Material Source

FLOOR_STORY will return to London Design Festival and Shoreditch Design Week with 5 new rug collaborations, each born from "genuine creative dialogue".

In partnership with Spanish furniture brand Sancal and curated by trifle* Creative, the Shoreditch showroom will be transformed into a series of roomsets, intimate, lived-in spaces where cutting-edge rug design meets Sancal's playful furniture.

This year marks a new chapter for FLOOR_STORY: 5 designers, 5 distinct practices, 5 rugs, each translating a different creative world into the language of rug-making. Discover more here ➡️ https://www.materialsource.co.uk/floor-story-reveals-5-new-rugs-by-5-distinct-creative-voices/

Collaborators include Lakwena Maciver; POoR Collective; Coco Lom; House of Quinn's Julius Arthur; Les Keepers.

📸 Photography by Mark Cocksedge

You know the old saying, “no grit, no pearl”? This feels entirely applicable to the Rylands Manchester Building on Market Street. Having recently visited for a second time (the first being in March 2025), it was heartening to see that progress on its extensive renovation is moving at pace - though it’s not been without its challenges, said the team.

➡️ Read our latest article on Rylands (the 'old Debenhams') here: https://www.materialsource.co.uk/first-look-second-visit-rylands-building-with-jeffrey-bell-architects-domis-am-alpha-/

Bringing this 1930s’ icon of a building (originally designed by Harry S. Fairhurst & P. G. Fairhurst) back to life, detail-by-painstaking-detail, are a group of brilliant individuals from a multitude of firms collaborating to transform what has become, over the years, somewhat a Frankenstein’s monster inside – albeit a beautifully charming one, into a multipurpose development that, once complete, will bring people together from across Manchester and beyond.

Project team:

Client: AM ALPHA
Contractor: Domis Construction
Architect: JB+CO
Employer’s Agent and QS: Arcadis
Planning Consultant: Deloitte
Heritage Consultant: Levrant Heritage Architecture
Structural Engineer: Woolgar Hunter Engineers
Services Engineer / Sustainability Consultant: Max Fordham LLP
Services Engineer: NOVO
Fire Consultant: Jensen Hughes / DFC
Acoustic Consultant: BWB Consulting Ltd / Jameson Acoustics
Workspace Agent: JLL
Retail Agent: Barker Proudlove
Marketing & PR Agency: Real Estate Marketing Media

We will return to Rylands this time next year for a final visit on completion.

Do you have any memories of Rylands to share?



📸 Courtesy AM ALPHA / Archive images provided by The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester

📢 Submit your projects to the Forbo Flooring Systems: Forbo Awards 2026.

Wanting to receive recognition for your work? Do you know an architect, interior designer, or specifier who deserves the attention? Have you specified Forbo on a project that received glowing feedback from the client and stakeholders?

Looking to celebrate those who push the interior design boundaries with bold material choices, elevating all spaces across a variety of sectors, the Forbo Awards are now open until the 31 July 2026. And there's a brilliant prize package on offer.

Click here for details of the prizes & info on how to enter ➡️ https://www.materialsource.co.uk/submit-your-projects-to-the-forbo-flooring-systems-forbo-awards-2026-/

Good luck!

📸 Last year's winning schemes: The Edge - Project of the Year Winner 2025 / Voco Zeal Hotel - Sustainable Project of the Year Winner 2025 / Maritime Museum - Public Choice Winner 2025

Muraspec launches digitally printed murals designed to transform surfaces into powerful design statements: https://www.materialsource.co.uk/muraspec-launches-digitally-printed-murals-designed-to-transform-surfaces-into-powerful-design-statements/

Head to Material Source Studio London next week for Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 to explore the latest collections from Muraspec. The team is also hosting an event: Restore, Realign & Rejuvenate on the Thursday. See you at 120 Saffron Hill, Farringdon.

Radii combines material expression with technical integrity, elevating the resident experience at The Eades Walthamstow. Designed by KKA Architecture and delivered by du Boulay Projects Ltd, the project combines high-quality materials and elegant design detailing to create a cohesive architectural language across residential, entrance, and public areas.

Discover more, here: https://www.materialsource.co.uk/radii-combines-material-expression-with-technical-integrity-to-elevate-the-resident-experience-at-the-eades-walthamstow/ - and by visiting Material Source Studio in all locations. If you're heading to Clerkenwell Design Week next week (19-21 May), Radii is hosting a roster of events. Click the link for details and to book your place.

📸 Credit: Sam Phillips

ILIV's portfolio of faux leather fabrics expands with the launch of Tofino: https://www.materialsource.co.uk/ilivs-portfolio-of-faux-leather-fabrics-expands-with-launch-of-tofino/

A workspace fit for music copyright royalty: Motive creates brand-led headquarters for Ice Services with fit-out by Hop Interiors.

Discover more ➡️ https://www.materialsource.co.uk/a-workspace-fit-for-music-copyright-royalty-motive-creates-brand-led-headquarters-for-ice-services/

📸 Photography credit: Oliver Pohlmann

New Cundall HQ sees collaboration between SPACE, Bowmer and Kirkland & Ryder Architecture - with biophilic design by Benholm. Discover more about the BCO Northern Regional Award-shortlisted project here: https://www.materialsource.co.uk/new-cundall-hq-sees-collaboration-between-space-bowmer-and-kirkland-ryder-architecture-with-biophilic-design-by-benholm/

📸 Andrew Heptinstall

Milliken Floors Europe’s brand new capsule floor tile collection ‘The Sisal Edit’ draws its inspiration from the tactility and textures of plant fibres, in particular: sisal, seagrass, and jute 🌱🌊

The collection is led by a natural aesthetic, neutral colours and biophilic design, but interpreted for more practical use in heavy wear environments such as the workplace or hospitality interiors.

Discover more ➡️ https://www.materialsource.co.uk/millikens-new-capsule-floor-tile-collection-the-sisal-edit-draws-inspiration-from-tactility-of-plant-fibres/

Milliken’s new capsule floor tile collection The Sisal Edit draws inspiration from tactility of plant fibres. Milliken’s brand new capsule floor tile collection ‘The Sisal Edit’ draws its inspiration from the tactility and textures of plant fibres, in particular: sisal, seagrass, and jute. The collection i...