A
collaboration on the design of the new adolescent oncology unit in Gregorio
Marañón Hospital, Madrid, between Formica Group, the Fundación Aladina and Ink
and Movement sees the donation and installation of spectacular murals created
by artist Okuda San Miguel.
This
initiative aims to improve the wellbeing of the adolescents and their families
during their stay in the hospital through the provision of a welcoming space
that is full of colour.
The
project follows in the wake of the renovation of the pediatric
and adjacent areas of the San Carlos Hospital Clinic in
Madrid in 2017, which was also carried out by Formica Group together with the
Fundación Aladina and Okuda.
Okuda’s
work was digitalised on Formica laminate® panels using the Younique® by Formica
Group service and was arranged in numerous murals along more than 100m2 of the new floor in the Gregorio Marañón Hospital.
The work
incorporates the artist’s characteristic designs, geometric structures and
multicoloured prints. Speaking on the space, Okuda comments: “I wanted to
depict the most childlike and positive part of my creations, to emotionally
transform it and give it a new energy that will contribute to the wellbeing of
everyone who passes through it”.
The murals
create an unconventional and pleasing space for patients, their families and
the centre’s medical staff to enjoy.
Gema
Bonilla, Director of Marketing for Formica Group in Southern Europe, comments:
“Among many other applications, our laminates and panels are often installed in
hospital centres as they combine elegant design with maximum durability, two
essential features for high-traffic areas like these. In this project, and
through our Younique by Formica Group digitalisation service, we have applied
Okuda’s creations to high pressure laminates, creating a striking space of
colour and art in the Gregorio Marañón".
Lorena
Díez, Director of the Fundación Aladina Hospitals, adds: “This initiative
improves the quality of life of adolescents with cancer. Aladina aims to
humanise hospitals, making the stay of cancer patients and their families as
comfortable as possible. In this instance, the introduction of a vibrant and
eye-catching design to the unit is to evoke a more home-like atmosphere that
moves away from the sterile feeling traditionally associated with hospitals”.
Okuda
continues: “This project features the most childlike part of my work, although
in this case we also added a more pop-like element with the introduction of
prints and the Kaos Star, an icon of mine which represents a different way of
doing things."
