Brintons has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Changi Airport Group for more than 20 years and when the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced in 2008 that it would upgrade Changi T1 at an estimated cost of $500 million, Brintons’ reputation for handling and delivering complex, large-scale projects on time and within budget meant it was commissioned to supply the 54,000 sq metres of carpet that were required for the renovation project.
Woodhead – a company that Brintons has previously worked with to develop over 200,000 sq metres of impressive Axminster carpet across Changi’s T1 and T3 terminal buildings – was once again commissioned to lead the architectural master planning and interior design.
When the four-year upgrade is completed in 2011, the 280,000 sq metre terminal building will service approximately 21 million passengers and provide the ‘fully integrated, seamless and comfortable experience’ that passengers will expect from one of the world’s leading international airports.
Woodhead was challenged with repeating the interior design success it achieved with the Terminal 3 project at Changi in 2008. The design fundamentals for the T1 renovation were the same as those employed at T3 (maximising the use of natural light in creating an open, light environment), but the creative theme was very different. Woodhead’s vision for the architecture and interior design at T1 was to create a ‘tropical city’ where passengers can relax, unwind and feel refreshed.
Brintons’ designers worked closely with their counterparts at Woodhead to develop a suitable flooring solution that would satisfy the ‘tropical city’ brief. The two geometric and graphical patterns that were eventually chosen for production were large in scale and perfectly suited to the vast open spaces in the transit and concourse areas.
Critical design treatment was required to ensure the designs could be interpreted into carpet, without creating optical tracking or lining effects. Also, with the terminal building featuring a number of expansive glass partitions, it was essential that the final carpet designs created a sense of continuous flow and movement.
The two complimenting large-scale patterns that have been developed for T1 were inspired by the tropics, fusing earthy tones of russet and gold with the vibrancy of red and lime. Textural lineal weave effects were used through the geometric shapes to create a sense of depth and dynamism.
The need to service around 21 million passengers annually places significant performance demands on the carpet to perform both technically and aesthetically. Therefore, the final solution provided by Brintons was developed specifically with this in mind.
The 12-row woven Axminster construction provides impressive visual effects in a carpet that is pleasurably soft underfoot – so important when trying to give passengers a comfortable and refreshing experience. The premium specification of the carpet also provides a hardwearing finish, with superior noise and stress reduction, non-slip safety and ease of maintenance.
Brintons provided the T1 project team with an integrated design consultant and project management service. This included the provision of design prints to show the intricacies of the selected carpet designs, flooded floor plans and woven samples to allow designers to check colour and pattern definition.
Full project planning, shaping and weave planning were part of Brintons’ project management service to ensure the carpet was manufactured to specification and delivered on time and within budget. Arista Interior Decor Pte Ltd, Brintons’ installation partner in Singapore, was responsible for managing and installing the carpet throughout T1.
Brett Wightman, Project Leader at Woodhead for the T1 project, said: “Working with Brintons on the CT1 project was very rewarding. Over the course of two years we developed numerous options. Brintons was able to explore design variations and worked extremely well in capturing the design intent of ‘tropical city’. The end result is a carpet that everyone is extremely happy with.”
Brintons’ lead designer on the project said: “The designs in CT1 drew inspiration from contemporary geometric forms and aerial views of the earth. We used texture from stone and used it as a background along with structural geometric forms to create sophisticated and chic modern design.
“The colours are natural hues that harmonise with the theme. The final result is impressive. The design looks contemporary and smart, a little bit rustic, but also very urban, which is so suited to large spaces like airports.”
Xander Okhuizen, Sales Director of the APAC region, said: “Changi is a fantastic, dynamic, project to be involved in. We have installed 10,000 sq metres of custom designed, high-quality woven Axminster in CT1 to date, with an additional 40,000 sq metres to be installed by 2011.
“A project of this magnitude that unfolds during a three-year period involves the talents and commitment of so many highly skilled and experienced people. Designers in our Singapore office worked closely with Woodhead, the Changi Airport Group, the Civil Aviation Authority in Singapore and Arista Interior Decor Pte Ltd to bring the vision for CT1 to reality.”