ProjectsWellcome Trust

In Dec 2005 Timorous Beasties designed the windows of the Wellcome Trust on Euston Rd, London.

The windows of the Wellcome Trust were designed to show the benefits, opportunities and scientific impact that the trust has created, to reflect the impact that biomedical science has towards our health and well-being and emphasising the Trust’s discoveries on the Human Genome and Malaria, which are in constant public debate.

Timorous Beasties have created a complex visual display based on pattern and scale, to combine the images and technology that are representative of the Wellcome Trust.

The windows have a structure made from lights that span the full height of the two windows of the Welcome Trust; the structure will resemble a large double helix.

The DNA shape and pattern has a very obvious scientific link that most people can recognise, but also links the general idea of pattern and repeat that is paralleled throughout the whole scheme.

Although the general structure is clear, within the structure the images are more complex.

The lamps that form the Helix structure will be designed using images taken from the public access archive of the Wellcome Trust. These designs will be influenced by the archive, not literally translated, so as to create a visual gateway to the archives. By using tried techniques we will produce 48 lamps that will all be unique (This is an innovatory but proven technique). The lamps will be designed to have a large contrast from being on and off, and from being seen in night and day. Due to the way the lampshades have been printed, images will appear in the evening that the viewer may not have noticed during the day.

The patterned lampshades will appear normal from a distance, when viewed close up the viewer will see textures made from Tse Tse flies, Paisley Patterns made from germs, Argyle Cheques made from Syringes, 60’s looking patterns made from layers of veins, 70’s looking shapes made from baby foetuses, and many more.

Pattern occurs in the scientific and natural world, and we have this familiar way of working as a bond for creating the Wellcome Trust window display.

Behind the lighting structure Timorous Beasties have designed a unique lace fabric, produced by the lace making company Morton Young and Borland, who still own and run the only remaining lace making machine in the world that can still produce 5metre repeats, this machine is over 100years old, and in its day was one of 36 that used to produce top quality lace in the borders in Scotland. In practical terms the lace will be a backdrop for the lighting structure and create a clear visual of the helix. The inspiration for the lace is the most basic form of defence for Malaria; a mosquito net. We have transferred this idea into a fabric that has a delicate pattern made from interwoven mosquitoes, microscopes and syringes. The images contained in the fabric will be a subtle play on the outcome presented by the collaboration of these objects.