Flowers brighten up our day do they not? Operating theatre designs with glass walls in stunning colours can do that too. In this article we discuss the use of colour in the interior and cite 3 recent projects where colour played a vital role.
Be Inspired By Colour
In a recently project with Acromec Engineers, we were asked to propose coloured glass for the four operating theatres. As the glass would be manufacturer to size and shipped from Germany, the colour decision was a pressing concern. The choices were white or any other colour under the sun. Faced with such amazing options, we needed a hook for the colours; an excuse to be bold.
As the 2010 movie directed by Mark Romanek, ‘Never Let Me Go’, draws to a close, the film credits roll over transforming colours. Nicholas Merrow-Smith continues, “At the time I was watching the movie in 2018, I had been commissioned to choose the colour scheme for the operating theatres in Novaptus Surgical Centre. There at the end of the film were the colours I had imagined; Magenta, Purple, Ultramarine, Emerald Green, Gold. We worked for a couple of hours to capture the colours and match them to a colour chart; our scheme was born.”
Novaptus Surgery Centre
With an appropriate story, it was much easier to bring various stakeholders on board including surgeons who would be using the operating theatres. The colour was approved with one minor reiteration, the gold being preferred over purple.
Develop Colour Themes From Imagery
Clients rely on consultants to introduce new experiences, novel features and new ways of doing things. Colour is one of those areas where the client will need guidance. Colours behave differently under different light and on different surfaces. For instance, our magenta operating theatre looks stunning in coloured glass but would be overpowering if painted on a plaster wall.
When working with colours, it is helpful to have a great starting place. Rather like musicians and artists, designers may have a preference to work with particular colours, developing their own aesthetic signature over time. At Merrowsmith Design Partnership, our designers love to use colour. We are open to influence without reference to a fixed colour palette. We work hard, searching for inspiration on each commission and identifying themes which generate strong imagery for the client. With future business driving the process, we tend to be ahead of colour forecasters. It would not surprise me to see some of our colours find there way in to future colour forecasts.
In our recent proposal to Q2 Solutions, mood boards with rich imagery set the foundation for the interiors and the outcome of the project. Strong themes enabled us to engage the users and open up opportunities for dialogue. With this we were able to weave a story around colours and imagery which supported the brand and customer experience.
Use Colour to Overcome Challenges
In a fertility clinic, we need a private space to collect specimens from the male partner. These ‘collection’ rooms (they are often referred to by quite lurid names) are challenging for the operator yet present an opportunity for a designer to explore the use of colour. The rooms are small, incredibly private and simply furnished to support the ‘deposit’ being made in solitude.
From a practical point of view, the room must be inviting, warm and even sexy. Surfaces must be easy to clean but the room should still appear soft. Colours can help us achieve all this without us turning to glamour images plastered over the walls. RGB (red, green, blue) LED lighting is a marvellous way to introduce colour. The masculine room transforms by colour when you switch on the LED lighting. The user has full control of the light filling the room, choosing from an infinite spectrum of colours. This helps engage the user and allows him to determine the mood of the space he is in.
Pacific Fertility Institutes
It helps to have a nicely designed room in the first place so don’t just be throwing LED lighting at the problem; solve the fundamental design issues too. Contact us to see how we can bring a bit of colour into your practice, inspire people and have you stand out from the crowd.
