Tag Archives: Art in Healthcare

The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury

Nightingale Architects have made available some new images of the project at The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. This particular image is of the large meeting room in the resource centre. The digitally printed artwork manufactured by Guardian is applied to the glazing screen. When the sun is strong, this creates an additional and fleeting, ephemeral extension of the artwork cast in shadow upon the floor and adjacent walls.

The digitally printed glazing artwork casts shadows on the adjacent walls.
The digitally printed glazing artwork casts shadows on the adjacent walls.

 

Detail of the Cafe and Waiting area of the resource centre. Image: Nightingale Architects
Detail of the Cafe and Waiting area of the resource centre. Image: Nightingale Architects
Christopher Tipping, the project artist standing next to a sample wall covering installation on the wards at The Whiteleaf Centre.  Image: Tom Cox
Christopher Tipping, the project artist standing next to a sample wall covering installation on the wards at The Whiteleaf Centre. Image: Tom Cox

Day Treatment Unit, Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford – Installation

Work began to prepare the unit for the installation in March this year. What appears to be a simple case of ‘wallpapering’ a space couldn’t be further from the truth within an environment such as this. Sensitivity to the treatments being carried out within the unit is paramount. The ongoing quality and appearance of the DTU must be considered, even during renovations and repair works. As this is a day treatment unit, weekend working for the specialist contractors from VGL is the only option. This means that the project has to be undertaken over a number of consecutive weekends, which appears to extend the project for longer than it really warrants.

 

The following images show the first area to be installed. These are not finished images as further works are due to make good the final positioning of furniture and fittings etc.

28th April 2014 The first panels are installed. This is a test area to ensure that the production and installation methods we have established, do in fact work on site!
28th April 2014 The first panels are installed. This is a test area to ensure that the production and installation methods we have established, do in fact work on site!

Many people make up the wider project team. They have to be consulted and become involved to enable the works to happen. This is time consuming stuff and I am so grateful to Ruth Charity, the Arts Co-ordinator for the Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust who has steered this project since the outset, through its fair share of stormy weather ! The staff particularly have been patient and encouraging throughout.

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DTU – test installation site…

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Day Treatment Unit, Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Detailed Design

We have been working alongside Carly Birkett, Account Manager at VGL, Reading, who has collaborated extensively on the design production, manufacture and installation planning for the project. By May 2013, we had small scale sample panels produced and installed within the unit in July 2013 for a number of weeks to gain feedback from staff and user groups. Following this period, the detailed design was revised and re-issued for comment.

Detail: sample panel design for production and installation within the unit to gain comment & feedback on the ideas and concept.
Detail: sample panel design for production and installation within the unit to gain comment & feedback on the ideas and concept.

 

The sample wall coverings were produced and installed for comment. They were also testing the process of installation and the potential hazards and pitfalls of preparing the unit  for the full installation.
7th July 2013 – The sample wall coverings were produced and installed for comment. They were also testing the process of installation and the potential hazards and pitfalls of preparing the unit for the full installation.
Sample installed for review within the unit circulation corridor.
7th July 2013 – Sample installed for review within the unit circulation corridor

One issue which arose was that within the confines of the the narrow corridor, the blurred form of the tree had a rather dizzying effect on some people as they tried to focus upon it. We alleviated the problem by layering another transparent image, which was very sharp, onto the surface, which gave the eye a clear object upon which to focus. Hopefully this has addressed the issue.

