Project: Chelsea Flower Show, London, UK
Client: Gorilla Carts & Kiosks Ltd
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a renowned annual garden exhibition held for five days each year by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London.
It is the most prestigious flower show in the world attracting over 150,000 visitors per annum, who come to view cutting-edge garden design, breath-taking floral displays and innovative garden products. In 2020 the show was cancelled for the first time since the Second World War, amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
However, in 2021, the show was moved from its usual springtime May position to an autumn slot taking place over six days instead of the usual five. Late flowering plants, grasses and edibles took centre stage for the first time, whilst the two core themes for the revised show were perhaps unsurprisingly, sustainability and wellbeing.
Wellbeing
Despite the outdoor nature of the show, the pandemic was still at the forefront for many attendees and the organisers sought to address this by incorporating a range of extended safety measures. Some of the fixed catering structures were moved to make social distancing easier, and the showground layout was amended to include more space for people to circulate.
Experts in custom-built event solutions Gorilla Carts and Kiosks were chosen to supply anti-slip modular flooring to enable safe access and social distancing around the food courts, cafes and food outlets.
Using the innovative fast-fit interlocking Dura Deck Tile product designed and manufactured by Dura Composites, Gorilla Carts and Kiosks were able to quickly and easily install hundreds of square metres of outdoor flooring which provided clear demarcation of pedestrian standing and seating areas. Anti-slip, durable, and with an attractive woodgrain composite timber finish, the tiles interlock quickly and easily for set up and removal – and can be laid on virtually any existing hardstanding to create a simple decked area.
Sustainability
Sustainability encompasses ways materials can be used for longer, recycled or repurposed and Dura Deck Tile also offered an eco-friendly option which aligned perfectly with the core sustainability theme. The tiles are manufactured with recycled materials from responsibly managed forests that meet the highest environmental standards and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC).
Crucially, the tiles are lightweight and reusable and can be easily lifted from one location to another, meaning they can be used over and over again to create instant decking areas.
Whilst thousands of trees are cut down every year to produce traditional timber decking which contributes to rising pollution levels and is single use once installed in its location, choosing a product like Dura Deck Tile that can be easily re-purposed has great benefits for both the environment and the end users.
Additionally, whilst toxic chemicals released each time someone’s timber deck needs staining or sealing, the tiles need no ongoing maintenance besides an occasional scrub with a stiff brush and water.
Accessibility
All flooring in high-traffic public areas such as outdoor events requires that certain criteria such as ease of maintenance and the grippability of the surface is addressed to ensure the space is accessible for all users.
Available in Pebble Grey, Mahogany and Weathered Cedar colours, the Dura Deck Tiles for RHS Chelsea Flower Show were also supplied with interlocking corner and edge ramps for a smooth transition between the decked areas and adjacent floor surfaces.
Using two different colours enabled Gorilla to easily create striking effects such as chequerboard zones, block colour pathways and framed areas to help provide visual interest as well as useful pedestrian signposting. The woodgrain surface of the tiles features a hardwearing co-extruded wrap which is suitable for all kinds of footwear and for wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
To hire or purchase Dura Deck Tiles for your next stadium, retail or hospitality event, please call Gorilla Carts and Kiosks on 01992 478444.
