href="https://www.archify.com/au/education/gh-commercial/detail/how-happiness-is-the-new-driving-force-behind-human-centered-design-in-hospitality-office-public-spaces">Watch webinar via partner Archify</a> and claim formal CPD Points.

New Zealand: <a href="https://teulo.co/events/gh-commercial-how-happiness-is-the-new-driving-force-behind-human-centred-design-in-hospitality-office-and-public-spaces">Watch webinar via partner Teulo</a> and claim formal CPD Points.

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/contact">Contact us</a> to schedule an in person CPD presentation.

CPD Points:

<ul>
	<li>1 Australian Formal CPD Point (Design competency)</li>
	<li>10 NZRAB Points (5 design, 5 project management)</li>
</ul>

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/archify.png"> 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/nzia-approved.png"> 
<a href="https://teulo.co/events/fractal-design/"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/gh/image/upload/c_scale,w_250/v1/apps/ghc-web/pages/cpd-images/teulo.jpg"></a>

Explore how the global pursuit of happiness through customisation is the driving force behind human cantered design.   

Human Centred Design In Hospitality, Offices And Public Spaces

Living intentionally is all about getting back to natural tones, natural fibres and creating an earthy atmosphere within an interior space, ultimately connecting our inner worlds with our outer worlds. Regenerative living elements within apartment design puts tenant wellness as the forefront.&nbsp;

Anchoring this multi-residential trend is colour and texture. From earthy and natural tones, through to spicy and warm hues are definitely the colour direction of the season. Google search terms for “terracotta bedrooms” have seen an increase of 11% year on year, inspiring us to recreate this colour-blocking with our natural wools and rich timbers in flooring and layer with natural bed linen, terracotta tiles and chunky pottery.

Introduce nourishing colours throughout apartment interior spaces with furniture pieces, décor and even wallpapers too. For example, statistics have shown that from year-to-year, Pinterest searches in the UK have shown that ‘terracotta wall colour’ is up 29% from the previous year. The trend is showing that warmer, earthier tones are consistently growing within interior trends as of late, specifically the brown and desert inspired colours in textiles, decorative objects and large furnishings.

<blockquote>
Product pictured above: <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/apostle?colour=sediment">Apostle - Sediment 545</a>
</blockquote>

Living intentionally by returning to our roots.

Regenerative Living

We were so grateful to be able to enjoy the excitement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ at the Australia v Republic of Ireland match! It was a great night to support the Matildas and women’s soccer with our team and guests at Stadium Australia in Sydney at the inaugural match in Australia for the tournament. It was a fantastic opportunity to come together to see the Matildas take the win with Stephanie Catley kicking the winning goal in the second term.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup is the ninth edition of the FIFA international women’s tournament. This year Australia and New Zealand are proud to host the championship tournament from the 20th of July to the 20th of August. Matches will be played across 10 venues in 9 different cities across Australia and New Zealand. The FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 will see 32 teams compete for the ultimate title, increasing from 24 teams in 2019, with Australia and New Zealand also being the first cohosts of the tournament.

Well done to the Matildas for their achievements in the Women’s World Cup in 2023!

A great night to support the Matildas and women’s soccer.

FIFA Women’s World Cup

Wellness in Commercial Interiors

The current increased investment in our emotional and physical wellbeing is apparent now more than ever. This trend sees a range of commercial spaces starting to incorporate a range of comfort features through texture and colour aspects. With an understanding that the atmosphere of our environment interlinks with our general health, more people are now seeking spaces that promote activity, healing and resting restoratively. Wellness can be introduced into the interiors of a space from the ground up from floor coverings all the way through to soft furnishings, there are many ways in which you can update the look and feel of a space to entice wellness.

Wellness Application in the Workplace

This increasing trend of implementing wellness inspired features into commercial spaces is especially applicable within the workplace segment where a shift towards hotelisation has been evident. Hotelisation sees workspaces combining the comforts of home with adaptable spaces that cater to different working styles on demand. With this human-centric design strategy, employees can benefit from the seamless integration of their work and home life with personalised workspaces that prioritise meaningful team connections, mentorship and collaboration.

Hotelisation trend, bringing wellness and comfort to commercial spaces.

