Getting Better All the Time

Sophisticated health-care design is sending a message of wellness

Sheila Kim-Jamet -- Interior Design, 6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Dentistry

Minami-Nagano Dental Clinic, Japan

DESIGN Hiro Design Studio.

STANDOUT Principal Hiroki Tanabe artfully fashioned a polygonal wave of concrete and glass, resulting in three shells housing different functions: a treatment space, a waiting lounge, and the dentist's residence.

PHOTOGRAPHY Sergio Pirrone.

Research

Center for Research in Medical Education, University of Miami

DESIGN Perkins + Will.

STANDOUT A double-height reception area with a dramatic staircase introduces this training center, which incorporates interactive classrooms with cutting-edge technology—for patient-simulation programs and presentations.

PHOTOGRAPHY Mark Surloff.

Pharmacology

Farmácia Henriques, Oporto, Portugal

DESIGN Plaren.

STANDOUT The writing is on the wall—with laser-cut orange vinyl letters spelling out the pharmacy's name on the central enclosure's transparent panels of tempered glass.

PHOTOGRAPHY Paulo de Sousa.

Oncology

Strahlentherapie, Altötting, Germany

DESIGN Koeberl Architekten.

STANDOUT Curving walls saturated with cheery yellow uplift patients' spirits in this radiation-therapy facility's reception areas and changing rooms; in the treatment rooms, color-changing LEDs set a calming mood.

PHOTOGRAPHY Stefan Müller-Naumann Fotodesigner.