WHITE SPACE

13, Via Teseo, Catania, Italy

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WHITE SPACE

13, Via Teseo, Catania, Italy

Firm

bureauhub - Hegemann Baccarini

Type

Government + Health › Medical Facility

YEAR

2012

WHITE
SPACE is an avant-garde private orthodontic clinic for an opinion leader and
luminary
who
is applying and researching most advanced techniques and materials in his
discipline. bureauhub envisioned an implant concept based on
orthodontic typical use of high precision medical devices as design principle
throughout the space. Interior wall surfaces and furniture merge seamlessly
into a continuous white shell of DuPont™ Corian® where cutting edge medical
technology are implanted. The plug-in components are ranging from ergonomic
deformations like coat hangers or toothbrush holder folded out of the Corian®
cladding up to technical implants like a touchscreen and remote button for
x-ray control or TV screens for medical information.
Since
80% of the clinic patients are represented by children, bureauhub architecture
aims to tickle senses and curiosity reversing the typical expectations of use
as waiting area into a self-exploration environment. Core of the patient
lounges is a multifunctional furniture designed ad-hoc to entertain with
pedagogical value: on one side three intersecting void spheres form a
grotto-like space to be explored by children, while on the other side a surface
equipped with niches for pencils and comic strips is dedicated to study and
sketching. A playful signage graphic with custom designed icons CNC milled into
the white Corian® skin is
positioned intentionally at children’s eye level. It refers to the softly
glowing backlit graphic panel indicating the spatial organization of the
clinic. Here backlighting is created by pioneer use of OLED lighting modules,
next generation sustainable light source produced with organic
electroluminescent material that will help reduce CO2 emissions.
Main
focus of the futuristic environment is based upon all handcrafted built-in
components meticulously designed up to the smallest details and recalling the
precision and craftsmanship of orthodontics. Every single detail experiences a
subtle spatial presence, accentuating the abstraction and scalelessness of the
ephemeral, monochromatic environment in a playful and poetical way.