South West London Health Partnerships and Kingston Primary Care Trust appointed Modus Operandi to manage the commissioning of artwork for the new Surbiton Health Centre. Designed by architects Roberts Limbrick, the Centre is part of a new development located on the site of the old Surbiton Hospital in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The state-of-the-art new health centre will be a focal point for the community, providing services for a population of approximately 73,000 residents in Surbiton and south of Kingston borough.
Artist Rana Begum was appointed through a competitive process, with representatives from the GP Practices joining the Selection Panel. Her concept was for a creative and coherent approach to surfaces, colour and finishes throughout the building’s interior, integrating art interventions within the architectural design of the Centre. She worked closely with the architects in the evolution of the design approach for the walls, floors, feature areas and selection of furniture. Her holistic design approach complements the aesthetics of the building, defining publicly accessible areas and assisting navigation around the Centre, helping to welcome and orientate its users.
Begum is known for her use of geometric pattern, colour field and alignment. These composition elements are used to define specific areas of the building. The artist’s modular, directional designs for the walls and floorscape are unified by a holistic approach to colour, accent and form. Triangular configurations in the flooring are picked up in three feature walls designed in Lego on the ground and first floor. These interactive walls animate designated children’s spaces within the waiting areas, engaging the attention of younger visitors to the Centre by encouraging interaction and play.
Begum’s artwork creates an environment which is accessible to all, and which welcomes and orientates all services users and staff in the building, through a considered and creative approach.