The entries in the 2012 Fly Forbo Awards left the jury in awe of the creativity of the designers with their bold use of colour and inspiring sustainability goals. The judges were also impressed by the commitment from clients to exceed their social and environmental responsibilities.

Overall Australian winner WMK Architecture of Sydney and Melbourne was chosen for their Yum! ‘Delicious Space’ office fitout project. The design for Yum!, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, was based on an inspiring ‘marketplace’ concept, incorporating a graphic depiction of a town plan as part of the floor design, which marked the area as a hub where staff could relax, work, and meet and eat together.

Senior Designer Petra Bonamy explained that all the finish choices made throughout the fitout had sustainability at the forefront. Considering the rigorous demands placed on the area, Yum’s focus on sustainability, and the importance of creating a visually descriptive identity for the space, the use of Forbo Marmoleum was a natural choice, she said.

According to Wayne Donovan, managing director of Forbo Flooring Systems, the project used tangible design elements and materials to communicate to Yum’s employees in a positive and symbolic manner that they were there to make a change for the better. He added that the fitout was a wonderful example of clever and stylish sustainable design in action.

Co-judge Cameron Bruhn, editorial director Architectural Media, described the winning project as a great example of the way urban design ideas are impacting on interior design and making workplaces that are better for people.

Commendations were awarded in Australia to: Harmer Architecture, using Marmoleum - Monash Peninsular Activity & Recreation Centre, in Frankston, Victoria, Australia; Suters Architects, using Marmoleum - Richmond Tigers Headquarters, Punt Road Oval, Victoria, Australia; McBride Charles Ryan Architects using Marmoleum Striato Nature’s Grain - PEGS Junior Boys, Essendon, Victoria, Australia; and White Cube, using Marmoleum - the Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.

Image: 2012 winner - Yum! ‘Delicious Space’ office fit-out by WMK Architecture; Picture by Tyrone Branigan