A smile, made easy
Comfort and calm in white treatment spaces, where oak wood and flowing curves create a welcoming environment
"Pulling teeth," "root canal," "biting off more than you can chew"—such expressions reveal why dental visits trigger anxiety for so many. Yet dental practices exist precisely to ease pain and restore the simple pleasure of a confident bite. While the mind may understand this intellectually, apprehension persists—which is why atmosphere matters immensely. To transform the former savings bank branch in Sankt Augustin into a sanctuary of comfort, pd raumplan introduced gentle wave-like forms, acoustic ceilings, and warm oak wood. Where bank vaults once secured precious metals, today's treasures are the smiles restored through expert cosmetic dentistry.
Upon entering, visitors encounter not clinical treatment rooms, but rather a thoughtfully muted soundscape that belies the 520 m² cosmetic dental practice within. Undulating walls and pathways flow through the space where tellers, offices, and the vault once stood. A new staircase pierces the concrete ceiling, seamlessly connecting the existing practice on the upper floor with the newly expanded ground level.
The arrival and waiting experience commands significant spatial presence. Layered lighting highlights key zones, particularly the reception desk, whose curved mineral-composite form appears to float beneath soft LED illumination. Suspended above the counter, oak wood slats—like the spotlights nearby—foster both warmth and intuitive wayfinding. This warm timber tone breaks the predominant white palette with organic calm. The effect is intentional: to prioritize comfort and belonging. A sheer curtain further softens views through the glass and wood-slat waiting partition, dissolving clinical harshness. Throughout the treatment rooms themselves, the natural oak tone becomes a unifying design thread, reinforced by cast flooring with a subtle concrete finish that grounds the atmosphere. Here, dental care transcends necessity—it becomes a genuinely pleasant experience.
Photography Credits:
Ralf Baumgarten
www.ralfbaumgarten.de
(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn, 04|21)
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