A number of trips were made to VGL's offices and production unit in Reading, where I worked alongside the production designer in reviewing and building the production artworks.
A number of trips were made to VGL’s offices and production unit in Reading, where I worked alongside the production designer in reviewing and building the production artworks.
Sample panels spread out for review and discussion at VGL
19th November 2013 and a trip to VGL in Reading. Sample panels spread out for review and discussion at VGL
Sample panels printed for review during design meetings at VGL in Reading
Sample panels printed for review during design meetings at VGL in Reading
Detailed plans of all the interior elevations were plotted by VGL. Carly Birkett made a number of site visit to take measures and ensure the right drawings were produced.
Detailed plans of all the interior elevations were plotted by VGL. Carly Birkett made a number of site visit to take measures and ensure the right drawings were produced.
19th November 2013, reviewing drafts on train home after meeting in Oxford.
19th November 2013, reviewing drafts on train home after meeting in Oxford.
19th `november 2013. Making notes on draft designs
19th `november 2013. Making notes on draft designs

2013-11-19 14.22.38 The three following images are the set of final & approved pdf’s circulated for formal approval. These are the designs which went into production and printing

Final production design for Clinical Preparation Pod area.
Final production design for Clinical Preparation Pod area.
Detailed production design for the Nurse Office Pod area.
Detailed production design for the Nurse Office Pod area.
Final production design for the Storage / Counselling area.
Final production design for the Storage / Counselling area.
Detail: Final artwork
Detail: Final artwork
Detail: Final Artwork
Detail: Final Artwork
Detail: Final Design
Detail: Final Design
These are the individual elevations in linear form which make up the interior 'island' or glade within the unit. Only small sections of the walls can be seen at any one time. The elevations will be interrupted by doors and direction changes etc.
Detail: A partial view of  the individual elevations in linear form which make up the interior ‘island’ or glade within the unit. Only small sections of the walls can be seen at any one time. The elevations will be interrupted by doors and direction changes etc.

The final designs were then sampled and full scale sections delivered to the Trust for review and comment.  As you can see from the following images, the panels were quite a handful to manage and manoeuvre.

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5th December 2013 & a trip to Oxford to review the  new samples. Carly Birkett, Accounts Manager for VGL and Ruth Charity, Arts Coordinator for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, hold up the sample panel for staff and me to view.
5th December 2013 DTU, Cancer Centre, Oxford

On 5th December 2013, we finally approved the samples panels produced from the detailed production designs. From here on it was all go to set a schedule for print, manufacture and installation.

Day Treatment Unit, Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Concept & Draft Design

This is an introduction to the project – ‘Landscape: bringing the outside in’

This is a full scale sample panel for an area of bespoke wall covering. VGL produced many such sample for us to approve and have been incredibly understanding and helpful in bringing the project to fruition. Ruth Charity, Arts Co-ordinator is on the right of this image & Carly Birkett, Account Manager for VGLis on the left.
This is a full scale sample panel for an area of bespoke wall covering. VGL produced many such sample for us to approve and have been incredibly understanding and helpful in bringing the project to fruition. Ruth Charity, Arts Co-ordinator is on the right of this image & Carly Birkett, Account Manager for VGLis on the left.

This arts project was commissioned in April 2012 for the Cancer & Haematology Day Treatment Unit, aka DTU, at Churchill Hospital, Oxford.  Ruth Charity, the Arts Coordinator for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust has been instrumental in delivering the arts strategy. The Cancer Centre opened in March 2009 & was delivered by the Churchill Construction Consortium and designed by Steffian Bradley Architects.

The art project is currently in production and installation is starting on site this coming weekend.

The project brief described the unit as: “Between 70 -90 patients/day attend the Day Treatment Unit requiring treatment for varying malignancies and benign blood disorders. The treatment regimens (e.g. chemotherapy / blood transfusions) can be complex & lengthy, taking anything from 30 minutes to several hours, with some patients attending twice a week and others once every three weeks. The Day Treatment Unit consists of one long horseshoe-shaped room,accommodating 12 beds & 30 chairs. Currently there is little artwork on the walls and there is little of interest for patients to view. The windows are very high so there is no opportunity for patients to look out and thus no sense of what the weather is like or even what season it is. As a space, which patients visit on a regular basis, it offers little to lift the tedium of repeat visits”. 

