Dimbleby Cancer Care Centre
Project
A glass screen to provide privacy and an acoustic barrier for patients of the Dimbleby Cancer Care Unit at Guy’s Hospital in Central London.
Ion Glass working on behalf of Nicholas Dimbleby and the Dimbleby Trust.
Product
A bespoke curved glass screen in two parts, set into bespoke channels between existing walls.
Overview
Dimbleby Cancer Care was established as a charity in memory of broadcaster Richard Dimbleby to offer care and support for people suffering from cancer. The Dimbleby Centre has a large information area and a suite of consulting and therapy rooms, creating a peaceful and welcoming environment for patients and visitors.
Ion Glass worked with sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby, developing his vision of a gently curving glass screen from a hand-drawn sketch to technical drawings, taking the design from concept to manufacture and successful installation.
The new glass screen provides privacy and an acoustic barrier for private discussion.
Technical Information
Created from five curved glass panels set into bespoke aluminium channels, the screens are deceptively simple, using 17.5mm laminated toughened glass curving in opposing directions. The bespoke metal channels were manufactured by Ion Glass, holding the glass top and bottom and fixed at either end into two poles fitted into the ceiling. With no option to change the ceiling grids these had to be perfectly positioned, with an additional requirement for the end poles to accommodate the edging curve where the floor meets the walls. The channels were powder coated to meet the client’s specification.
The two glass screens are designed to flow cohesively together, with an entry way between them to provide easy wheelchair access and meet fire regulations. The individual glass panels were manufactured to create a seamless finish, accommodating the opposing glass curves without creating a step and using translucent silicon sealant for a flawless result.
Installation took place over a single weekend when the centre was closed for patients, with the Ion Team working through the night to meet the tight completion deadline and allowing the Centre to re-open for patients on Monday morning.
After installation, the end poles were concealed behind bespoke wooden columns. The finishing touch to the glass screens will be an applied manifestation to reflect the botanical design on the back wall of the Centre, providing partial obscurity to the glass panels for additional privacy.
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This flowing design of the glass screen combines the style and vision of Nicholas Dimbleby with the technical design and structural glass expertise of Ion Glass. The screen is also a testament to the skills of the installation team, both in manufacturing the bespoke curved aluminium channel and ensuring the curved glass panels fitted perfectly.