Art in Site

CADU, Evelina CRF

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust

Big colour, high ceilings

Patients aged 0–18 come to the Clinical Assessment Day Unit (CADU), for short assessments to inform the hospital’s on-going research into paediatric food allergies. Children aren’t sick when they come in, and visits are typically uneventful, so we wanted to give patients an exciting environment that would stave off boredom and feel fresh with each return.

At the heart of our design is a joyful spread of painted ceiling tiles, which extend across the ceiling to encompass a Tetris-like array of colours – viewable from any bay thanks to the unit’s unusually high ceilings. The same colours trickle into each bay, along with bedhead designs on wipeable, infection-control-compliant build materials, featuring illustrations of Snow Leopards, Ibex, and little people, who interact playfully.

Across the unit’s walls and corridors, the gang of animals/people dance along a meandering line, keeping patients company along their journey. These charming illustrations by artist Kiriko Kubo are representative of a broad, inclusive spectrum of abilities, ages, ethnicities, and gender. No matter who you are anyone can find someone who“looks like me” on the wall, and this sends a strong signal of inclusion and belonging.

All patients are measured at a printed scale on the wall, and to help them keep focused during this process, we integrated artwork featuring characters from the gang, who occupy a range of heights. For those children who are needle-phobic, a separate room allows blood to be taken in private. To help soothe fears, we integrated an eye-catching floor-ceiling height feature artwork, which integrates the gang in various colours, along with an engaging maze-like design.

In this project, the humble ceiling tile is elevated into something magnificent and grand. Painting, rather than printing, the ceiling tiles lends them a vibrancy that raises the ambient light levels of the room, and brings overhead joy to patients in otherwise cramped confines. Painting also brings huge benefits for the project’s longevity: if the Trust wishes to retouch any ceiling tiles, or add in fixtures, this can be done in-house using commercial paints. Additionally, the animals/people illustrations have been manifested in vinyl, which is easily reprinted and applied.

What started off as a challenging brief with a small budget led us to rethink our approach to ceiling tiles, and what they can achieve when painted in concert with other interior/artwork choices.

Praise for CADU

“People have said how bright and beautiful it is. Children go around the walls following the images and tracing them. They have used the Evelina colours everywhere which is great. Parents who have come to us before so know what it was like previously say it’s amazing and was worth the wait”

- Matron, Allergy Services

This case study is part of the wider “Evelina Clinical Research Facility (CRF)” project – featuring three departments incorporating art, interior design, playful journeys, and colour. See Projects for all Evelina CRF case studies.

The artwork has been supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, which helps create a world-class environment for patients, staff and visitors at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Find out more at www.supportgstt.org.uk.

Date 2020

Sector Healthcare

Service Children's Allergies, Outpatients

Commissioned Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust

Artist Art in Site, Kiriko Kubo

User Group Children & Families