Day Treatment Unit, Nurse Station. The patients within the unit are treated in beds or chairs set out around the perimeter of the rooms, facing into the centre of the room with any windows and natural light behind them. This is a typical view of the space.
Day Treatment Unit, Nurse Station. The patients within the unit are treated in beds or chairs set out around the perimeter of the rooms, facing into the centre of the room with any windows and natural light behind them. This is a typical view of the space.
Day Treatment Unit. All the treatment areas face onto a central 'island' of nurse stations and clinical rooms and service corridors, which make for a rather un-relieving view. Some patients are here for up to 4 or 5 hours at a time.
Day Treatment Unit. All the treatment areas face onto a central ‘island’ of nurse stations and clinical rooms and service corridors, which make for a rather un-relieving view. Some patients are here for up to 4 or 5 hours at a time.

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Day Treatment Unit, view from treatment areas with beds and chairs.
Day Treatment Unit, view from treatment areas with beds and chairs.
Day Treatment Unit.
Day Treatment Unit showing treatment chairs facing away from the windows. Although the nurse stations benefit from the natural light which comes in from a series of small, high windows, it does appear to diminish the experience of patients within the unit.
Day Treatment Unit Corridor
Day Treatment Unit Corridor

The aims of the project were :

to create a more welcoming, positive and inviting feel to the Chemotherapy suite;

to create new work that will provide some distraction for patients undergoing treatment;

to create new work that responds to the architecture and interior design of the space and unifies the space;

to create new work that is created with sensitivity to patients and those working in and visiting the department;

to create work that responds to the art programme theme of landscape: bringing the outside in;

to create work that is easy to clean, meets infection control standards and requires little or no maintenance

'Bringing the landscape in...;, The concept was driven by the woodland and planting which surrounded the Cancer Centre, very little of which could be viewed from within the unit. The sky was predominant as the windows are so high. Blue sky, clouds, rain, grey, bright, dull, overcast - all conditions which influenced our discussions and responses to the site.
‘Bringing the landscape in…;, The concept was driven by the woodland and planting which surrounded the Cancer Centre, very little of which could be viewed from within the unit. The sky was predominant as the windows are so high. Blue sky, clouds, rain, grey, bright, dull, overcast – all conditions which influenced our discussions and responses to the site.
Blue sky with clouds...
Blue sky with clouds…
Our approach had to be considerate of and sensitive to the treatments being delivered here and the wellbeing of patients. Scale and distance form the walls was a critical factor. We have to be extremely careful about colour or figurative detail and scale which could have a negative influence on patients.  The more muted and soft views on an early misty morning image taken in a local park began to appear more condusive to setting the stage for our intervention.
Our approach had to be considerate of and sensitive to the treatments being delivered here and the wellbeing of patients. Scale and distance  of patients from the walls  opposite was a critical factor. We had to be extremely careful about colour & figurative detail and scale which could have a negative influence  and impact on patients. The more muted and soft views on an early misty morning image taken in a local park began to appear conducive to setting the stage for our intervention.
'Landscape: bringing the outside in..."
‘Landscape: bringing the outside in…”
Tree shadows on a concrete wall are both sharply focussed or softly blurred depending on the distance of the tree from the wall.
Tree shadows on a concrete wall are both sharply focussed or softly blurred depending on the distance of the tree from the wall.
The shadows of trees here combine with the building onto which they are bast to create an abstract backdrop.
The shadows of trees here combine with the building onto which they are bast to create an abstract backdrop.

I have worked at the Cancer Centre previously within the adjacent Chemotherapy Waiting Room, where a large triptych – an architectural glass artwork, originally commissioned for the old Oncology Unit by GBS Architects, had been re-sited successfully as a screen between the patient waiting room and clinical offices and corridor. This work was further enhanced by digitally printed optically clear vinyl installed on all interior glazing panels within the waiting area by VGL Ltd. I will post an archive review of this project in due course under the heading ‘Chemotherapy Waiting Room’. 

