Great Ormond Street Hospital contains a top-secret Lullaby Factory

February 27, 2013

Lullabies are heard either through special “listening pipes” located near the hospital canteen, or by tuning into an internal radio station

View 21 Images

1/21

The project was put forward following a multi-phased redevelopment of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London

2/21

Several old taps, gauges, and other fittings were incorporated into the design

3/21

Rather than attempt to hide the untidy pipework, Studio Weave instead made a feature of it

4/21

Lullaby Factory spans a total of ten floors in height, and 32 meters (105 feet) in length

5/21

A decommissioned boiler was implemented into the design

6/21

The Lullabies can only be experienced from within the building

7/21

Sound artist Jessica Curry was commissioned to produce relaxing lullabies

8/21

The installation brings to mind the magic of classic children’s stories like Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory

9/21

Lullabies are heard either through special “listening pipes” located near the hospital canteen, or by tuning into an internal radio station

10/21

The project was put forward following a multi-phased redevelopment of Great Ormond Street Hospital

11/21

"Whiskissing Bristles" (Lullaby Factory machinery) concept sketch

12/21

Sketch depicting balcony view of the Lullaby Factory

13/21

Sketch depicting view of Lullaby Factory from inside building

14/21

"Humurmuring Transmitter" (Lullaby Factory machinery) concept sketch

15/21

"Lollobubble Looper" (Lullaby Factory machinery) concept sketch

16/21

Lullaby Factory concept sketch

17/21

The "Pickled Picture Peeper" is reported to measure the quality of the lullaby

18/21

Lullaby Factory schematic

19/21

The "Solilooting Plant" is said to ensure the lullaby is soothing but not sad

20/21

The "Whistful Fillments" reach up from the rooftops and comb the air for wishes

21/21

Lullaby Factory concept sketch

View gallery - 21 images

Great Ormond Street Hospital is a children’s hospital based in London, UK, which recently received an installation dubbed “Lullaby Factory,” courtesy of architectural firm Studio Weave. Spanning a total of ten stories in height, and 32 meters (105 feet) in length, Lullaby Factory enlivens a formerly dull space while producing gentle lullabies which can only be experienced from within the building.

The project was put forward following a multi-phased redevelopment of Great Ormond Street Hospital which resulted in several large windows directly facing a nearby pipework-ridden brickwork facade. Rather than attempting to hide this pipework or tidy it up somehow, Studio Weave instead made a feature of it, incorporating various fixtures and fittings from the aging building in order to create a compelling vision of a Lullaby Factory.

Sound artist Jessica Curry was commissioned to produce relaxing lullabies, and these are accessed either through special “listening pipes” located near the hospital canteen, or by tuning into an internal radio station.

The attention to detail brought to bear by Studio Weave is impressive, as highlighted by the architectural drawings in the Image Gallery.

The installation brings to mind the magic of classic children’s stories like Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, and seems a fitting addition to the same hospital which also owns the rights to Peter Pan.

Source: Studio Weave via TreeHugger

View gallery - 21 images