The Dr. Subhi Al-Yaqoobi Memorial – Hospital for Children is a project of profound social and emotional significance: an entire pediatric hospital donated to the community of Erbil by a prominent Kurdish entrepreneur as a tangible gesture of care and responsibility toward future generations.
Designed by Cermasi Architects, with the contribution of numerous Italian companies, the project required a carefully considered architectural and communicative approach, with a strong sensitivity to the needs of a space dedicated to children’s healthcare.
Ikon Segnali developed and installed a comprehensive signage system including:
- The CARTESIO modular signage system for clear and flexible wayfinding throughout the hospital;
- Custom signage elements tailored to the formal and chromatic language of the facility;
- Wall graphics, illustrated by Andrea Antinori, that enrich the interior environment with gentle and imaginative visual narratives, created to accompany children and families through a welcoming and reassuring experience.
One of the most striking features is the underwater world, a large-scale mural depicting a vibrant coral reef and its rich marine life — a visual that evokes wonder, calm, and exploration.
The signage project is fully integrated into an interior design concept where colors, materials, and shapes have been carefully selected to provide a warm, soft, and luminous atmosphere. Studio Luce Comet played a crucial role by engineering light flows and gradients that enhance the emotional quality of the spaces.
The visuals created by Atelier Crilo in Rome captured the intended atmosphere with striking accuracy, helping to transform the design vision into a real, vibrant, and deeply human place.