The DTU project was initiated with a two day residency during which I talked to staff and engaged with patients. The delivery of treatments make this a very sensitive place to observe and great care was taken to be as unobtrusive as possible. There has been an ongoing process of engagement & he staff have been a continual joy to work alongside. Their collective upbeat and supportive collaboration has made this project particularly special for me. The key staff, who smoothed the progress of the project throughout have been: Eliz Flanagan – Lead Chemotherapy Nurse, Jane Skelly – Chemotherapy Specialist Nurse and Moira Cunningham – Sister, Oncology and Haematology Outpatients. Other members of the Champions Group who informed my work & engagement within the department are: Claire Tasker – supporter, Julie Bourchier – former patient & Liz Creak – former patient.

Initially I produced a to-scale model of the interior ‘island’, a cluster of rooms around which I was to base the installation. The idea was to create an interior landscape, or vista which almost felt as though the trees and plants were overhanging the space, creating an abstract misty glade to look into.

Plan drawing of the DTU. The pink area outlined in red shows the 'island', a cluster of rooms at the centre of the unit around which the circulation flows. The green line shows the perimeter of the unit and the position of  the treatment chairs and beds all aligned to face the 'island'.
Plan drawing of the DTU. The pink area outlined in red shows the ‘island’, a cluster of rooms at the centre of the unit around which the circulation flows. The green line shows the perimeter of the unit and the position of the treatment chairs and beds all aligned to face the ‘island’.
This is a scale model of the interior 'island' and a concept surface design to illustrate the approach.
This is a scale model of the interior ‘island’ and a concept surface design to illustrate the approach.
Research image - overhanging tree...
Research image – overhanging tree…
Scale model investigating the concept and approach.
Scale model investigating the concept and approach.
Draft for the 'island' elevations.
Draft for the ‘island’ elevations.
Draft artwork for the Beverage Bay wall elevation
Draft artwork for the Beverage Bay wall elevation
Draft wall elevation
Draft wall elevation
Draft Wall Elevation
Draft Wall Elevation

 

We have been working alongside Carly Birkett, Account Manager at VGL, Reading who have collaborated on the design production, manufacture and installation planning for the project. We have had small scale sample panels produced and installed within the unit for a number of weeks to gain feedback from staff and user groups. Following this period, the detailed design was revised and re-issued for comment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury

Today I received some new images of the Whiteleaf Centre and the interior and am posting them here by kind permission of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The core members of the project team with whom I collaborated on the project are:

Tom Cox – Project Manager, Artscape, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Mental Health Division

Mark Bateman – Capital Development Manager, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Britta MacDonald – Senior Assertive Outreach Worker, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Michelle Harding – Head of Adult Acute Pathway, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust  

Neil Flint – Commercial Services Manager, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Whiteleaf Centre, Nightingale Associate Architects, Front Elevation with some glazing artwork visible on the right hand side.
Whiteleaf Centre, Kier and Nightingale Associate Architects for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.  Front Elevation with some glazing artwork visible on the right hand side.
Whiteleaf  Centre, Main Reception. Some glazing artwork can be seen on the doors and glazing to the external courtyard to the centre of the image.
Whiteleaf Centre, Main Reception. Some glazing artwork can be seen on the doors and glazing to the external courtyard to the centre of the image.
Ward Hub Interior - showing the ward identity artwork. Each of the 4 wards has a colour coded artwork to assist in creating a unique identity for each area.
Ward Hub Interior – showing the ward identity artwork. Each of the 4 wards has a colour coded artwork to assist in creating a unique identity for each area.
Detail of Ward Hub artworks.
Detail of Ward Hub artworks.
The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Front entrance elevation. The small sapling tree on the green roundabout in the foreground is a specimen tree planted to create a focal point.  The tree is a Variegated Tulip Tree and was decided upon in collaboration with the project Landscape Architect, Robyn Butcher of Terra Firma Consultancy.
The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury. Front entrance elevation. The small sapling tree on the green roundabout in the foreground is a specimen tree planted to create a focal point. The tree is a Variegated Tulip Tree and was decided upon in collaboration with the project Landscape Architect, Robyn Butcher of Terra Firma Consultancy.