Wellness Applications In Interiors

GH Commercial is proud to have earned a Gold medal by EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, as a recognition of their EcoVadis Rating. EcoVadis measures a company’s improvement in its whole supply chain and production towards the transition to a sustainable economy. The results put GH Commercial in the top 97th percentile of more than 100,000+ rated companies in the EcoVadis global network.

The Ecovadis methodology is built on international sustainability standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000, covering 200+ spend categories and 175+ countries.

The Sustainability Scorecard illustrates performance across 21 indicators in four themes:

<ol>
	<li>Environment</li>
	<li>Labour and Human Rights</li>
	<li>Ethics</li>
	<li>Sustainable Procurement</li>
</ol>

Recognising improvements in company sustainability standards.

GH Commercial Achieves Gold Medal Rating By EcoVadis

In September of 2023, the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) hosted an exclusive event celebrating artist eX de Medici and her ‘Beautiful Wickedness’ exhibition. The DIA is the peak industry body within the design community and operates at a national scale providing Australian designers with knowledge, thought leadership, access and inclusivity within the community. Here at GH Commercial, we are proud to support the DIA through this event partnership held at the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane.

This exclusive event welcomed the design community to attend a Q&amp;A session with eX de Medici herself, as well as QAGOMA’s Samantha Littley, the curator of Australian Art. This forum covered a wide range of design led topics and was followed by a networking cocktail event where guests are also invited to experience the ‘Beautiful Wickedness’ exhibition. ‘Beautiful Wickedness’ is the most notable exhibition of Australian artist eX de Medici and explores concepts of the fragility of life, greed, commerce as well as themes of power, conflict and health.&nbsp;

This event was a great opportunity for our GH Commercial team to connect with the design community and be inspired by the phenomenal works of eX di Medici!

Image:&nbsp;eX de Medici, Australia b.1959 / The theory of everything (detail) 2005 / Watercolour and metallic&nbsp;pigment on Arches paper / 114.3 x 176.3cm / Purchased 2005 / Collection: QAGOMA / © eX de Medici

Proudly supporting DIA in this exclusive event.

Design Institute Of Australia eX de Medici Event Partnership

On-Country Pathways is committed to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment rates in Australia. The Indigenous owned and operated not-for-profit provides work experience, traineeships, job placement support, cadetships and a driver-mentor program for First Nations people aged 15-24 years. Here at GH Commercial we are proud to donate to On-Country Pathways to support their career and employment programs.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Jebb Hutchison the General Manager of On-Country Pathways and find out about the fantastic work his organisation does to support First Nation youth in gaining stable employment within the community.

Jebb Hutchison is a proud Wiradjuri man who started his own commercial construction company - TVN On-Country – in 2017, with fellow founders Jonathon Whelan and Gareth VanNoort.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
“We took on several young First Nations trainees in the Albury Wodonga area and started to show them the ropes, exposing them to all aspects of the business. There are more than 70 roles in the construction industry, it’s not just trades, there are management and project co-ordination jobs as well. We enrolled them in a Cert III Business Administration course at the local TAFE and ensured our senior staff were on hand as mentors.” - Jebb Hutchison, General Manager of On-Country Pathways
</blockquote>

Jebb explained how his original initiative through TVN On-Country to support and provide opportunity to First Nations youth within the construction industry grew to become a non-profit organisation that could more broadly support young Indigenous people.

<blockquote>
“It soon became apparent that TVN On-Country was limited in the number of employment opportunities we could provide to local Indigenous youth and so the need for a separate entity – a not-for-profit, was identified and On-Country Pathways was born. We officially launched in June 2022.” - Jebb Hutchison, General Manager of On-Country Pathways
</blockquote>

Supporting On-Country Pathways’ programs to assist future generations of First Nations People.

Q&A With Jebb Hutchison From On-Country Pathways

We were proud take part in the Carpet Baggers 2023 charity golf day again this year and provided a donation to support this year’s charity <a href="https://www.supertee.org.au/">Supertee</a> that operates under the Fair Fight Foundation. Supertee have created medical garments for hospitalised children in Australia that not only make medical care easier but brighten up the days of each child with their superhero patterns. Supertee have already delivered more than 8,000 tees to children in need across Australia and are supported by over 200 volunteers. The event was a great success and raised an overall $15,000 which will be donated to Supertee to continue to provide Supertees to children in need across Australia.

