The site, a corridor, has become a main entry point to the new North Courtyard building, and bridges a gap of 75 years in the history of LSHTM, from 1928—when the glorious Portland stone building opened—to 2003. Formerly exterior walls have now become interior and the Lower Ground Floor’s noisy, subterranean, inner workings have been exposed.

Instead of concealing these underground details by constructing a new, bland corridor within the old, I collaborated with the School, the architect and the building contractors to reveal and enhance its unique character, and create a sensory journey. This included the design of flooring, ceiling, lighting and the relocation of an original oak door to the precise entry point that divides the old from the new. The work spanned about 12 months. In this time my ‘conversation’ moved from architect and builders to staff, students and visitors. This is an artwork that’s intentionally both visible and invisible at the same time.

The bricks were cleaned to reveal subtle colouration. A network of sprayed aluminium squares reflect these colours and also refer to the research work of the School e.g. jaundice, blue tongue fever, etc.

The engraved notices that date sections of brickwork, vents and other details were produced using the traditional method of JJ Bergin.

The floor projections are of a malarial mosquito taken by the School’s photographer, Dan Salaman. The technology to throw the insect image from projector-light to floor is recessed in the ceiling and triggered by the walker. Mosquitoes lead you through the space and back again.

Photos reproduced here are by Anne Koerber. Click the small images to see full size.

Art at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine