Newhaven Polyclinic

This public art project took the form of a computer printed waiting hall carpet – set in the central circuation area of a new Polyclinic.
The pattern takes a direct reference from surrounding natural landscapes (chalk downland, clifftop, sea fringes, river bank and hedgerow) and lists out all found and anecdotally grown medicinal plants – as reference to the medical multi-functional nature of a polyclinic.

The installation is permanent, and has a motif running throughout which is the River Ouse. One of the key ideas was to provide a playful fl oor surface whilst at the same time relating the work to the natural landscape surrounding Newhaven whilst at the same time giving patients and visitors something to read as they wait for their appointments.

Each of the carpet tiles has a unique reference code and can be replaced with ease (through Milliken Carpets) to mitigate concerns that the Healthcare Trust had over planned maintenance. The project was delivered through the South Downs Health NHS Trust Arts Initiative; designed by Andrew Siddall as Project Architect at Penoyre & Prasad.