by Brianna Crandall — June 21, 2019 — Tarkett, a worldwide provider of innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, introduced Tatami System, which it calls a new category of floorcovering that upends conventional broadloom, at this month’s NeoCon 2019 contract furnishings show. The new floorcovering was well received, winning a Gold award in the Best of NeoCon Competition in the category of Broadloom Carpet. Inspired by traditional Japanese tatami mats, this innovative modular floorcovering gives designers and end users the autonomy to continually adjust spaces to align with their ever-changing needs.
Multiple sizes and shapes of Tatami System modules can be positioned — and easily repositioned — to meet floor plan requirements, covering as much of the workspace as needed, with zero installation waste. Image courtesy Tarkett
Tatami System responds to the constantly fluid spaces of the modern workplace. Supporting various needs of open environments and collaborative spaces, Tatami System allows end users to reconfigure their spaces to support independent or collaborative work. While commercial spaces continue to adopt resilient floorcoverings to meet their needs, Tatami System offers a balance, bringing soft surface in to improve overall comfort (both acoustically and underfoot) and create an atmosphere with the coziness of home.
The Tatami System Soft Surface Platform disrupts the conventional perception of broadloom carpets. Non-permanent, flexible, mobile, sustainable and adaptable, Tatami System offers all the attributes of woven and tufted broadlooms — pattern fluidity, texture, volume, seamless visuals, textile warmth and sound absorption — without the unsightly seams and utilitarian feel of carpet tiles. Tatami System modules can be easily configured to meet myriad specification requirements across workplace, hospitality and learning environments.
Tatami System’s “seamless format” opens the door for innovative new styling that cannot physically be seamed. Any weave structure is now attainable, says the company.
Functional, versatile, and durable
Tatami System consists of four modules: a 6’x 6’ square, a 6’x 12’ rectangle, a 12’ x 12’ square and a large 12’ x 24’ rectangle. In concert with the geometric principles of ritual Japanese tatami flooring, Tatami System modules are designed to be configured in compatible formats on the floor plane. Multiple sizes and shapes can be positioned to meet floor plan requirements, covering as much of the workspace as needed, with zero installation waste, says the company.
Built for high-traffic commercial installations, Tatami System uses highly durable, abrasion- and stain/soil-resistant Cationic nylon fibers with tight, densely woven and tufted construction. Image courtesy Tarkett
An innovative adhesive solution allows for modules to be firmly held together as one configured unit, adding lateral strength and stability. And when the need arises, reconfiguration can easily be achieved, as the adhesive solution is releasable, and requires no attachment to the sub-floor. Tatami System module configurations change and adapt as often as workspace needs change.
Built for high-traffic commercial installations, Tarkett used highly durable, abrasion- and stain/soil-resistant Cationic nylon fibers throughout the manufacture and fabrication process of Tatami System. Tight, densely woven and tufted constructions are built to withstand multiple uses. Tatami System went through Tarkett’s Fabric Adoption System Test Battery and met or exceeded the pass/fail criteria for all tests in order to become a standard product offering. The testing categories include appearance retention, colorfastness, construction, dimensional stability, flammability and performance.
Environmentally responsive and sustainable
Designed to be easily reused and reconfigured, portable Tatami System modules extend the life of traditional broadloom floorcoverings. Made with highly durable materials, construction and fabrication techniques, Tatami System modules can be reconfigured multiple times.
Tatami Systems are installed with zero installation waste. Tarkett’s in-house sourced fiber reduces third-party waste and energy consumption, and is treated with Eco-Ensure soil protection technology, a proprietary treatment made with naturally occurring elements, helping it contribute to better indoor air quality (IAQ) while maintaining lasting performance.
For more information about the Tatami System floorcovering, visit the Tarkett website. With a history stretching back 135 years and a focus on eco-innovation, Tarkett offers a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, rubber, carpet, wood, laminate, artificial turf and athletic tracks in over 100 countries across the globe.
