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HOSPITAL REDESIGN & CONCEPT ART

Lindsay Schwartz
Apr 11, 2016
2 min read

Our hospital environment is getting a complete overhaul! In order to reflect the horror and tension we want want to incorporate into the game! This aspect of the game was part of Lawrence Appenzeller's initial idea and it hasn't come across as in the environment as it did in the game design document.

The Grady twins in the Overlook Hotel from The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick (1980).

Danny in the Overlook Hotel from The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick (1980).

In order to rectify this, we have been researching Stanley Kubrick's use of symmetry and enclosed spaces in The Shining. The mirroring effect that comes through in this film has a way of unsettling the viewer, it can also help in directing their attention to a certain object or area when it disturbs that symmetry. The hallways of the Overlook Hotel are characterized by tall ceilings, narrow walls, and outdated wallpaper. While we can't translate these exact ideas to the hospital, we can use elements of the design in order to enhance the feeling of unease.

Concept art for the hospital done by Alex Winslow.

This piece of concept art done by Alex Winslow really emphasizes the use of symmetry and tiling that we want to translate over to the 3D environment.

Another way we will be adding a sense of unease to the environment is making it look less pristine and incredibly uninviting. There are cracks and stains running down the walls, it looks dirty and unkempt, which is the opposite idea of the pristine, spotless look hospitals are expected to have. The design for much of the furniture has a blocky, rectangular sort of quality and bland coloration, we want it to look dull and uninviting, it's not a place that our protagonist finds comfort in.