Amtico returns to Clerkenwell Design Week in 2026 with The Amtico Retreat.
Taking over Paxton Locher House, the British flooring designer and manufacturer presents a space designed to offer a more considered pace within one of the industry’s most high-energy design events.
Clerkenwell Design Week is known for its energy, with installations, talks and experiences unfolding across the district.
Rather than stepping away from that intensity, Amtico reinterprets it – creating an environment that balances activity with moments of pause, allowing visitors to slow down, reset and engage more meaningfully, in a way that suits them.
This approach is reflected not just in the concept, but in how the space is designed and experienced.
It centres on creating a calm, open and welcoming environment that works for a wide range of needs, recognising that not everyone engages with or experiences spaces in the same way.
Rather than presenting a single way of moving through the space, visitors can choose how they explore – whether that’s feeling the materials, taking part in a workshop or simply taking a moment out of the buzz of CDW.
Inside, the experience unfolds through a series of interconnected spaces that bring together creativity, collaboration and choice.
Amtico’s in-house design team has developed a series of sector-focused installations, styled to reflect real commercial environments across workplace, retail and hospitality.
These life-sized moodboard-style compositions combine flooring with furniture, lighting and material palettes, showing how pattern, colour and texture come together.
Alongside this, a more hands-on approach to design allows visitors to engage directly with materials through interactive and creative sessions.
A programme of workshops and talks adds further depth to the experience.
Mindful origami papercraft sessions, led by Origami Est, offer a quieter, tactile moment within the day, while ‘create your own’ LVT coaster artwork sessions invite visitors to produce small, take-away pieces – designed as reminders to take a moment of calm and the role materiality plays in shaping atmosphere.
During the event, a seminar led by Dr Craig Knight will explore the relationship between wellbeing, biophilic design and human-centred spaces, reflecting the thinking behind the wider concept.
More informal moments, including drinks, live music and a dedicated breakfast briefing on bespoke design, create opportunities for conversation and connection across the three days.
While the focus is on experience, specification remains integral.
Throughout the space, Amtico’s core collections – including Spacia, Signature, Form and Décor – are used to demonstrate how flooring can be adapted and combined to suit different environments.
From standard designs to fully bespoke outcomes, the emphasis is on flexibility, allowing designers to bring their own ideas to life.
In a festival defined by energy, The Amtico Retreat offers a reason to pause – and a place to experience flooring in a more considered and calming way.
Programme highlights
Tuesday 19th May
11:00–12:00 – Fold & Flourish: Origami Planters Workshop (bookable via Eventbrite)
A gentle, hands-on session where visitors can create a miniature origami planter paired with a living succulent – a quiet, tactile way to start the day within the Retreat. Hosted with Origami Est.
14:00–16:00 – ‘Create your own’ LVT artwork sessions (drop-in)
An informal creative session where visitors can experiment with materials and produce small, take-away art pieces designed as reminders to take a moment of calm.
Wednesday 20th May
11:00–13:00 – ‘Create your own’ LVT artwork sessions (drop-in)
14:30–15:30 – Seminar with Dr Craig Knight: Sex and Work and Rock & Roll (bookable via Eventbrite)
An interactive seminar exploring the relationship between identity, performance, and workplace culture, and how design can better support people in the spaces they use.
17:00–21:00 – Unwind at the Amtico Retreat
An evening of relaxed networking with drinks, music and a curated cocktail menu inspired by the space (drop-ins welcome, booking recommended)
Thursday 21st May
10:00–10:45 – Bespoke Breakfast Briefing (bookable via Eventbrite, drop-ins welcome)
An informal session with Amtico’s design team exploring how ideas move from concept to fully realised flooring designs, over breakfast.
Throughout the week, drinks will be available daily, encouraging visitors to step inside, take a moment to pause and spend time within the space.
Practical information
The Amtico Retreat @ Paxton Locher House,
8-9 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R
what3words: ///quench.tribal.quick
Visit amtico.com/commercial, or follow us on LinkedIn (Amtico) and Instagram @amticocommercial.