Here at GH Commercial supporting local charities, such as Supertees, is an important part of how we strive to do better and invest in local communities. As part of our Believe in Better® framework we challenge ourselves to continue to reinvest in our people and surrounding communities, and how we define what matters most as we work to deliver value for generations to come. In supporting local charities through donations, we strive to help grow local initiatives such as the important work that Supertees undertake to support sick children and their families, and to aid these programs in continuing to support those in need.

Carpet Baggers Charity Golf Day

Here at GH Commercial, our commitment to our planet extends beyond just products and processes: it’s how we challenge ourselves to do and be better every day, how we make decisions, how we reinvest in our people and our planet, and how we define what matters most as we work to deliver value for generations to come.

We are more specifically committed to the application of circular economy principles and the continual improvement in our environmental, quality, health and safety performance demonstrated by our externally accredited ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 management systems.

In 2022 we became a proud member of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) a co-regulatory not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. As part of this membership, we are working to assess all of our packaging and how we can improve our processes surrounding this aspect of our operations.

Reinvesting in our people and our planet for future generations.

Plastic Packaging Initiatives

Here at GH Commercial, we are a proud partner of Dreamtime Flooring, bringing the work of their artists to life with our local manufacturing technology in Australia. Together, we work to support Dreamtimes vision of sharing Indigenous culture and artwork for future generations. Dreamtime Flooring was born in 2022 from a deep aspiration drawn from director, Josh Haddock’s connection to Indigenous culture, this is the essence of Dreamtime Flooring: the missing link connecting culture, artwork and flooring. This can only come from engaging with a 100% Indigenously owned business-like Dreamtime Flooring.

<blockquote>Partnering with GH Commercial has been an incredible journey, developing from two very different business dynamics that through time and understanding created the building blocks to paved the road towards a real partnership’. - Joshua Haddock, Managing Director of Dreamtime Flooring</blockquote>

Joshua Haddock is a proud Yorta Yorta man raised on Gunai Kurnai Country and is the sole Director of Dreamtime Flooring. Josh has 20 years of practical experience within the flooring industry, with many of these years through his own contactor-based company RJ Precision Flooring Installation. Josh has dedicated the last 7 years to then launch Dreamtime Flooring in 2022, utilising his experience and breadth of knowledge within the industry to create the missing link connecting culture, artwork and flooring. Dreamtime Flooring is proudly 100% indigenous owned business that offers a range flooring products. With a selection of standard designs available featuring contemporary indigenous designs, social impact carpet tiles, as well as offering of custom designs created by local indigenous artists.

Josh speaks to his pathway to establishing Dreamtime Flooring, his mission behind building this business and what this journey has looked like for himself personally.

<blockquote>‘I wanted to find a way to showcase Indigenous art in a way it hadn’t been seen before while creating culturally Safe places for mob. I also wanted to have our artwork protected while finding a way to Harrogate the stories of other people, displayed in a culturally respectful manner as an indigenous person our land, journey and stories are important to us and as such I want to protect and respect. I also wanted to find a way that I could make meaningful change by injecting income directly into the community with the intention to create economic equality.’ - Joshua Haddock, Managing Director of Dreamtime Flooring</blockquote>

Josh proudly speaks to his recent achievement of being awarded ‘The Best Collaboration Award’ at the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce Awards 2022. This fantastic achievement is something that we are proud to share with Dreamtime Flooring as well as BYNM Indigenous Designs as it reflects a manufacturing partnership that we are extremely proud to be a part of. Josh speaks to his greatest achievement being ‘the work we do behind the scenes, promoting culture, investing in our youth and the launching of our new ranges. I feel the best is yet to come.’

Josh touches on how important it is to share indigenous art through flooring and how sharing and installing these designs continues to ‘build culturally safe places and preserving the world’s oldest living culture, sharing the traditions of art which will help build understanding how we as Indigenous people would share our stories’. In the lead up to NAIDOC Week we had the chance to speak to Josh about what this week means to him.

