In the building and design world, whether it’s a hotel, leisure complex, office block, or apartment building, the aim is the same: creating a welcoming, comfortable and visually striking space. However, designers and architects often face challenges when it comes to achieving this. To understand what these challenges look like, Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation commissioned independent research of 250 UK designers and architects to gauge their attitudes and opinions.
Unsurprisingly, the main challenge faced by designers and architects is cost, cited by almost two-thirds of respondents. However, 48% also struggle to keep up with the latest innovations and 38% with the latest design trends. Interestingly, the highest priorities for designing a space were reported as aesthetics and efficient use of space — these come ahead of cost and energy efficiency.
When it comes to the importance of aesthetics and creating a comforting space, flame has the ability to meet these design requirements — many hotels and restaurants already use it to create a welcoming atmosphere for guests. In fact, 58% of respondents also believed that flame installations help to create a comfortable and enticing environment. Despite this, at 79%, the majority of designers and architects are concerned about using flame in their projects, primarily because of health and safety concerns, energy efficiency and cost.
This is hardly surprising given the attitudes to emissions, efficiencies and changing legislation around the use of open flames in commercial spaces. However, few realise that fire installations don’t necessarily require a ‘live’ flame; the latest flame technology has moved on considerably in the last few years and goes a long way to addressing these attitudes and concerns.
Flame technology installations are more flexible than real fires as they do not require ventilation in terms of chimneys or flues, which makes them easy to install and less costly. Additionally, they can be installed at any stage during the building design and construction process, which makes them especially powerful in refurbishment projects.
When it comes to health and safety concerns, these are quickly mitigated due to the fact that there’s no actual flame, meaning there are no embers to pose a risk to people or the environment. Additionally, as no gas is needed, there are no potential hazards around carbon monoxide emissions or high costs in terms of safety and maintenance
Modern flame technology is both dramatic and advanced. It achieves the appearance of a very real flame and some installations can create smoke and crackling effects, which only add to the allure and authenticity of the installation. Fire may not be a necessity, but it does allow architects and designers to accentuate the visual appeal and aesthetic design of their project. It certainly has the ability to become an essential part of the design process and a key feature for any room, in any building.
Download the full report here: https://www.gdhv.com/delving-design