The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury

The Whiteleaf Centre is a £43 million 80-bed Mental Health Centre in Aylesbury. It was completed and opened in February 2014. The building was instigated by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and delivered by Kier Construction and Nightingale Architects. The Landscape Architects were Terra Firma Consultancy.

Whiteleaf Centre visual by Nightingale Associates, Project Architects
Whiteleaf Centre visual by Nightingale Associates, Project Architects

I was commissioned in November 2012 by Tom Cox, ‘Artscape’ Project Manager for Oxford Health, to develop artwork for glazing and walls which could also work as way finding. This was achieved via digital printing onto optically clear vinyl and vinyl wall covering by Guardian Glazing Films and their sub consultant Bonwyke.

Detail: Digital print on optically clear vinyl. Cafe & Waiting Area
12th February 2014. Detail: Digital print  on optically clear vinyl. Finally installed in the Cafe & Waiting Area

 

The project was influenced by its site history, firstly as a private residence called Manor House and an archive publication from the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies, which listed in detail, the contents of the house & garden from its sale at the turn of the Century. The house & grounds eventually transformed into Manor House Hospital, which was completely demolished for the new build.  I was also really intrigued by the Ecological Assessment of the former Hospital site which was produced by Capita Symonds for Kier Build in 2011 which referred to the original seed bank of the site being present still in the spoil heaps of the demolition.

Text from the Ecological Assessment of the site carried out by Capita Symonds for Kier Build in 2011
Text from the Ecological Assessment of the site carried out by Capita Symonds for Kier Build in 2011

BLUE TEXT A1 _Page_04

Detailed descriptions of the gardens and their contents were contained in the sales particulars of the original Manor House
Detailed descriptions of the gardens and their contents were contained in the sales particulars of the original Manor House


BLUE TEXT A1 _Page_02

 

A list of animals and insects identified through study or anecdotal evidence as being either resident or visitors to the site.
A list of animals and insects identified through study or anecdotal evidence as being either resident or visitors to the site.

The artworks are presented as a series of interlinked vistas and quiet spaces which carry references to the site through the interior of the building.  The images also to the influence that gardens, nature & the natural world has within the understanding and treatment of acute mental health. One of the aims of the new building is to provide gardening opportunities for service users to grow things and to provide quiet outside spaces where people can be surrounded by planting and seasonal change.

Early concept visual of a garden with planted borders and tree
16th May 2013. Early concept visual of a garden with planted borders and tree
Draft design for the Cafe & Waiting room
23rd October 2013. Draft design for the Cafe & Waiting room
Draft design work for the Entrance Corridor glazing
Draft design work for the Entrance Corridor glazing
Draft designs in progress for the 4 Ward Hub areas
24th October 2013. Draft designs in progress for the 4 Ward Hub areas
17th May 2013. Many site visits enabled a continuing dialogue to be had with staff and the project team.
17th May 2013. Many site visits enabled a continuing dialogue to be had with staff and the project team.
3rd December 2013 - Final iconography signed off and building detailed designs ongoing.
3rd December 2013 – Final iconography signed off and building detailed designs ongoing.
3rd December 2013 - Detailed design for Entrance Corridor artwork is approved -
3rd December 2013 – Detailed design for Entrance Corridor artwork is approved –
12th February 2014 - Some vinyls installed, some small revisions and snags to resolve with the print.
12th February 2014 – Some vinyls installed, some small revisions and snags to resolve with the print.

 

12th February 2014 - Site meeting to review first batch of installations. Print detail really good.
12th February 2014 – Site meeting to review first batch of installations. Print detail really good.

 

12th February 2014 - installation started.
12th February 2014 – installation started.

