pba - TOCCO COLLECTION

HOW CAN WE DESIGN MORE INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE?

All aspects of the space, such as color, lighting, materiality, texture, elements in the field of view and sensory stimuli need to be designed with purpose and intent. “To allow all employees to thrive, office designs need to remain fluid and adaptable. Employers can improve employee wellness and productivity by offering a wide range of choices, allowing people to continually select the best space for their individual needs.” says Kay Sargent | Cognitive and Sensory Wellbeing Design Consultant

DOOR HARDWARE TO DESIGN NEURODIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS

TOCCO Collection offers an infinite range of colors and two different handle grips - smooth and textured - to meet the tactile preference of all users. “We need to create environments that have an ecosystem of options and choices so people who are neurodiverse can decide the right setting for them at any given time” says Kay Sargent.

SENSORY INPUT, INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY PERCEPTION

At the NIB in London (Neurodiversity in Business Conference), one of the most relevant events during the Worldwide Neurodiversity Week, pba issued a Sensory Stimulation Survey to collect data and preferences according to different sensory inputs. The purpose of the survey is to push forward the research on neurodiversity in the built environment. The research continues in collaboration with the University of Venice - IUAV to understand the communication of inclusiveness and sustainability of Tocco Collection, through tertiary-expressive properties.

Complete Sensory Stimulation Survey

SECURE GRIP, WARM AND COMFORT

The grip of the TOCCO Collection is made of ECONYL® nylon, a soft material with a temperature similar to that of the environment. Nylon is pleasant and not hard and cold to the touch. The feeling you have in the grip is an important element that transfers comfort and safety to the user. “All we know about designing for inclusion should be applied to every element within the build environment…include the hardware. No detail is too small, as they all impact the experience we have and add to the overall solution.” says Kay Sargent.

TOCCO GRIP IN ECONYL® REGENERATED NYLON

The TOCCO Collection grip is made from ECONYL®, 100% regenerated nylon from waste such as fishing nets, old carpets destined for landfills, plastic components and fabric scraps from mills. As well as being a solution on waste, ECONYL® regenerated nylon is also better when it comes to climate change. It reduces the global warming impact of nylon by up to 90% compared with the material from oil. TOCCO Collection project represents a commitment to sustainability and truly responsible practices.

DECLARE LABEL

The Declare Label is like a nutrition label for the building industry. It is a product transparency disclosure that lists the ingredients in products to help customers ensure healthier indoor living environments. It discloses where a product comes from, the materials it is made from, and its end-of-life pathway. We are proud to offer the Declare "Red List Free" Label for our TOCCO Collection, available on the International Living Future Institute platform.

PBA PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTE TO LEED CREDITS

TOCCO Collection is made of fully recyclable 316L stainless steel and fully regenerated and fully recyclable Econyl®. Products can be completely dismantled for recycling.

SENSORY SENSITIVE HARDWARE

pba collaborated with RainlightSTUDIO and Kay Sargent to deepen our understanding of sensory stimulation in the built environment and how this can impact individuals occupying the space, specifically neurodiverse individuals. Think about sporting equipment, such as a tennis racket or a golf club. The ‘feel’ of the grip is an important element to ensure a secure grip, warmth and comfort to the user. Why should hardware be any different?

THE FIRST TOUCH WITH A BUILDING

“Design is an orchestration of all the senses to create a sense of belonging in the moment, and touch is our true connection with reality. The door handle represents the first touch a person experiences with a building, or a room. We look to a more human approach that defies expectation, evoking a welcome sense of wonder.” says Yorgo Lykouria, Creative Principal RainlightSTUDIO.

COLORS IMPACT

Color has a significant impact on individuals in the built environment. Color has the power to energize, restore, stimulate, calm and even encourage creativity (Browning, 2014). TOCCO Collection was designed specifically to offer designers the possibility to choose the color (visual) and the texture (tactile) of the handles (levers and pulls) to better address the preferences and needs of different users.

THE PERFECT AFFORDANCE

The TOCCO line is the perfect affordance, use of cues that aid the user in how to interact with something, for all users. The TOCCO Collection doesn’t intend to propose new design or new fixing methods: we have chosen common designs and standard fixing systems, because the choice of TOCCO has to be an option also in renewal projects, without the need to renew the doors or other pre-existing components. Inclusive choices must also be sustainable; the person and then the environment are at the center.

INCLUSIVENESS, RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Inclusiveness is for everyone, it does not identify a specific skill, it does not seek solutions that flatten needs in a vision of “common necessity”, on the contrary it values the beauty, the variety and the uniqueness of people. Only universal values can lay the foundation of such an ambitious building: inclusiveness, beauty for all, responsibility for the choices made on what, with whom and how, and sustainability. Because we cannot avoid to be sustainable if we truly believe in the “for all” which is the reason why the TOCCO Collection combines everyone and everything.