Future Flooring Concepts

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Coirleum
Sustainable flooring using Coir and Linoleum backing.
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Solution

Coir is actually the fibre from the husk of the coconut and it is probably the oldest form of natural plant covering for floors.

The coir fibre is relatively waterproof, and is one of the few natural fibres resistant to damage by saltwater. 

Among vegetable fibres, coir has one of the highest concentrations of lignin, making it stronger but less flexible than cotton and unsuitable for dyeing.

Linoleum is made of linseed oil, cork dust, recycled wood floor, limestone and mineral pigments. It's naturally anti-bacterial and  100% biodegradable. Linoleum was very popular in the 50s but gave way to vinyl and now laminate floors. Linoleum is a great choice for sustainable flooring because it is made of completely natural materials which come from renewable sources.

It would be very interesting to see how these two work to form a pliable, not stiff, material. By blending the two materials together, they will both cancel the disadvantages of the other and form a material that is durable in most areas of homes both indoors and outdoors. The coir will work as the main component backed up by the linoleum. Different designs can allow the linoleum to show.

It is possible to make completely new types of materials by combining different resources. It is possible to combine, blend or alloy agro-based fiber with materials such as glass, metals, plastics and synthetics to produce new classes of composite materials. The objective will be to combine two or more resources in such a way that the synergy between the components will result in a new material that is much better than the individual components.


In light of petroleum shortages and pressure for decreasing the dependence on petroleum products, there is an increasing interest in maximizing the use of renewable materials. The use of agricultural materials as a source of raw materials not only provides a renewable source but could also generate a non-food source of economic development for farming.

Some useful links:

http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Linoleum-Floors-that-Will-Roll-with-the-Punches.14867.html 

http://www.yourhardwoodfloor.com/buying/linoleum.html 

http://www.naturalfibres2009.org/en/fibres/coir.html 

http://www.nirgos.com/floor-interior-carpet-linoleum.htm 

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1997/rowel97d.pdf 

Which problem does your idea solve?

Laminate floors are composed of more chemicals than natural materials, cannot be easily recycled, and if discarded, may languish in a landfill.

What is the benefit of your idea for the target group?

The target group for this idea are families and older people for their homes. Both coir and linoleum are made of natural materials and contain almost 0% VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Which materials are you using and why?

Coir and linoleum. Coir is under rated and used for making mats. Linoleum is fading away giving way to vinyl and laminates. It would be interesting to see the two working together.

Which aesthetic does your idea follow?

Abstraction and the appreciation of form. Also unity, harmony, as well as variety and complexity.