Ab Rogers + Loraine James

"Lit by threads of fibre optic cable that bring day light from the outside in, the womb- like cocoon space sits within a hostile environment of uncomfortable sounds, harsh lighting and clinical smells, creating an impactful juxtaposition with the nurturing interior of its domed chambers."

"In order to feel the full impact of our sensorial cocoon you must first experience the world it presents an escape from, making your way through a bombardment of harsh lights, discordant sounds and unpleasant smells to give controlled exposure to the conditions suffered by hospital staff and patients and build empathy with their experiences.

Passing through a curved hospital-style curtain, you navigate your way around the exterior of the cocoon’s domed structure, moving through spots of bright, concentrated and flickering fluorescent light that create contrasts of light and shadow. Ambient soundscapes comprised of a range of jarring and relentless mechanical beeps, pagers, loud voices and traumatic alarms punctuate the space and scents of ammonia, latex and unappealing foodstuffs will be released at key points, all elements combining to transport you sensorially to the world of the hospital."

"Some of the fibre optic cables will carry light down to a series of glowing spheres that you can hold and engage with – allowing you to bask in your own personal orb of sunlight."

"Once within the linked chambers all sound, light and smell pollution from outside feels muted, far away - as if you have escaped from a nightmare into a dream. Soft pulsating light rises and falls in an accelerated programme of the body’s natural circadian rhythm, bathing the curving walls of the cocoon to create a feeling of womb like protection and peace. Tendrils of natural light will twist and twine their way into the domes via fibre optic cables that feed crafted light wells. Some of the cables will carry light down to a series of glowing spheres that you can hold and engage with – allowing you to bask in your own personal orb of sunlight.

A soundtrack of nature-inspired noises, curated into harmonious rhythms that work in synthesis with the circadian lighting pattern, will play throughout the cocoon building in a gradual crescendo and then gently falling away depending on where you are in the space so that each individual has their own experience."

"To guarantee the opportunity for a focused interaction with these stimulating sounds, mini domes or hoods are incorporated into the main structure so that you can fully immerse yourself, taking a step further away from the noises of the external gallery and experiencing a moment of privacy within a public space.

Alcoves within additional domes sit low on the walls of the main chambers, offering additional moments of private respite, their scooped interiors padded with enveloping feather cushions on which you can rest your head. As you relax against their softness an evocative scent is released – like crushing a rose bud or a branch of rosemary between your fingers - replenishing your energy and transporting you far away.

Scents can be further activated through a series of inviting tactile panels on the walls of the cocoon, enabling you a level of control over what you experience as direct contrast to life within the hospital."

"Leaving the cocoon you should feel your experience of its nurturing sensorial stimulation heightened by the return to the antagonising conditions of the exterior.

In the controlled environment of a series of programmed workshops with technical experts in light, sound, smell and touch, visitors will be prompted to express how the different elements of the installation have made them feel or share a hospital experience – using the exterior surface of the dome as a canvas to express themselves. In this way the plaster cast becomes a tool for gathering informal feedback to inform our research and as a tool for communication and interaction between different groups of visitors."

ABOUT
Ab Rogers

Ab Rogers Design (ARD) is a studio that believes in design and architecture that inspires and animates the user through colour, movement and touch; in active environments that are as entertaining and poetic as they are pragmatic and functional.

With offices in London and Melbourne, the practice works internationally across the cultural, hospitality, residential and commercial sectors.

Working with a diverse range of clients, contracts, budgets and timelines has instilled great sensitivity and rigour in our approach, while at the heart of all our work and common to all projects is a desire to innovate while meeting the requirements of the brief.

The studio’s creative abilities are the product of a broad skill base that has evolved over time to bring many ground-breaking projects to fruition – from the Comme des Garçons store in Paris to micro-living solutions for students in Melbourne. The fulltime staff includes architects, interior, industrial, furniture and graphic designers.

ARD has worked with major cultural institutions including the Royal Academy of Arts, Science Museum Group, the Barbican Centre and the Tate Modern in London; while the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Caixa Forum in Barcelona and Madrid and the Capital Museum in Beijing are among those we have collaborated with internationally. We have also worked with COMO Hotels and Resorts, Hongkong Land, Scape, Londonewcastle, U+I, and Selfridges & Co.

Image © WangWei

ABOUT
Loraine James

North London native Loraine James is an electronic producer who effortlessly blends Electronica and IDM with whispers of jazz and ambience all wrapped up in the artists key avant-garde aesthetic and sensibility. Having recently released ‘Button Mashing’ on New York Haunted, Loraine has gone on to sign with Hyperdub for her next project, 'For You And I', released on 20th September, 2019 and which has since claimed No. 1 Album of the Year with DJ Mag and The Quietus.

Image © Eddie Otchere