The resurgence in the NZ car market in recent years has been a catalyst for corporate reinvention. New agencies and showrooms are popping up all over town, and incumbent companies are rethinking the way they portray themselves to staff and clients.

Among the companies updating their appearance is Mazda New Zealand, a stalwart of the Auto Industry in NZ since 1972. With a relatively modern headquarters facility already, the job was largely cosmetic. Frontstage, who were tasked with the revamp, were looking for small changes which would make a big difference.

As is often the case with building interiors, the flooring would be a big factor in defining the new design, and Frontstage wanted something distinctive but still practical. They settled on the brand new Spacewalk carpet planks by Advance Flooring Systems, which incorporate the latest practices in carpet manufacture.

For starters, Spacewalk's design is unique — almost terrestrial — giving the appearance of a landscape viewed from space. It comes in five earthy shades and three textures, affording the designers flexibility to create different moods simply by altering the colour or the texture of the tiles.

Then there's the tile shape, which is cut in a 4:1 ratio, resembling floorboards or parquet. So not only can the designers experiment with colours and textures, but they can also get a very different effect by choosing how the tiles are laid. The three most common installation patterns are Ashlar (brickwork), Herringbone, or Checkerboard.

And finally there's the composition of the tile. The solution dyed nylon weave is supported by a fibreglass reinforced PVC base which is rated for industrial use, has been tested in NZ, and exceeds standards for wear, fire and slip resistance.

For the Mazda HQ, Frontstage employed an Ashlar finish with darker and more heavily textured tiles in high traffic areas, and lighter tiles in work areas and conference rooms. This unobtrusive design adds atmosphere and provides subtle cues to direct people through the building, while distinguishing quiet or 'work' areas.