<blockquote>‘NAIDOC week is a time to celebrate all Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders strength, resilience, and progression, providing space for us to showcase our achievements together. This year’s theme is significant to me with the theme being ‘For our Elders’. I will take time to reflect on the success I have had with the business, acknowledging the Elders in my life, past and present, who have been so generous with sharing their cultural knowledge, guiding me to where I am today, paving the way for Business Owners like myself.’ - Joshua Haddock, Director of Dreamtime Flooring</blockquote>

Josh lastly touched on what advice he would give to younger indigenous generations, ‘My advice to the younger Indigenous generation would be to work hard, stick to your values, speak to your elders, listen and be able to receive their advice and above all… Believe in yourself.’

<a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/dreamtime-flooring">Learn more</a>

GH Commercial is a proud partner of Dreamtime Flooring.

Joshua Haddock - Dreamtime Flooring

<h3>A staple in our timber portfolio - Corsica range</h3>

We are committed to designing, manufacturing and supplying high quality floor coverings that contribute to a more beautiful and comfortable world.

Across GH Commercial, market-leading brands cover virtually every aspect of flooring. As a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, we belong to a global network of the world’s largest flooring supplier, featuring products people trust. One trusted product is <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/corsica-oak">Corsica Oak</a>, a sublime engineered timber floor, boasting a real European oak surface, Corsica Oak provides a unique aesthetic with true-to-life knot and grain variations. The contemporary range of colours offers clean yet distinctive character in every board. Finished with a high-quality lacquer from Germany and a light brush veneer, Corsica Oak has a timeless appeal and the touch of luxury.

Due to Corsica Oak’s popularity, we have expanded the range to encompass <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/corsica-chevron">Corsica Chevron</a> and <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/corsica-herringbone">Corsica Herringbone</a> parquetry-style products. These new styles are an extension of the Corsica Oak range, with the four most popular colours (Coffee Oak, Natural Oak Brush, Coastal Oak and Weathered Oak) carrying over into the parquetry options. This allows for the use of Corsica Oak as their long board format, while also implementing Corsica Herringbone or Chevron in other areas of an interior for a refined and cohesive finish.

Flooring provides the foundational backdrop to all interiors, and it often has the largest footprint. Creating a luxurious environment is simple with our Corsica engineered timber ranges. The Oak, Chevron and Herringbone arms of the Corsica range all feature genuine French oak veneer and Wear Guard UV cured lacquer to protect against spills or general wear.

Corsica products are PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) Chain of Custody certified, so you can rest assured the wood has been sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests that adhere to the highest ecological, cultural, ethical and environmental standards. The PEFC Chain of Custody certification accounts for every log, from forest to floor, guaranteeing the timber in these products has been ethically produced.

Looking for something a little different for your next project? From carpets to hard flooring, we have the floor covering to suit any project space. Visit our website to view our full product offerings or <a href="https://dev.ghcommercial.com/contact">contact your local representative</a>.

We are driven to design, manufacture and supply high quality flooring.

Timeless Luxury - Corsica Oak

GH Commercial alongside Godfrey Hirst and Feltex are proud to be an official Trade Partner for Grand Designs Australia Magazine, House of the Year 2024 competition.&nbsp; 
The Grand Designs Australia Magazine House the of the Year Awards (HOTY) proudly puts the spotlight on residential architecture, showcasing some of the best projects created by Australian Architects. The HOTY Awards are designed to celebrate the brilliant outcomes created by Architects for their clients, resulting in an incredibly high standard of project submissions.

The Grand Designs Australia Magazine HOTY Awards is now open for nominations! The team at Grand Designs are calling on Australian architects to enter their best residential projects to win this prestigious award and huge exposure through Grand Designs Australia Magazine and associated social media channels. The awards are judged by a panel of architect professionals and are presented in April each year.

Within the Awards program, there are 8 categories including Large New Home, Small New Home, Large Renovation, Small Renovation and the speciality categories of Best Interior Award (presented by Cosh Living), Best Energy Efficient Home Award (presented by Rylock Windows &amp; Doors) and Best Outdoor Integrated Living in addition there is also the People’s Choice Awards which allows readers and architecture enthusiasts to vote for their favourite project!&nbsp;

If you are an architect that works on residential projects, this could be for you. This Award calls for brilliant outcomes in residential buildings – both new homes and renovations large and small.

