Supporting Special Spaces with Light
Ideaworks designed and delivered a bespoke landscape lighting scheme for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet, extending the use of its therapeutic gardens into the evening. Later, as part of the project, we also created Moon Anther, a custom light sculpture for the Sensory Garden, bringing a quiet sense of joy and calm to the space.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
Nestled within a 7.5-acre nature reserve in Barnet, London, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is a sanctuary for babies, children, and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. At its heart is The Ark - a state-of-the-art facility surrounded by beautifully designed gardens that offer space for reflection, exploration, and connection to nature.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, Barnet, London
These gardens are more than just green spaces. They are an integral part of the hospice’s holistic approach to care. Designed by the acclaimed team at Gensler, each garden area has a distinct character and purpose:
The Entrance Garden welcomes families with warmth and sociability.
The Sensory Garden delights the senses with texture, sound, and fragrance.
The Contemplation Garden offers a quiet retreat beside the bereavement suites.
The Horticultural Garden encourages hands-on interaction, with raised beds for accessible gardening.
Winding through it all is the Infinity Ribbon Path, drawing visitors gently through the landscape and encouraging discovery, interaction, and peace.
A Garden That Glows
Ideaworks was honoured to contribute to this extraordinary project. We were invited to design and implement a bespoke landscape lighting scheme that would extend the magic of the gardens into the evening hours, making them usable and welcoming at all times of day.
Our goal was simple but meaningful: to enhance the landscape’s natural beauty while supporting therapeutic, joyful, and restful experiences for children, families, and staff, long after the sun sets.
To help bring this vision to life, we collaborated with trusted partners such as Light Graphix and Light Projects, who generously donated high-specification lighting equipment. Their support enabled us to tailor each garden’s lighting design to its unique purpose, delivering a sensitive, thoughtful scheme that’s both playful and peaceful.
Moon Anther - A Light Sculpture Inspired by Nature, Designed for Joy
As the gardens took shape, one element called out for something truly special - a centrepiece for the Sensory Garden that would embody light, joy, and calm.
Enter Moon Anther, a custom-made light sculpture conceived by senior Ideaworks designer Oliver Williamson. Inspired by the delicate anther of a lily flower, the design features glowing glass globes that pulse with soft, rhythmic light. The result is both playful and serene, designed to delight children while offering a soothing visual experience.
Turning Concept into Craft
We partnered with the exceptional team at Dernier & Hamlyn, masters of bespoke decorative lighting. Working from Oliver’s vision, they developed a detailed 3D model before meticulously fabricating and finishing the sculpture in their Chessington workshop.
Once installed, the animation and control gear, designed and programmed by Ideaworks, brought Moon Anther to life. A gentle light ripple moves across the sculpture’s glass forms, echoing the natural rhythms of breath or breeze.
Every element of this sculpture was the result of collaboration and generosity:
Design: Ideaworks and Dernier & Hamlyn
Manufacture & Materials: Donated by Dernier & Hamlyn
Lighting Control & Programming: Donated by Ideaworks
Custom LED Light Sources: Donated by LEDFlex
Textured Glass Diffusers: Generously supplied by In Es Art Design
This project represents what happens when creativity, care, and community come together. It was our privilege to play a small part in supporting the work of Noah’s Ark, helping create spaces that bring light, comfort, and joy to those who need it most.
For more information about this project or our lighting services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.