Roald Dahl Window

Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK

The Dahl Foundation

This glass installation was the brainchild of Felicity Dahl (Roald Dahl’s wife) who has a strong connection with Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Sir Quentin Blake donated his instantly recognisable artwork featuring the much loved Roald Dahl characters to the corridor and main reception of Waterfall House; the hospital’s new building, housing the world-class Children’s Cancer Centre and the UK’s first Rare Diseases Centre for children .

It is the start of a new hospital-wide arts strategy, which recognises the positive impact that art in clinical environments can have on a patient’s recovery, to help them get home quicker.

Proto Glass Studios created samples for Sir Quentin, opting for transparent enamels on acid glass to create a satin like finish with a luminous and iridescent quality. Each panel was created from 9-12 different colours, each carefully printed through a different screen.

Due to the hospital already in operation, we installed the glass overnight when visiting hours were not in operation to allow greater access and minimal disturbance to the running of the hospital.

“We hope it will be comforting for the brave young patients, and their equally brave families, to see their favourite Roald Dahl characters waiting at the entrance to welcome them into the hospital. I hope particularly that these beautiful new windows will bring a smile to their faces and help remove some of the fear they will understandably be feeling on arrival.” - Felicity Dahl

Total size: 45 sq m
Glass Specification:
Techniques used: Screenprinting; Transparent enamels;