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FIRA
Posted by: Keech on 30th Mar 2010 in Keechdesign News



We are very happy to have been asked to re-design the 110 sq.m. reception area at FIRA International's headquarters in Stevenage. It's a particularly interesting early 60s building, showing great use of pre-cast concrete and lots of exposed internal timber beams and detailing nearly all of which is still intact. It has a Scandinavian feel, and immediately reminded me in some way of Arne Jacobsen's masterpiece, St. Catherine's College at Oxford (which I was lucky enough to have been given a guided tour of by project architect Frank Lancaster, but that's another story...)

It's also rather unusual; with a quirky, skewed plan geometry (tricky to work on as no existing architectural drawings), and a show-piece timber central staircase running up to an atrium where most of the day light comes from.

The Furniture Industry Research Association was first established 60 years ago. FIRA International continues to provide a wide range of expert services that are dedicated to the global furniture supply chain, as well as safeguarding the industry through managing the Association's membership activity.

FIRA is also acknowledged globally as a leading authority on furniture testing and flammability testing. They offer a unique facility covering many aspects of British, European and International test requirements for furniture, materials and components, and since 1949, FIRA has developed many of the test methods which form the basis of furniture standards and regulations worldwide.

Our design scheme is now approved with work on site to begin soon. Watch this blog...

Images of furniture being given a hard time by test equipment - furniture designers take note...





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