Foster + Partners recently unveiled its design for the new Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion, as part of the Health Education Campus at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. The new building is part of a strategic masterplan that Foster + Partners has developed for Cleveland Clinic.
The design highlights the growing interdisciplinary nature of education and research, requiring more informal meeting and debating spaces. The furniture has also been designed and selected with this “community workspace” in mind.
The 80ft-high central Delos M Cosgrove courtyard is the social heart of the Samson Pavilion. Designed with linear skylights the space is generously lit and airy throughout.
Designed as a hub for informal work meetings, social interactions and as a space to sit for the café, the courtyard is furnished throughout by the OVO collection designed by Foster + Partners and made by Benchmark at its workshops in Berkshire.
Benchmark, which was founded more than 30 years ago by furniture maker Sean Sutcliffe and designer Sir Terence Conran, manufactured “several hundred” pieces for the project.
It is well documented that using natural woods within interiors provides a visual connection with nature, which has been proven to benefit both physical and mental well-being.
The furniture includes European white oak tables, benches and planters, all bespoke iterations of the practice’s OVO Collection for Benchmark. These new designs have been specifically adapted to the functions and spaces of the new building. A conscious departure from ‘office’ furniture, the designs are warm, tactile and welcoming in character.
The rectilinear tables have been scaled up in proportion in response to the large volume of the courtyard and also have rounded ends to encourage both collaborative and individual work.
Also included is an integrated lighting panel in the centre of each table. The tables can be easily dismantled and reconfigured for a wide range of events.
Using the tactility of solid wood, the pillowed top surface of the tables and benches and the gentle bevel along its edge is an ergonomic detail that eliminates uncomfortable pressure points. The underside has a sloped profile that accentuates its crafted aesthetic.
The large-scale movable planters with integrated curved benches were developed by Benchmark specifically for this project and have now been launched into the collection in both a square and round format. These can be easily taken apart should maintenance be required on the trees.
Foster + Partners has also designed further bespoke furniture pieces, manufactured by Benchmark, for the library, meeting rooms, deans’ suites and other working spaces. The warm, timeless nature of the oak and leather materials aid acoustics and create a sense of well-being, reinforcing the building’s pioneering purpose to create better healthcare for all.
The OVO Collection by Foster + Partners is a celebration of traditional craftsmanship and the subtle aesthetic of the range which includes tables, storage, benches and stools, make it suitable for both the workspace and the home. The collection has now been extended to include new upholstered pieces.
The signature of the design is soft geometry and careful detailing which, when combined with leather elements, creates an understated elegance and enhanced tactility. A new ebonised finish has also now been introduced, which presents a contrast to the existing oak and American walnut options.
