Contract - January/February 2014 - 98

interiors awards

healthcare: small

Client
dr. Carolyn Poon woo
and Gerry Lee wing
Location
toronto, Canada

Southside Design
"This well-executed project sets an aspiration. Lively and modern,
it helps relieve dental visit anxiety. Its design shows sensitivity
to the streetscape by both blending in and standing out, and its
light-filled spaces have a sophisticated palette of finishes." JUrY

By Lydia Lee
Photography by
Stéphane Groleau

at an open house party that dr. Carolyn Poon woo
held in her new toronto dental office, a friend said,
"You know, this would be a great little bar at night."
From its expansive glass facade to its open interior,
furnished with midcentury pieces, nothing about the
office of Bloor west dental Group screams "dentist."
Poon woo, who has had her own practice for more
than 20 years, wanted a warm, inviting space where
necessary technologies are subtly integrated to
avoid intimidating patients.
toronto-based southside design, founded by
interior designer stephanie Kamburis and architect
Bruce stratton, brought Poon woo's vision to life.
she admired stratton's renovation of a local library
branch, and asked the firm to transform a former
bank she had purchased. "dental offices can be
somewhat dreary spaces, with painted walls and
vinyl composite tile floors," stratton says. "it has
been a fun challenge to take the whole dental office
as we know it and turn it on its head," Kamburis says.
98

the design team called for a complete overhaul
of the 5,000-square-foot building on busy Bloor
street west. in addition to a new facade, they
designed a new roof with a large skylight to bring
daylight into the center of the linear space. the
ground floor had to be raised to meet code and that
necessity became a virtue, giving the reception area,
elevated above the street, a stage-like presence.
as patients ascend the entrance ramp, they take
in views through the entire space.
the clinic's interior features linear and modern
elements, softened by organic curves and natural
materials. "we put a lot of thought into choosing
natural materials and how they would work
subconsciously to remove that negative association
with the dentist," Kamburis says. the reception area
is defined by a series of posts and beams clad in
walnut, which frame a limestone-clad wall and
walnut-paneled reception desk with a white quartz
countertop. the curvy desk and noguchi coffee
table contrast the crisply tailored BassamFellows
tuxedo sofas.
a wide range of lighting fixture types were
selected for a relaxed atmosphere. in addition to
natural and ambient fluorescent lighting, a row of
metal-halide fixtures highlights the limestone wall,
which also has a long, narrow niche lit with Led strip
lighting. in lieu of artwork, the designers created a
lively linear pattern of fluorescent lights covered in
amber and white 3form acrylic panels. "we shy away
from ornament and try to design visual interest into
the space," stratton says. "Here, we designed the

lighting so you can change out the acrylic easily
and rebrand the space. it extends the shelf life
of the design."
within the 11 treatment rooms, the design team
created soothing environments. reflecting a trend in
dental clinic layouts, the rooms have no doors and
are open to the hallway, instead of being entirely
enclosed. narrow glass dividers with walnut frames
between rooms allow natural light to penetrate.
rear-delivery units, located behind the patients'
chairs, have pass-through cabinets that can be
accessed from both sides, allowing sterilized
equipment to be replenished without disruption.
when patients are at their most vulnerable, staring
up at the ceiling, southside design's innovative
ceiling coffers, lined with walnut acoustical paneling,
provide a reassuring sense of continuity.
"the designers really listened to what we
wanted and incorporated all the functional things
that we needed," Poon woo says. "i think the
design's success is that it not only looks good,
it functions very well." c

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Contract - January/February 2014

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