CBC Design and Access Statement - Papworth Hospital

The Expansion of Cambridge Biomedical CampusDesign and Access StatementAppendix 6 – Public Art StatementPublic Art Strategy for Cambridge Biomedical CampusThe Applicants propose to extend Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC) to provide a high quality newdevelopment for clinical use and biomedical and biotech research. The Applicants strongly believe thatthe environment they create should not only be high quality, but an imaginative and inspiring place to be.Public art adds to the quality of new public places. The recent CABE Space ‘Manifesto for Better PublicSpaces‘ notes that the public also feel strongly that their local open spaces should be attractive andengaging. Public art is stimulating debate at every level and the Applicants welcome the resultinggrowing range of ideas outlined in publications from planning authorities, bodies such as CABE andindependent arts experts. For these proposals the Applicant has referred to the Cambridge City Council(CCC) document – Provision of Public Art as Part of New Development Schemes, and the CambridgeSouthern Fringe Area Development Framework (ADF).Such publications taken together raise many interesting points but views and opinions differ. In thecurrent context of increased debate the Applicants would like to take the opportunity to contribute. Asdevelopers they have a combined and extensive experience in building new sustainable developmentsand a long standing commitment to creating excellent public spaces. They would like to put forward theirstrategy for delivering good public art. They value this opportunity to demonstrate their strongcommitment to high quality public art and equally, their conviction that a purely financial approach topublic art would be the wrong one. The most valued public art is not always the most expensive, and theclinical and research uses will have different requirements, including for the provision of public art.The Public Art Strategy sets out the approach to creating a Public Art Framework followed by somediscussion of factors which the Applicants consider are key to successful delivery of public art. Thefinancial element of public art is a contentious point and they would like to address this issue. Anarbitrary approach of a fixed sum is not appropriate; hence the old adage ‘Art is Priceless.’ Asresponsible developers with a realm of experience in this area, they can offer local authorities peace ofmind that outstanding public spaces will be delivered at the appropriate level of expenditure; the endproduct being a meaningful addition to the development, and of great personal value to employees andvisitors.The main developers, Countryside Properties plc, Liberty Property Trust and Cambridge UniversityHospitals NHS Foundation Trust, wish to illustrate this further by outlining their historic approach to theprovision of public art and generally to the environments surrounding built development.Countryside Properties plcCountryside Properties are well known for their historical and pioneering approach to public art.Occupants of Countryside developments have enjoyed public art and attractive public spaces fordecades, whilst the majority of developers and local authorities have only become aware of theseconcepts and their benefits in recent years.As a market leader in regeneration and the creation of sustainable communities, Countryside recognisesthe importance of delivering a sense of community at the core of every development. Alan Cherry,Chairman, states ‘Our vision aims to bring the highest quality of life to everyone by putting in place all thesocial, environmental and economic elements that help to make integrated, vibrant and attractive placesin which to live.’The company is widely commended for its work, with an impressive collection of awards to illustrate theirtotal commitment to creating an individual sense of place at each and every development.This illustration is the square at Didsbury Point. This particular example shows how public art can beintegrated into a landscape frame work and can stimulate not only the visual senses, but the auditorysenses – in this example with the sound of water.44