White Space: A Futuristic Orthodontic Clinic by Bureauhub

Blending Advanced Medical Technology with Playful Design

White Space is a private orthodontic clinic that stands out due to its innovative design. The clinic's interior wall surfaces and furniture blend seamlessly into a continuous Corian white shell, where state-of-the-art medical technology is implanted. The plug-in components range from ergonomic deformations like coat hangers or toothbrush holders to technical implants like touchscreen, control buttons for x-ray or TV screens for medical information.

Most of the clinic's patients are children, and the design aims to stimulate their senses and curiosity, transforming a waiting area into a playful self-exploration environment. The patient lounges feature a multifunctional furniture designed to entertain children with pedagogical value. On one side, three intersecting void spheres form a grotto-like space to be explored, while on the other side, a surface equipped with niches for pencils and comic strips is for study and sketching.

The clinic's design also includes a playful signage graphic with custom-designed icons positioned intentionally at children’s eye level. The backlighting is created by pioneer use of OLED lighting modules, contributing to the clinic's futuristic aesthetic. The craftsmanship of the detail is a nod to the precision of orthodontics, with every single detail experiencing a subtle spatial presence, accentuating the abstraction and scalelessness of the ephemeral, monochromatic environment in a playful and poetical way.

The project wall surfaces, furniture, and components are entirely realized in White Corian. The production process for Corian used two fabrication techniques: CNC milling for the cut and graphic icons and thermoforming process for the spheres and curved components. For the graphic backlighting of the Corian skin, Lumiotec OLED technology was used, which are ultra-thin lighting panels and a next-generation energy-saving light source that helps reduce CO2 emissions.

The Orthodontic Clinic White Space covers a surface of 270 square meters with about 500 square meters of Corian surfaces. The clinic is located in Catania, Italy, and construction was finalized in September 2012 with the clinic opening in October 2012. The design was awarded Golden in A' Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design Award in 2013, a testament to its innovative and trendsetting design.

In conclusion, White Space is a testament to the pedagogical value of architecture and design. It is a space that not only provides advanced orthodontic care but also encourages children to explore and interact with their environment. The clinic is a perfect example of how design can transform a typically mundane experience into a unique and engaging one.