Completed in 2007 at a cost of £12.3 million, the Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre is an architectural highlight in the harsh urban environment between Old Street and City Road in the east end of London. Commissioned by Moorfields Eye Hospital and designed by architects Penoyre & Prasad, the building is a dedicated centre combining the clinical excellence of Moorfields Eye Hospital with the research carried out at the Institute of Ophthalmology and provides outpatient clinics, day surgery, research facilities and overnight accommodation for patients and families.
The building has been designed to be welcoming, light and colourful, recognising that the clinical environment of hospitals can be stressful for any patient, but especially children. Penoyre & Prasad were also the architects for recladding the tall tower at Guy’s Hospital at London Bridge. At Moorfields they designed a eight-storey solar-shaded glass façade with a flowing pattern of aluminium louvre blades which represent a flying flock of birds, broken by a projecting red bay for the outpatients waiting area at the third floor. A lighting programme at dusk the blades and the building with changing glowing colours.
The Centre won the Best Hospital Design award at the Building Better Healthcare Awards in 2007. Today it remainsl an architectural and artistic beacon in this gritty area of uninspiring 20th century buildings.
