Starship Children’s Hospital engaged ChowHill Architects and YDS Studio to transform a large clinical atrium into an immersive New Zealand forest environment that supports wellbeing, orientation, and emotional connection for children and families.

Inspired by a narrative gifted to Starship by Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish, the concept draws from the story of the shining cuckoo laying its eggs in the nest of the grey warbler, symbolising the care and guardianship provided by doctors and nurses to children within the hospital.

The project integrates spatial graphics and suspended elements directly into the architecture across floor surfaces, glazed circulation walkways, vertical volumes, and elevated viewing points. Nearly one kilometre of large scale forest floor graphics creates the experience of walking beneath a native forest canopy, while layered transparent fern graphics applied to glazed walkways establish visual continuity between levels and are designed to be viewed from both above and within the circulation spaces.

Suspended grey warbler forms, woven nest inspired pendants, and a projected moving bird installation introduce movement, warmth, and storytelling throughout the atrium. Designed and installed within a functioning hospital environment, all materials and fabrication methods were carefully resolved to meet strict healthcare durability, maintenance, and access requirements.

The existing Starship Children’s Hospital atrium was a large outdated clinical space dominated by hard surfaces and pastel tones that lacked warmth, identity, and emotional connection. Working alongside ChowHill Architects, the brief was to create a calming, timeless, and maintenance friendly environment supporting children, families, and staff through storytelling, distraction, orientation, and connection to nature. Inspired by a narrative gifted by Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish, the design transformed the atrium into an immersive New Zealand forest environment using layered graphics, suspended elements, and integrated architectural interventions.

Materiality and detailing were carefully developed to balance durability, maintenance, and warmth within a high traffic healthcare environment. Nearly one kilometre of seamless floor graphics were produced using ORAJET high tack vinyl with sandy grain laminate. Layered glazing graphics used triple pass printing techniques allowing visibility from above and below while maintaining light transmission. Suspended 2.4m David Trubridge pendants, the largest produced for the project, were paired with custom birds engineered from printed multiboard for stability and longevity. Colours and finishes were continually tested to integrate cohesively with ChowHill’s architectural palette.

The project transformed a gifted cultural narrative into an immersive three dimensional spatial experience integrated throughout the atrium. Transparent layered glazing graphics created changing perspectives as visitors moved through the space, allowing the forest canopy to be experienced from above and below while maintaining natural light. Suspended nests and birds activated the vertical void, transforming empty space into a living environment. Birds were hand sketched, laser engraved into bamboo, then reproduced for longevity and stability. Innovation was driven by rope-access-only installation, operational elevators, infection control, and custom maintenance systems.

YDS Studio
Antony Clark – Founder & Design Director

ChowHill Architects
Philip Rutkiewicz – Senior Architect

1.Elevated view of the atrium showing the immersive forest canopy floor graphics integrated around the lift shafts.
2.Large scale floor graphics and suspended elements transforming the vertical atrium into a New Zealand forest experience.
3.Layered transparent fern glazing graphics designed for visibility from both above and below circulation spaces.
4.Suspended nests and bird elements activating the atrium void while maintaining openness and natural light.
5.Forest inspired floor graphics integrated with glazing and architectural elements throughout the atrium.
6.Custom suspended grey warbler inspired bird element originally hand sketched and laser engraved into bamboo.
7.David Trubridge pendants and suspended bird forms creating depth, storytelling, and warmth within the atrium.
8.Vertical architectural integration of floor graphics, suspended elements, and forest inspired spatial detailing.
9.Seamless large format floor graphics designed specifically for the atrium circulation spaces and viewing angles.
10.Custom 2.4 meter David Trubridge pendant inspired by the grey warbler nest narrative central to the project.

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