Harvey Maria crafts custom-designed map for Royal Museums Greenwich - Winner of Forbo Awards Public Choice.

Harvey Maria was commissioned by the Royal Museums Greenwich for the National Maritime Museum to create a unique, custom-designed ocean floor map. The bespoke floor map spans approximately 440 square metres and has recently been installed in the newly refurbished Ocean Court. Forbo’s Eternal heterogeneous vinyl was selected to create the bespoke, digitally printed floor graphic.

The installation offers a new way to walk across the world, one where oceans connect rather than divide. The Spilhaus Projection, rarely seen in such scale, places the world’s oceans at the centre, challenging traditional land-focused world views and exploring our relationship with the sea. It also portrays ocean depth and key features including the Mariana Trench and Great Barrier Reef.

The breathtaking image is the largest ever reproduced on a UK floor, and Harvey Maria were delighted to take home the Public Choice Award at the 2025 Forbo Awards to recognise the complexity of the project.

Harvey Maria’s founder, Mark Findlay, commented: “This has been an extremely exciting project for Harvey Maria. Working in partnership with Royal Museums Greenwich, iFlor Flooring Contractors and Forbo Flooring Systems on the new ocean floor map has been fascinating and we have created an extraordinary and permanent installation that is engineered not just to endure, but also to inspire.”

Creating a single flooring image on this scale presents significant technical challenges, particularly when the design must be divided into 25 individual panels of 4 x 5 metres. Each section must be manufactured with absolute precision, ensuring that when pieced together on site, every join aligns seamlessly without distortion or visual interruption. This requires meticulous planning, and exacting production standards to preserve the integrity of the overall image. The complexity lies not only in achieving perfect accuracy at such a large scale but also in ensuring the final installation appears as one continuous, flawless surface.

Speaking about the project, Tim May, curator of maps and mobilities at Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “The world is 71% ocean, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at a standard world map. What’s great about the new Ocean Map is that it encourages us to consider the world from a different perspective, one which reclaims the importance of the ocean on which we all depend.”

Harvey Maria liaised closely with the client to ensure that all design and artwork were fully suitable for the production process, while also meeting the style and quality expectations required for such a prestigious location. Their involvement, along with the invaluable assistance of Studio HB and The Design Kollectiv, helped ensure the final design translated flawlessly from concept to manufacture, delivering a finish that reflected both technical excellence and visual impact. iFlor then handled all of the on-site installation and subsequent communication with the client.

Adam Couch, director at iFlor explained: “Our job was to ensure the entire image, spread across 25 individual pieces, fitted together perfectly. With the design being a world map, there were many crucial areas that required precise alignment to achieve a seamless overall install. To guarantee correct orientation and positioning, the floor had to be dry laid first, before each piece was precision cut and permanently adhered in place.”

Forbo’s Eternal vinyl has been a trusted solution for over 20 years. Offering exceptional protection against scuffs and scratches through Forbo’s advanced PUR Pearl lacquering and embossing techniques, its proven high-tech product construction ensures the flooring remains stable and flat without curling. Whilst Forbo’s advanced digital printing capabilities offer a new dimension in design and colour, allowing bespoke flooring solutions to be created. Produced in factories running off 100% renewable green electricity, Eternal contains a high percentage of recycled content.

Have you used Forbo Flooring in an inspiring way? The 2026 Forbo Awards are now open for entries. Click here for details, and to submit your project.