Entering is easy:

<ol>
	<li>Visit <a href="https://hoty-3.us.launchpad6.com/gda-hoty3">http://houseoftheyear.com.au/&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Upload images of your project</li>
	<li>Fill in the form with a few design details</li>
</ol>

&nbsp;

We can't wait to see what Australians have been building!

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HOTY Awards celebrate the brilliant the best projects created by Australian Architects

Grand Designs Australia Magazine: House Of The Year Awards 2024

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with the team from <a href="https://www.designpartnership.com.au/">Design Partnership</a>. They have previously worked with us on bespoke projects such as the Meat &amp; Wine Co Bella Vista and multiple other projects where our Designer Jet® custom carpet provided the ideal flooring solution for their design brief. Design Partnership specializes in design for behaviour. They have learned that in order to design successful venues, they needed to place predictive human behaviour at the heart of what they do.

Callie van der Merwe, Principal Architect at Design Partnership identifies the critical aspect that flooring plays in his design process and the range of considerations that must be contemplated when selecting a flooring solution for each project to “meet both aesthetic and functional requirements”. He identifies the essential considerations to be design, colour scheme, functionality, safety, acoustics and sustainability.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
“In terms of aesthetics, flooring can add visual interest and texture to a room, complementing the overall design style and colour scheme. We carefully consider the design intent and the mood we want to convey, selecting appropriate materials to achieve the desired effect. This may be the use of timber to carpeting, or even pairing it back to a raw polished concrete slate if it allows. It really depends on the design intent of the hospitality space we are conceptualising and bringing to life.” Calvin Janse van Vuuren, Senior Associate at Design Partnership
</blockquote>

Calvin further touches on alternate considerations required when selecting flooring for each individual space and design. Acoustic performance, safety features and sustainable materials are all key points in this consideration. Calvin explains his commitment to sustainability as a designer and how both company operations as well as product materials are considered when looking at sustainability.

On top of the range of considerations flooring play within the design process Roberto identifies both ‘functional and aesthetic’ challenges he faces when contemplating the ideal flooring solution for each project. Roberto highlights budget constraints as the most common challenge as a range of price factors must be considered such as materials and installation. Durability is also noted as a ‘crucial consideration’ by Calvin as he highlights the need for the flooring to be able to ‘withstand the demands of the space’ and can cause a challenge when design opportunities are limited by required flooring performance.&nbsp;

Roberto further identifies the increased significance of sustainable considerations within their design process due to the increased importance of sustainability initiatives by clients and further global awareness. Further identifying how this consideration still must meet relevant ‘aesthetic and functional requirements’, they highlight this challenge as being an essential for designers.

We speak to Design Partnership, specialists in design behaviour.

Design Partnership

Ask anyone in the architecture, construction, and design industries about certifications and they’ll tell you the same thing: certifications are essential, but not all certifications are created equal. In fact, one of the better measures of a company’s commitment to sustainability is to look at their certifications with an understanding of how rigorous and involved the processes for each are. One particularly well-respected certification is Declare.

<blockquote>
“The Declare program provides us a platform to screen our product ingredients, identify and eliminate, or flag chemicals known to pose serious risks to human health and the environment - known as Red listed chemicals,” says Jamuna Sivathasan, Environment &amp; Sustainability Manager at GH Commercial.
</blockquote>

The Red Listed chemicals mentioned by Jamuna are essentially the “worst in class” chemicals, elements and materials that are prevalent in some building products. They are collated within the Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List, and include substances like asbestos, cadmium, lead and phthalates. Declare enables manufacturers to disclose verified product information on an easy-to-read nutrition label, providing transparency on the product ingredients in relation to the Red List in just a glance. It’s part of the Living Future Institute of Australia's (LFIA) suite of programs that endeavors to drive sustainable change in the Australian built environment. “The Declare program essentially requires you to answer three key questions,” says Jamuna. “First, where does the product come from? Second, what is it made of? Third, where does it go at the end of its life?”

