The positive impact of an enhanced environment is incontrovertible in modern healthcare – the staff and patient experience is improved by art and the impact on wellbeing and outcomes is significant.

So, it is fitting that the new 34,600sq m Grafton Way Building at the University College of London Hospital (UCLH) incorporates more than 100 original pieces of art printed onto Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) wallsheets and forming part of the fabric of the building.

The world-class facilities strengthen UCLH’s position as a leading national and international hospital.

Above ground, modern, purpose-built inpatient wards for people with blood disorders are provided over three floors, with a further floor for a new critical care unit and surgical ward.

And the 25m-deep basement, created by one of the largest excavations in London, houses eight hyper-modern operating theatres for planned orthopaedic, ear nose and throat, and oral surgery as well as housing a Proton Beam Therapy Centre – one of the first in England – which will offer ground-breaking radiotherapy treatments to patients, targeting tumours more precisely.

There is a raft of evidence showing how enhanced environments improve recovery rates for patients

Guy Noble, arts curator with the UCLH Arts and Heritage Programme, works to improve patient and staff outcomes through the arts and he curated the artwork that features so prominently throughout the new facilities.

“There is a raft of evidence showing how enhanced environments improve recovery rates for patients,” he explains.

“Nature and views of nature are particularly impactful and the themes for the new hospital encompass nature in many forms.

“We have looked to artwork to uplift, to calm, to distract – this can be really effective for people in distressing or worrying situations.”

His team commissioned more than 100 original pieces of work, covering 3,000sq ft.

Lucy Gough and Eloise Renouf designed work for the critical care unit while Alex Echo’s work features in the Proton Beam Therapy Centre and many other areas of the building.

This ambitious art project was made possible through the use of Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom), which is created by reproducing a photographic image or design onto Altro Whiterock wall cladding, with consistent, photographic quality.

Hard-coat technology provides scratch-resistant properties for added surface protection.

“Altro Whiterock Digiclad was the right choice for a number of reasons,” said Noble.

“It satisfies our infection control requirements, and our fire officer was more than happy with its fire rating, too.

“Its robust nature really helped as well.

“Cleanability and durability are so important in hospital settings and alternatives such as vinyl wallpaper simply wouldn’t have the longevity needed in this environment.”

The bespoke wall sheets were printed from digital files using UV cured inks.

We have looked to artwork to uplift, to calm, to distract – this can be really effective for people in distressing or worrying situations

Darren Baggett, an internet asset entrepreneur, former city trader, and long-term supporter of UCLH, has been passionate about this art project from the very beginning and was instrumental in raising funds to help bring it to life.

“It was fantastic following it from start to finish – seeing the concepts and ideas develop organically and be brought to life and installed as part of the fabric of the building to last for years to come,” he said.

“This was the best thing I was involved with last year – it was the ray of sunshine and everyone involved in the project was so positive about it and that shows in the end result.”

The wall sheets were installed by Absolute Interiors, an Altro Whiterock Premier Installer.

About the artists:

Lucy Gough’s prints use simple graphic lines and bold colour blocks to form a coherent style that has come to define her artistic practice. Her most-recent work draws inspiration from a variety of sources including architecture and geometry.

Eloise Renouf is an artist, designer, and illustrator. The things she creates are decorative yet simple, colourful but thoughtful. Inspired by the outside; rethought on the inside. 

Alex Echo has created artwork professionally for 40 years and has placed his works in the collections of some of the world’s top corporations and institutions. He has worked relentlessly for various charities and institutions, raising over $1,200,000 from sales of his work.