“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.

LOOPS

Bern - Switzerland, 2023
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
Both engaging and soothing, the piece presents a new paradigm for site-specific installations in the re-envisioning of hospitals as more humane environments.
The production of the artwork spanned over two years and involved the development of bespoke equipment by world-leading engineers.

The challenge
How can art have a positive effect on patients, staff and visitors and help nurture them emotionally within a hospital? Fulfilling these needs has been the goal of this highly specialised project.
The result of that process is “Loops”, unique kinetic artwork in which 24 large rings move across an interior space following a series of subtle choreographic patterns.
Developed in collaboration with design consultancy Studio Banana, “Loops” is permanently installed at the atrium of the brand-new Anna-Seiler-Haus, the main building of Inselspital, one of the largest and most advanced hospitals in Switzerland.

Art can heal
Patients are at the centre of advanced hospital design. Used as an architectural device, site-specific installation provides a vast potential in the re-envisioning of hospitals as more humane environments.
Art has been shown to improve health, and its effect on the brain is known to be similar to that of love. We know, both from science and from intuition, that art has the potential to heal.
The design of “Loops” is based upon these principles. Aiming at a thorough influence, the movements of the sculpture gently stimulate not only the eye, but also the mind of the viewer.

Form and context
Visually direct and free of artifice, the piece unfolds its complexity with the gradual development of its choreographic patterns.
Its shape shifts constantly as its elements draw their ethereal movements across the atrium space and arrange themselves in a myriad combinations.
The form of the sculpture works in two complementing directions. The weightless rings against an impressive cuadrangular space provide an underlaying contrast, while the shape and movement of the artwork firmly set the tone towards calm and harmony.
The five floors around the hospital atrium allow for a wide range of different points of view upon the piece. As the viewer moves and the sculpture shifts, the resulting visual readings multiply infinitely. In the blink of an eye, a new artwork is discovered.

The shifting modes of the sculpture
The piece is programmed in different modes, in which the choreographies adapt to the changing dynamics within the hospital.
The rings re-arrange themselves together in the middle of the atrium space every hour, with one or more of the 24 rings remaining lit up to indicate the time.
During the night the sculpture enters a ‘calm’ mode, staying in the middle of the atrium and displaying only some slight movements.
The kinetic dimension of the piece is designed to surprise, but also to allow for a comfortable co-habitation with those who stay longer at the hospital – both patients and workers.

Technical challenges
The precise movements of the sculpture are produced by 24 sophisticated motors working in unison. The devices have been designed, developed and tested specifically for “Loops” by the world-leading engineering firm MKT at its facilities in Munich.

Loops was developed in collaboration with
Client: Inselspital Bern
Design consultancy: Studio Banana
Engineering: MKTe Engineering
Architects: ASTOC Architects and Planners
GWJ Architektur
IAAG Architekten
since 2018 with Archipel Generalplanung

LOOPS

Bern - Switzerland, 2023
“Loops” es una obra cinética de gran escala instalada de forma permanente en el atrio de Inselspital, el mayor hospital de Suiza.
Al tiempo sugestiva y sosegada, la pieza plantea un nuevo paradigma para el arte site-specific en la concepción de los hospitales como espacios mas humanos.
La producción de la obra ha llevado más de dos años e implicó el desarrollo de equipamiento a medida por los ingenieros de la empresa líder MKT.

El reto artístico
¿Cómo puede el arte ejercer un influjo positivo en un hospital y nutrir emocionalmente a sus pacientes? Ese ha sido el objetivo de este complejo proyecto artístico.
El resultado es “Loops”, una obra singular en la que 24 grandes anillos se desplazan a través de un enorme espacio siguiendo sutiles coreografías.
Desarrollada en colaboración con la consultoría de diseño Studio Banana, “Loops” está instalada de forma permanente en el atrio del recién construido Anna-Seiler-Haus, el edificio principal de Inselspital, uno de los mayores y más avanzados hospitales de Suiza.

El arte puede sanar
Los pacientes están en el foco del diseño hospitalario más avanzado. Empleado como útil arquitectónico, la instalación site-specific alberga un enorme potencial para la humanización de entornos hospitalarios.
Se ha demostrado que el arte puede mejorar la salud, y que su efecto en el cerebro es similar al del amor. Sabemos, por la ciencia pero también por intuición, que el arte tiene la capacidad de sanar.
El diseño de “Loops” se basa en estos principios. Los movimientos de la escultura buscan ejercer un influjo sanador integral estimulando no solo el ojo, sino también la mente del espectador.

Forma y contexto
Formalmente directa y libre de artificios, la obra despliega gradualmente su complejidad con el desarrollo de sus patrones coreográficos.
Su forma muta constantemente a medida que los elementos describen trayectorias etéreas y se configuran en un sin número de combinaciones.
La escultura sigue dos direcciones formales complementarias. Los anillos ingrávidos contra un imponente espacio cuadrangular aportan contraste, mientras que la forma y movimientos de la pieza proporcionan la nota dominante de calma y armonía.
Las cinco plantas alrededor del atrio dan lugar a múltiples puntos de vista sobre la obra. A medida que espectador y escultura se mueven, las lecturas visuales de ésta se multiplican hasta el infinito. En un abrir y cerrar de ojos se descubre una nueva escultura.

Los modos de la escultura
La obra está programada en diferentes modos coreográficos que se adaptan a los cambiantes flujos y dinámicas del hospital.
Los 24 anillos se reúnen en medio del atrio cada 60 minutos. Uno o varios anillos permanecen encendidos para indicar la hora del día o la noche.
Durante la noche, la escultura entra en modo ‘calma’. Permanece en el centro del atrio y despliega solo algunos leves movimientos.
La dimensión cinética de la obra está diseñada para sorprender, pero para permitir también una convivencia cómoda con quienes permanecen en el hospital por periodos largos, tanto pacientes como trabajadores.

El reto técnico
Los precisos movimientos de “Loops” son producidos por 24 sofisticados motores que trabajan al unísono. Los dispositivos han sido diseñados, desarrollados y testados específicamente para “Loops” por los ingenieros de MKT, líder internacional en el campo de la ingeniería, en las instalaciones de la empresa en Munich.

Desarrollado en colaboración con
Cliente: Inselspital Bern
Consultora de diseño: Studio Banana
Ingeniería: MKTe Engineering
Arquitectos: ASTOC Architects and Planners
GWJ Architektur
IAAG Architekten
since 2018 with Archipel Generalplanung
LOOPS
Video: Mind The Film, Ruben P Bescos, SpY
Sound Design: Omar Tenani
SpY
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos
“Loops” is a large-scale kinetic artwork by SpY permanently installed at the atrium of Inselspital, the largest hospital in Switzerland.
LOOPS
Bern - Switzerland
Photo: Ruben P Bescos