 

12th February 2014 - meeting in the Cafe & Waiting area to review first installation sequence.
12th February 2014 – meeting in the Cafe & Waiting area to review first installation sequence.
12th February 2014 - Meeting Room glazing partially installed. One panel of glazing is cracked - so installation now delayed here for several weeks.
12th February 2014 – Meeting Room glazing partially installed. One panel of glazing is cracked – so installation now delayed here for several weeks.
12th February 2014 - Detail of Meeting Room window.
12th February 2014 – Detail of Meeting Room window.
12th February 2014 - some windows have text referencing the former house on the site set in a maelstrom scribbled line.
12th February 2014 – some windows have text referencing the former house on the site set in a maelstrom scribbled line.
25th September 2013, Final artwork approved for project. Meeting Room & Cafe Waiting Area
25th September 2013, Final artwork approved for project. Meeting Room & Cafe Waiting Area
9th December 2013 - Ward Hub designs approved for print.
9th December 2013 – Ward Hub designs approved for print.
9th December 2013 - Ward Hub 'A' approved for print.
9th December 2013 – Ward Hub ‘A’ approved for print.

 

 

2nd December 2013 - Ward Hub 'D' approved for print.
2nd December 2013 – Ward Hub ‘D’ approved for print.
2nd December 2014 - detail to corridor artwork has printed incorrectly. The vixen is meant to be surrounded by an opaque cloud. This elements spans several panels, so is a pain to have to re-print. I actually quite like the effect - wish I had left is as it was!
2nd December 2014 – detail to corridor artwork has printed incorrectly. The vixen is meant to be surrounded by an opaque cloud. This elements spans several panels, so is a pain to have to re-print. I actually quite like the effect – wish I had left is as it was ! – but the coral colour tree on the right has also printed incorrectly – so the whole lot has to go.
2nd December 2014 - Detail - small violet at the base of the Meeting Room window.
2nd December 2014 – Detail – small violet at the base of the Meeting Room window.

 

 

 

Tensile Screen, Central Concourse, Jubilee Building, Musgrove Park Hospital

The Jubilee Building Central Concourse Project at Musgrove Park Hospital has now completed on site and the new surgical building was fully opened on 7th April 2014.

This art commission was led by Steven Power, Senior Project Manager for Capital Projects at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton along with Architects BDP and Contractor BAM. Specialist contractors Architen Landrell, Metafab Solutions Ltd and Digital Printers VGL were all integral to the success of the design & production. Bronwen Gwillim, formally Art Co-ordinator of Art for Life at the Hospital initially led the commissioning and early stages of the art project in 2012, and handed over to Lisa Harty in her new role as Arts Co-ordinator to oversee its completion.

The tensile artwork, funded by the Heritage Lottery celebrates the completion of the Jubilee Building as well as commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Hospital originally founded as a US Field Hospital in World War Two.  I worked with the Hospital archive and the archivist Louise Donovan as well as bringing my own experience to bear, having been associated with the Hospital for the last 7 years and Lead Artist on a number of projects.

Final Artwork for the front elevation of the screen.
Final Artwork for the front elevation of the screen.
A library of images was built up with which to collage the artwork. These individual motifs all have a part of the visual narrative to present.
A library of images was built up with which to collage the artwork. These individual motifs all have a part of the visual narrative to present.

Detail: draft artwork

 

Installation in progress in Central Concourse
Installation in progress in Central Concourse
Detail: draft detail for tensile screen
Detail: draft detail for tensile screen
Tensile Screen as seen from from Level 1of Central Concourse
Tensile Screen as seen from from Level 1of Central Concourse
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd working for Architen Landrell
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd working for Architen Landrell
Tensile frame in construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame in construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd

 

 

Tensile frame in production by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame in production by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Tensile frame under construction by Metafab Solutions Ltd
Digitally printed tensile fabric being processed for panel assmbly at Architen Landrell
Digitally printed tensile fabric being processed for panel assmbly at Architen Landrell
photo 3
Digitally printed tensile fabric produced by VGL in Reading, being prepared for panel assembly at Architen Landrell
Tensile screen installation in progress.
Tensile screen installation in progress.