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Deciding where to put the art
Most healthcare
buildings will provide a wide opportunity for placing artwork.
Buildings naturally divide into sections, for example, entrance and circulation
areas, gardens, waiting rooms, treatment areas, physiotherapy, occupational
therapy, wards and bedrooms. The way each section is used changes the
requirements for art. Understanding this enables the selection of commission
type and artist, craftsperson or designer.
The steering group will need to decide where to place the emphasis to
best deliver an advantage. The public areas and main entrance will create
the first impression for the patient and their family and friends. This
first impression will help confidence and attitude, it is very important.
Waiting rooms are closely studied, wards and bedrooms sooth and relax.
Different ideas are required for each. Where the main commissions are
placed will reflect the judgement of the steering group makes about the
way healthcare is delivered in the building.
Getting this balance right is the most important task for the steering
group and to give clear guidence so that the professional arts administrator
can make sure this is reflected in the brief to the artists.
Graphic design, signage, maps and wayfinding play an important part in
the way the building interfaces with its users. Identifying art objects
when giving directions is extremely effective and unexpected benefit of
placing art.
The architectural lay-out will provide natural opportunities, healthcare
attitudes will apply emphasis, thereaputic need for gardens and recreational
courtyards will help patients, it is from the balance of these that final
decisions are made.
The architect is vital in this. In Private Finance Initiative projects
it is the architects who provide the route for art intergrated into the
structure and it will fall to them to clear any planning issues. These
will need to be fully resolved for the contractor to hand over the building
to the P.F.I. owner. The architect tends to have a powerful feeling for
the space and understanding this is useful.
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