Carpet tiles in a range of colours from Advance Flooring help tell the story of a new learning annex at Beachlands School in Auckland.

"The way the tiles have been laid and the combination of colour tones connect beautifully with our creation story," says Assistant Principal Stacey Chesham, "while they also provide warmth and comfort for our students."

The two-storeyed 10-classroom ILE building has five learning spaces on each level; the Advance carpet tiles are laid across both levels, where they reflect the dynamic story of the building’s design.

"The connection between Papatūānuku earth mother and Ranginui sky father sets the scene for the concept design," says Stacey.

The Advance carpet tiles reflect the story of the annexe’s creation. In the beginning there was nothing, as represented in the grey, stone and earth colours. "Then life begins and is expressed firstly through the tiles that combine some of the earthy colours with touches of green," says Stacey. "This represents the beginnings of new life, leading to the fuller green tiles representing a thriving Earth where vegetation is plentiful."

Advance carpet tiles are an ideal choice for education environments. They meet Ministry of Education requirements, providing a warm, comfortable yet hard-wearing surface for students to relax on.

"Many of our students choose to spend time on the floor when learning," says Stacey, "and they also sit on the mat when we gather for instruction, which is why our architect specified Advance carpet tiles."

Creating a learning space where children are comfortable enough to grow and thrive is fundamental, and with its connection to the natural world, the new Beachlands School annexe is a perfect example of that.

"The building is nestled in the protective arms of the forest of Tāne. Looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows, we see how the new learning spaces connect with the living world, and how they help us all to thrive."