I recently read an article in ID magazine about an inspiring building project on Oxford University’s campus. I wish more projectts were like this one.
A new art program for the Department of Biochemistry, Salt Bridges http://saltbridges.bioch.ox.ac.uk/, has been an important driver of providing a creative environment. Artist Nicky Hirst led the project, creating a large-scale design for the front of the building featuring a series of inkblots. SO COOL!
Front of Oxfords' Bio-Chem building
The digital artist Tim Head created works that explore the similarities between biomolecular research and digital visual art. Fine art photographer Peter Fraser documented the construction period of the building, while Annie Cattrell was commissioned to create a large-scale sculptural work for the atrium. All of these artists were commissioned, and some even had residencies, by Oxford for the Biochemistry department.
Peter Frasers' work
The transparent glass exterior of the building makes the laboratories with researchers at work visible from the outside. Colored glass fins all around the building cast changing patterns of light while solar cells on the roof provide a significant part of the building’s electricity. Not to mention the flock of pink and orange seagulls that inhabit the buildings’ atrium. There are collaborative areas in the building where the exchange of ideas between scientists is promoted.
Annie Cattrell's pink and orange seagulls
What I love about this entire project is the fact that Oxford not only embraced but celebrated visually what the work of the Bio-Chem department. It not only raises the morale of those who work within the facility, it also gets the general public intrigued, excited and compelled to learn and know more. A “tribe” is created without much effort when you make things that impact and change the redundancy of the urban landscape. I love how Oxford is doing this in the architecture but also pulling in visual artists to create aspects of Bio-Chem all over campus. They obviously wanted others to understand their passion and what they do, else why would they have gone through so much effort to communicate this visually across many various platforms?
Here is a comment from a blog that I found that I had to share. The writer/bio chemist actually visited the site: “I’ve got to be honest and say that the organic chemistry building at Oxford was fantastic. Massive shared write-up areas meant that groups actually shared coffee and ideas far more often than in the other departments that I’ve worked in. There was also a policy of sharing lab-space with other groups – meaning that you often *saw* the chemistry happening, which is pretty useful.”
‘The aim was not just to re-accommodate existing activities in this new building,’ says Denis O’Driscoll, Department Administrator. ‘Instead it is designed for innovation – we wanted to reduce the doorstep to discovery. It’s an aspirational building that will enable better science.’
See how powerful design and art can be?! It ain’t always just a pretty picture hanging on a wall…it can help reinforce and support a brand, and create a new depth of brand communication.
