Architect "Hubo Design" :
The Kimberly Burns Unit is a great example of our speciality - transformative design. We like to take dark, worn-out or institutional spaces and bring them to life! In this project, existing walls came out which allowed for big openings and a curved wonderland. This completely transformed the hospital corridor into an engaging space. This space is now a Paediatric Gym centre where children can take part in different games. We used curved walls and the ‘inbetween spaces’ to create a central gym and more space for hospital beds.
We needed a floor that could bring this project to life! An exciting top of the range product was used throughout the floor. This unique floor pattern radiates from the gym’s centre in a Dr-Seuss Like way. Movement and stretching is key for burn’s victims so the floor represents movement. It is all about fun movement. They can also jump along the floor’s pattern, create games, colour challenges and follow the dot/ hopskotch games. The floor’s design runs up the walls in light colours creating the illusion that the floor and walls are one- an oasis in the middle of what is an institutional building. It was an experiment to see how fun can explode out of the building.
More importantly: Distraction is absolutely key in treating burns victims. The floor is the key to ensuring that the in between spaces feel important and can be celebrated and used. The floor has a function- to get the kids stretching- which is to get them better.
We see this as a low tech- high tech scenario where a manual solution is creating high tech results.
| Date of completion | end 2019 |
| Architect | Hubo Design |
| Location | Kimberly, South Africa |
| Flooring contractor | Farrell & sons |
