By children for children - that was the motto of the architect's office Michael Hopkins Architects. Children were involved right from the concept phase of the new hospital: The result is a children's hospital radiating light, warmth and colour in the very heart of London. The key characteristic of the design, ideally suited for children and in perfect harmony with practical needs, is the concept of orientation and navigation. The teamwork with the children led to the decision to use the world of nature as a theme in a fresh, bright and informal environment. Each floor was assigned its own colour, a name and a symbol from nature. From the white "Arctic" over the red "mountains" through to the ochre-coloured "savannah", the seven floors accommodate not only children but, figuratively speaking, natural habitats from all over the world as well.
It was over 11 years ago that nora were involved in the concept design for the hospital and the proposed plans for the detailed way-finding system that would be used, without the need for wording. The reasons for this were 2 fold, to accommodate the 26 different languages that are spoken in the area and also to truly make this a more fun place to be for the Children. The floors would accommodate the way-finding by means of design themes for each floor and iconic symbols to follow through the chosen floor to the particular function area. Still, after all this time, it is great to get in the lift and see these icons printed on the different floor levels. The intricate design inlay work has enabled a truly bespoke floor creating a wealth of intrigue for all the new arrivals. The choice of coverings followed many criteria for Hopkins architects, however the subject of environmental credentials was of great importance. Nora flooring offers individually assessed BRE A+ products, but also the Blue Angel award for Low LOC’s.