The program gets serious when it comes to answering those three questions. “We have to identify every single chemical ingredient at – or above – 0.01% in the final product by weight, then assess all the ingredients against Red Listed chemicals on the Toxnot verification platform to identify them,” says Jamuna. “If any Red Listed chemicals are identified, we work with suppliers to eliminate them, or find alternative suppliers to ensure the delivery of products free of potentially harmful chemicals to our customers.” They then have to complete VOC (volatile organic compound) identification tests to ensure the emissions are within the threshold, before submitting all the details and test results to the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) for assessment, approval and publication.

The compliance with the Red List is expressed through the product’s Declaration status, which is then visible on the Declare label. There are three levels: Declared, Red List Approved and Red List Free. Declared is the most basic out of the three, and it’s applicable to products that disclose 100% of ingredients, but contain one or more Red List chemicals that are not covered by an approved exception. A level up, the Red List Approved products disclose a minimum of 99% of ingredients present in the final product, while meeting the Red List imperative requirements through one or more approved exceptions. Lastly, the highest level a product can obtain is the Red List Free status. These products disclose 100% of ingredients present at or above 100 ppm (0.01%) in the final product and do not contain any Red List chemicals.

GH Commercial was the first floor covering manufacturer in Australia to achieve the Red List Free accreditation, and they’ve certainly taken to it with gusto since then. Today, they are proud to hold more Declare labels than any other Australian manufacturer, with 27 Declare Red List Free labels that cover over 70 standard products and extensive range of custom products.

As demand for transparency and specifier interest in the makeup of products increases, so does the movement towards stronger attestation up the supply chain - and transparency programs like Declare are integral to that shift, a fact that’s not lost on Jamuna. “We feel it’s an important certification because buildings have a direct impact on our health and wellbeing,” she says. “That means it’s essential to supply better products for use in our built environments, and our Declare certification shows that we guarantee the quality of our products to the market.” 
&nbsp;

Driving sustainable change in the Australian built environment.

A Sustainability Declaration: Our Most Important Certifications

Lachlan Howell our Corporate Strategic Account Manager had the opportunity to speak to Architecture &amp; Design recently as part of the Sustainability Awards 2023 in which GH Commercial sponsor the Interior Design Awards. Architecture &amp; Design are Australia’s largest design media network sharing valuable resources across architecture, design and construction industries.&nbsp;

A&amp;D: What is your background and what does your current role in the business entail? 
LH: I grew up alongside the Great Ocean coastline, arguably one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world, and those childhood experiences certainly created foundations for my passion towards sustainability – both in personal and professional capacity.

Later on, I completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts, specialising in Marketing, Design and Sustainability. It was a pivotal experience that further strengthened my perspective of – and commitment to – the principles of sustainability. It expanded my awareness of existing and future problems our world faces, the simple changes we can make in daily life to affect real change – and what I can do in my professional roles, to support the success of our organisation.

In terms of my career trajectory, I started in the sporting industry, and worked with a pioneering global surfing organisation in events management. The role helped me grasp the connection between the organisation and the natural environment, and the capacity of that organisation to empower stakeholders by adopting sustainable and regenerative practices.

I certainly took this experience with me when I made a somewhat unexpected move into the flooring industry as a Marketing Graduate with Godfrey Hirst. From there, I naturally transitioned to a hybrid role as a Corporate Sales &amp; Sustainability Coordinator, and I think that promotion really highlighted the importance of having a sustainability professional in our commercial sales team – and being able to drive that notion through and support our commercial customer base as well. That role was really about understanding what sustainability efforts we needed to support, and the pillars we needed to focus on as an organisation to provide critical information and drive supply chain value for our corporate customers every day.

Now, I’m GH Commercial’s Strategic Account Manager – Corporate, and look after all of our corporate customers across Australia and New Zealand.

A&amp;D: Is sustainability still a big part of your day-to-day at GH Commercial? 
LH: Sustainability is a critical component of what my day looks like, and a large part of it involves contributing to the organisation's sustainability strategy, with a focus on our commercial division.

As a sustainability and sales professional, I need to understand the complexities and challenges of not just the tangible flooring solutions that our customers are seeking. Even more importantly, understanding of their organisation as a whole, including their procurement frameworks, their goals, their values, ESG strategies – and those critical touchpoints they’re trying to achieve – is a critical element of how we, as a local manufacturer and supplier, can provide solutions that lift organisations to achieve their own goals.

