HSC Belfast Forster Green Hospital

Project: HSC Belfast; Courtyard Sculptures, Entrance Sculpture and Paintings

Commission date: April 2009
Client: Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast.  Forster Green and Iveagh sites
Duration: Completed July 2010
 
 

In April 2009 we were successful in two Public Art Tenders for the Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, to design and supply some sculptural work for an outdoor courtyard space at Forster Green Hospital for young people, and a collection of paintings for the  site and for Iveagh, beside the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast. 
 

The brief required sculpture to be installed in an outdoor courtyard to screen vision across the site.  The Courtyard is a closed space, designed to fill the building with light and fresh air, while residential blocks and daytime blocks needed to have sightlines interrupted.
 
 

The main piece of sculpture took playful images of 5 figures, fabricated entirely from mild steel, dancing around a may-pole.  On top of the maypole is a nesting bird and a decorative weathervane.  The ribbons were formed from flat-bar steel and twisted around to give a flowing effect.  These figures were installed in a 5 metre diameter, and stand about 2 metres tall.  The maypole stands around 4 metres tall.  All the work was galvanised, and the figures powdercoated by NK Coatings.
 

Two other pieces were placed at the corners of the triangular courtyard; the woman with an umbrella flipped inside-out, and the wind appearing to blow leaves around her; and a dancing couple, at the other end, with hearts and other playful shapes flowing around them. 
 

The figures are fabricated from various steel-stock, and fixed to the ground only by their actual feet.  Base plates protrude several inches below the level of the pavers, and 50x12mm flat bar provides rigidity.  In each piece we were able to provide additional stabilisation by joining ribbons or the 'wind' pieces to the fugures, to prevent oscillation in windy conditions. 

Another part of this project was to design and provide a collection of original paintings for installation inside the young peoples' wards.  This collection was to be bright, layful, large scale, robust and creative.  Nine paintings ranging from 1200mm square to 1200x2400mm in size were produced.  David Dudgeon and Tasha Geoffroy worked in collaboration in developing the designs and producing the large scale finals.

An additional work was commissioned for the entrance of the Forster Green site.  This wrought-irong tree, standing some 2.5 metres high, was hand-fabricated, including insects, birds and fantastical budding flowers.  Some detail images are below.  It is stood on a steel plinth which was powder coated in a bright orange colour.  (Awaiting final installation image)

Below is a gallery of lots more pictures of the project, from design,  fabrication and installation.   [click on a thumbnail]