When Premier League football team, Aston Villa Football Club, decided to transform one of the hospitality lounges at its home ground – Villa Park – it was in need of practical flooring that could cope with a high level of footfall and provide excellent slip resistance – step up Amtico Spacia 36+!

Benchmark Designs was tasked with converting 18 small hospitality boxes and an existing lounge, in the North Stand, into a brand-new suite – The Gas Lamp.

The brief was to create a modern, yet history-fuelled space, that celebrates the 145-year-old club’s founding story while offering superb pitch views.

When considering the design, the team at Benchmark Designs looked to create a contemporary and welcoming aesthetic, while still paying homage to the club’s history.

Neutral oak tones and mid-grey concrete tones, from Amtico’s Spacia 36+ collection, were chosen as the main flooring solution for the open-plan lounge, hospitality boxes, as well as the corridors and stairs.

The classic Large Parquet laying pattern forms the basis of the lounge’s bar and seating area with Featured Oak’s authentic grains providing a warm atmosphere for guests.

Paul Smith, Projects Director at Benchmark Designs said: “The Gas Lamp was an important project for Aston Villa FC and Benchmark Designs Ltd, bringing an underused area up to high quality hospitality use. Due to the layout of the space, a large proportion of the floor areas were on an escape route and needed to have slipresistant properties to meet the requirements of Building Control. The Amtico Spacia 36+ range allowed the flooring to be stylish, functional and cost effective.”