Contract - July/August 2013 - (Page 129)

The architects drew inspiration from blocks of ice in designing the custom glass partitions (left). Strips of green and clear recycled glass are glued together to form the dynamic surfaces. A white leather bench lines the pristine waiting area (below), which is free of clutter, and a vine-wrapped window draws nature indoors while framing the view outside. Dental Clinic Architect MMVArquitecto Client R. Leal Where Torres Vedras, Portugal What 970 square feet on one floor Cost/sf $180 For a full project source list, see page 146 or visit contractdesign.com. 7 6 1 2 5 3 4 4 4 Floor Plan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Entrance Reception Waiting area Treatment rooms Dental laboratory X-ray Exit Marques Venâncio says. “I envisioned an image of something clean and clear and chose to materialize a block of ice in an abstract way.” A vision in green and white Before bringing his poetic vision to life, the architect called for gutting the formerly drab space, which is located on the ground floor of an ordinary commercial building constructed in the 1970s. After presenting the client with various models that expressed his concept for the design and accounting for all of the dentist’s programmatic requirements, the architect undertook the renovation in phases over a 14-month period. The clinic’s finely honed design begins at the entrance, where a curtain wall, constructed from layered strips of recycled glass, spans the width of the reception and waiting area and offers a diffused view of the human silhouettes and millwork within. “The composition of glass allows for the reflections and vibrations of light, creating a perception of space that is constantly mutating,” Marques Venâncio says. Beyond the glass wall an all-white cube envelopes the sanctuary-like waiting area just past the monolithic custom reception desk. Wrapped with painted laminate boards—cut and composed of bands of varying widths—the pure white space appears to glow from within emanating shimmering beams of light from between the sections of board. “The materials create a perception of a block of ice that has been excavated in a sculptural way,” Marques Venâncio says. Opposite the green glass curtain wall, five slender vines climb the mullions along the windows, which are covered with a scrim shade that allows natural light to penetrate the space while obscuring the busy street. Echoing the tree-lined boulevards outside, the leafy greenery introduces an organic element to contrast with the serene, streamlined setting and connects the space with its broader context. Instead of cluttering the waiting area with a clutch of chairs and tables scattered with magazines, the architect lined the waiting area with a cantilevered bench upholstered with white leather, leaving the center of the room open. The idea, he says, was to create a “space apparently empty, yet full of life.” Devoid not only of excess furniture and ephemera, the space is also free of other visual distractions, such as televisions or aquariums, which ar often present in other dental clinics. “There is too much noise everywhere, too much sensory overload,” Marques Venâncio says. “We needed to change that here to distinguish this space from other clinics and make it very, very quiet.” More spa than dental clinic Quiet though the clinic may be, its internal play of light and well-edited mix of materials—glossy white walls, epoxy-coated concrete floors, warm-to-the-touch white leather seating, and cool green and clear glass walls—thoroughly engages the eye with a rich array of textures and subtle energy. These materials and qualities of light are carried through to the staff offices, treatment rooms, secretary stations, and x-ray and clinical spaces. Pops of color—red, blue, and green—on the upholstery of the chairs in the three treatment rooms give patients and dentists alike an extra reason to smile in this bright and uplifting environment. c contract http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - July/August 2013

Contract - July/August 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Tips on Developing Winning Proposals
Product Focus: Geometry Rules
Product Focus: From Brazil to London
Product Focus: Drawn from the Sea
best of NeoCon®
Google Dublin
Autodesk Milan
Dental Clinic
Botín Foundation
Penhaligon’s
Competition: Inspirations Awards
Designers Select: Surfacing
Sources
Ad Index
Exhibition: MoMA Explores the Design Mind of Le Corbusier

Contract - July/August 2013