room with wooden paneled walls and woman with dog sitting on bench
Photography courtesy of Informal Design.

March 25, 2024

Words: Wilson Barlow and Lisa Di Venuta

5 Patient-First Healthcare Facilities Embrace Tranquility

From Ukraine to China to the U.S., these peaceful dental, medical, and skin- and pet-care facilities worldwide swap clinical for calm.

Explore These Calming Healthcare Facilities, From Ukraine to Utah

CoZy Dental by Spiegel Aihara Workshop

  • bathroom with yellow walls, lit mirror and orange sink
    Photography by Alanna Hale.
  • dental cleaning area with ombre walls and shelves filled with knicknacks
    Photography by Alanna Hale.
  • lobby area with bright yellow walls and lofty ceilings
    Photography by Alanna Hale.
  • hallway with yellow ceiling and wooden paneled walls
    Photography by Alanna Hale.
  • interior of a dental office with yellow ceilings and wooden paneled walls

Although the Z stands for founder Dr. Cici Zhou’s last name, the practice moniker is represented in its interiors via homey fluted millwork, pastel pendant fixtures, terrazzo-patterned ceramic tile, and biophilic accents. Douglas-fir ceiling beams draped with canary nylon mesh and walls painted a sunset gradient further the feeling of serenity in San Francisco.

13 Laser Clinic by Temp Project

  • hallway with white walls and brutalist vibes
    Photography by Yevhenii Avramenko.
  • room with grey walls and neon blue writing on the wall
    Photography by Yevhenii Avramenko.
  • hallway with large rock and grey undertones
    Photography by Yevhenii Avramenko.
  • waiting room area with white couch and pink themed tables
    Photography by Yevhenii Avramenko.
  • waiting room with pink couches and neon lighting
    Photography by Yevhenii Avramenko.

Nature’s ruggedness meets 21st-century technology at the 1,700-square-foot skin-care center in Kyiv, Ukraine, utilizing organic cosmetics and advanced laser-based treatments. The concrete reception desk mimics a boulder and flooring and walls recall raw pumice, while stainless-steel shelving and neon signage lean futuristic. Soft, rounded seating adds warmth.

Metrodora Institute by Denton House and HGA

  • seating room area with black couches and golden lighting hanging from the ceiling
    Photography by Kendall Mccaugherty/Hall + Merrick + Mccaugherty.
  • one person doing yoga in an empty studio
    Photography by Kendall Mccaugherty/Hall + Merrick + Mccaugherty.
  • woman on elliptical machine staring at a globe projection
    Photography by Kendall Mccaugherty/Hall + Merrick + Mccaugherty.
  • conference room with black chairs and desk, outdoor artwork and long neon lighting
    Photography by Kendall Mccaugherty/Hall + Merrick + Mccaugherty.
  • gym space with trainer and visitor sitting on a black bench
    Photography by Kendall Mccaugherty/Hall + Merrick + Mccaugherty.

Residentially scaled furniture, gentle color palettes, views of and artwork featuring the surrounding mountains in West Valley City, Utah, plus a constellation of locally crafted pendant fixtures evoking flower petals are among the feminine touches at the center named after an ancient Greek woman physician, focusing on neuroimmune axis disorders.

Dacha Center by Makhno Studio

  • Exterior of facility building with surrounding shrubbery
    Photography courtesy of Makhno Studio.
  • living room with brown chair, orange couch and multiple wooden sticks hanging from ceiling
    Photography courtesy of Makhno Studio.
  • Stairway with wooden paneled stairs and walls and big tree decal
    Photography courtesy of Makhno Studio.
  • bedroom with decals reminiscent of The Lion King
    Photography courtesy of Makhno Studio.

A sunny color scheme lends cheer to the long-term care facility in Kyiv, Ukraine, for children with cancer and their families. A plywood tree of life and hand-painted animals add whimsy, while, under a ceiling installation of wind-chimelike planks emblazoned with donor names, portraits of past residents as healthy adults instill hope.

Gogoland by Informal Design

  • room with wooden cabinets, couches and view of the outdoors
    Photography courtesy of Informal Design.
  • room with wooden paneled walls and woman with dog sitting on bench
    Photography courtesy of Informal Design.
  • hallway of pet care facility with animal faces peeking out the window
    Photography courtesy of Informal Design.
  • dog peeking its head against a wooden barricade
    Photography courtesy of Informal Design.

Plywood veneer and exposed concrete structural beams maintain the industrial mood at a vacant factory in Huizhou, China, that’s been converted into a place for pets and owners. Amenities include cat- and dog-grooming rooms, kennels, an outdoor play area, and custom furniture with built-in leash holders and hollows for hide-and-seek.

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