Local Dental Clinic
The team at Local Dental Clinic has gone from working within the constraints of a somewhat tired building, to the proud occupants of a state-of-the-art clinic that is a shining example of modern dental clinic design.
Janita Norman, Lead Building Designer
The original building is simply unrecognisable in its new form. The spacious entrance and waiting area welcomes guests with crisp modern lines.
Every aspect of the clinic’s utility was carefully considered, down to the need for a children’s play area in the foyer.
An angled hallway leads you through the building, and assists in differentiating between the different zones within the building; front of house, patient areas, surgeries, and support areas.
We educated ourselves on every process within the clinic, to ensure that everything was placed perfectly within the surgeries, and that the layout of the rooms flowed to suit the work style and operational process throughout the clinic.
Project Brief
Local Dental Clinic was growing, and after expanding to another three clinics throughout southern New South Wales, they were on the brink of outgrowing their current space. The former building was tired, residential in style and limiting the growth of the Practice.
The design brief was to renovate, extend, modernise, and capture the essence of a young vibrant team within the architecture. Transforming the tired, outdated building into a state-of-the-art dental clinic would set it well apart from other clinics with the regional area. The new building would also double as the HQ for a practice with an expanding roster of clinics in the area.
Designer’s Thoughts
“The functionality of the space is expressed in the building layout.”
– Janita Norman, Lead Building Designer
It was important for us to ensure that everything was placed perfectly within the surgeries, and that the layout of the rooms flowed to suit the work style and operational process throughout the clinic. So we educated ourselves on every process within the clinic, giving us an in-depth understanding of the daily operation of the busy clinic.
An exercise in ‘Form Follows Function’
The design brief called for a modern, functional space filled with light. We achieved this through elevated shaped ceilings, light wells, and highlight windows that allow north sun into the rear of the building – an area which would have otherwise had no access to natural light.
Interior Design
The interior of the building has a strong minimalistic feel with a deliberate intention to create a serene environment that is calming to patients and easy for staff. The interior palette comprises soft greys and charcoal complemented with natural inflection of Victorian ash feature walls and joinery.
Bold and bright furniture offers big citrussy splash of colour! Furniture throughout the building is vibrant and contemporary.
Custom-made pendant lighting in the reception sits above the solid crafted reception desk positioned to greet all as they enter the building.
Exterior Design
The interior colour palette continues through to the exterior with the use of grey, charcoal and Victorian Ash features creating a unified aesthetic that reassures visitors to the clinic. The space is calming from the point of arrival through every interface within the building.
The exterior design is strong and monolithic. Relief to the solidity of the structure is the soaring pergola that flanks the northern side of the building creating an atrium over the garden area which appears as an extension of the interior of the clinic.
Landscape Design
The landscaping was designed to be colourful and gentle; organic against the hard lines of the structure. Different planting themes and styles were incorporated so that the view from each surgery has a point of difference.
Services Delivered
Design, project management, coordination of consultants, town planning, interior design, furnishing & styling, landscape design, contract administration.
