In the construction of the London Clinic’s new Oncology Center, Anshen+Allen Architects were asked to abandon the institutional style and create an elegant, familiar, and welcoming ambience for patients that was more simile to a luxury hotel than a hospital. In order to meet this specific request, interior decorator Velimira Drummer chose the warm shades of brown: honey, coffee, and cocoa, which were all enhanced by soft, luxurious fabrics in neutral colors and a combination of dark and pale wood that added a touch of elegance and liveliness.
American black walnut, with its warm, rich coloring was the perfect choice for the main entrance, where it was used on the walls and the ceiling, while lighter colored American maple was used for the closets in the patients’ rooms.
Even if American black walnut was chosen for the doors of the medical ambulatories and patients’ rooms primarily for aesthetic reasons, the choice provided another advantage: compliance with DDA regulations against discrimination for disabled users that specify at least a 30- point contrast between the door and the walls in order to ensure that patients with impaired vision can easily identify the ambulatory.
The Clinic’s new center (costing 80 million Pounds Sterling) is the largest one built in the private healthcare sector in the last 25 years and is equipped with avant-garde structures for the treatment of patients with tumors.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the most important association for the international trade of American hardwood, and represents US exporting companies and all the leading associations that represent retailers of other American hardwood products.

The new showroom display modules designed to showcase the “I tavolati” Parquet Line and the Master Floor Collection of pre-finished 3-layer planks provided with exclusive surface treatments performed by hand, plank by plank, using the tools of the past and natural stains are now available.
This module permits the best possible presentation of the Collection: the large, easily removable wood-holders permit good observation of the planks even when positioned on the floor or in combination with other facing/paving materials.
The display module holds all the 12 versions (types of wood, types of finish) that make up the line: elm, oak, teak, cherry, walnut (natural or stained with natural earth) and burnished oak. Upon request, planks in "Noblesse" version ready for herringbone point laying can also be provided.
This display module can also be inserted in the other Garbelotto and Master Floor modules for the rational and elegant outfitting of stores-in-stores or entire showrooms and the best possible display of wood flooring samples in all their dimensions and finishes.

The American Hardwood Export Council has announced its next European Convention will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Warsaw on the 27th and 28th October 2011. The Convention will provide a valuable forum for American hardwood exporters and the European hardwood trade to discuss current market issues and share ideas on the promotion and marketing of American hardwoods in Europe. With an emphasis on panel discussion, the convention will debate topics such as; promotion of underused species, the impact of the EU illegal logging law on US hardwood trade and how LCA’s and EPD’s can be used to strengthen the environmental credentials of US hardwoods.
According to David Venables, AHEC’s European Director, “It has been many years since our Convention was last held in Eastern Europe so the decision to hold the event in Poland is strategic. The consumption of US hardwood by Polish manufacturers is increasing so we will expect a strong turnout from the local wood trade, as we saw in 2009 when the Greek trade gave us strong support for our first time in Athens”.
During 2011 in the run up to the convention, AHEC are planning a series of promotional events in Poland including lumber grading workshops and seminars for architects.

The floor covering industry will get a look at advances in floor covering products and technology in what is shaping up to be the largest gathering of flooring manufacturers and buyers the Asia Pacific Region has ever hosted. Over 40,000 visitors are expected at Domotex Asia/Chinafloor 2011 March 22-24, 2011 in Shanghai while the international Wood Flooring Forum, set for the day before, will address current issues affecting the wood flooring industry.
With over 1,000 exhibitors and the theme “Innovation and respect for nature” for its 2011 edition, the massive Domotex Asia/Chinafloor 2011 is poised to reveal numerous new products and innovations. New connecting technologies for LVT, innovative compressing processes for softwood species, surprising improved texture for bamboo surfaces, revolutionary colouration systems for wood flooring or fine craftsmanship from Iranian carpets are, among many others, some of the exciting features of the upcoming event.
The massive show will encompass more than nine exhibition halls within the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. With roughly 22,000 square meters (four halls) dedicated to wood and laminate flooring, Domotex Asia/Chinafloor remains the global major event for this segment, but the significant growth of nearly 50% in resilient and carpet exhibit area reflects the rise of interest and sales for these products in China, where the rapid rate of urbanization is creating the largest demand for floor covering the world have ever seen.
“Domotex Asia/Chinafloor show is an important gathering place for buyers looking for new products and for manufacturers looking for distribution,” explains Kitty Bai, general manager of the show.
Visitor online registration is open until March 15th, and is mandatory to be granted free access. For more information about the show, please visit www.domotexasiachinafloor.com