The little-known link between the world-famous Rowntree family and YHA York has been brought to life in an art installation at the Youth Hostel in Clifton.
Following privileged access to the Nestlé Archive the history of the Rowntree family and its relationship to YHA (England and Wales) has been told in a 6m-long timeline installation in the hostel’s new conservatory.
The concept of the Rowntree installation was the idea of YHA Network marketing manager Hannah Knox-Hewson and was brought to life by London-based agency The Hub.
The Hub worked closely with the Nestlé Archive team. Together, they spent more than three months sampling and re-working 150 years’ worth of Rowntree’s typography and advertising imagery to create the installation.
Kyle van Blerk, The Hub’s creative director, says: “We’re over the moon to have been able to work so closely with Nestlé and YHA on this project – something we hope will turn into a local landmark for many years to come. This is the first in a series of unique installations throughout the YHA network, which aims to educate, entertain and inspire in equal measure. We’ll also be entering the piece into a number of international design awards, so watch this space!”
The installation is the culmination of a £1.95m facelift at YHA York, which has created a world-class youth hostel with unrivalled facilities for families, schools, and tourists, including 32 en-suite bedrooms, meeting and conference facilities and an upgraded restaurant within a conservatory extension.
Alex Hutchinson, responsible for the Nestlé Archive, says: “We’re very proud to have been involved in the creation of such a stunning piece of design work while inspiring and informing YHA York visitors to the role this building played within the Rowntree family.”
In honour of the influential family, YHA York’s meeting rooms have been named after family members and the brand-new conservatory given the title, the Yorkie Bar. Additionally, the story of chocolate has been told in a series of iconic images and advertisements reproduced from the archive and displayed throughout the hostel.