A&amp;D: We spoke to your team about GH Commercial’s sustainability framework last year. Is “Believe in Better” still an important concept underpinning the company's sustainability efforts? 
LH: At GH Commercial we understand the imperative that we must seek and develop new technologies, products, processes now to ensure that our people, planet and our performance thrive for decades to come. We understand we’re not perfect, and certainly believe that in order to improve we have to understand where our opportunities lie. “Believe in Better” is still very much GH Commercial’s philosophy, and it underpins everything we do and we stand for. We’re proud to announce the evolution of our “Believe in Better” framework, to assist how our stakeholders and the broader public understand three driving pillars to our strategy: “Better for People”, “Better for Planet” and “Better for Performance”.

A&amp;D: Can you describe each pillar in more detail, and tell us how they bolster GH Commercial’s holistic approach to ESG? 
LH: As the Oceanic subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring company, we belong to a global network of leading products, brands and world-class manufacturing and we know that our future depends on the work we do today. Our commitment to our planet extends beyond just products and processes: it’s how we challenge ourselves to do and be better every day, how we make decisions, how we reinvest in our people and our planet, and how we define what matters most as we work to deliver value for generations to come. The three pillars encompass a selection of goals – some of which we have already achieved – that centre around people, planet, and performance, and that continuously guide the journey we’re on.

“Better for People” addresses the need to create a diverse, performance-driven workforce that can thrive in safe, hazard-free environments designed to support their health and wellbeing, as well as foster connected communities. In line with our Oceanic Collection, and its connection to Australian waterways, GH Commercial makes an annual donation to Take 3 for the Sea. Contributing to their clean-ups and education programs for schools and local communities, which has so far helped over 350,000 students learn about solutions to ocean pollution. We are proud to continue to support Take 3 for the Sea as we strive to preserve our oceans and waterways that inspired our Oceanic Collection. Take 3 from the Sea shows us how we can take simple actions to address the problem – like taking three pieces of rubbish when you leave a waterway. Our team has walked away from this annual day knowing every one of us can make a difference.

“Better for Planet” addresses our efforts as we strive towards a climate-positive future, by honouring our commitment to reduce our environmental impact. As part of the world's largest flooring manufacturer, we feel a profound sense of responsibility to advance our shared mission of a more sustainable future – that’s why we’re dedicated to responsible resource management and the continued investment in new technology to improve our processes. For example, being carbon responsible means taking real climate action and voluntarily going above and beyond current regulations to achieve net zero carbon emissions. At GH Commercial, we do. Godfrey Hirst Australia has proudly achieved Climate Active Carbon Neutral organisation status, making us the first Australian Carpet Manufacturer to achieve Climate Active. Furthermore, Godfrey Hirst New Zealand is also now a carbon neutral organisation1.

As leaders in our industry, “Better for Performance” is all about challenging ourselves to discover new opportunities to design, manufacture and distribute better products through continuous improvement to transparency and innovation. At GH Commercial, we recognise the powerful role design plays in impacting culture, productivity, state of mind, and long-term sustainability. We are committed to creating better interior spaces by using better materials in our products and avoiding chemicals of concern. Our products hold current and relevant certifications that illustrate our commitment to transparency, better indoor environments and meeting the criteria of leading green building standards – from the Living Future Institute of Australia’s, Declare® Red List Free certification on all of our carpet tiles, Designer Jet® sheet and wool broadloom ranges to our newly accredited Global Green Tag – Best Environmental Practice PVC on our Regent and Polaris Laminated Vinyl Plank products.

1Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd and Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd are ‘carbon neutral’ organisations. &nbsp;This means that those entities purchase and voluntarily retire carbon offsets equivalent to their annual carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources within their organisational boundary. &nbsp;For New Zealand, organisational GHG emissions are accounted for in accordance with ISO14064-3:2018. &nbsp;For Australia, organisational GHG emissions are accounted for, and carbon neutral status is certified, in accordance with the requirements of Climate Active.&nbsp;

Lachlan talks with Architecture & Design Magazine about sustainability.