The recently completed 19-storey "Zipper", designed by Berlin architect Jürgen Mayer H, houses the hybrid residential and medical centre RKM 740. Its strikingly three-dimensional façade wraps around the building like a dynamic ribbon—opening and closing in rhythmic succession. From distant vantage points across the city, this distinctive silhouette commands attention. The building is home to Dr. Stephan Hager's plastic surgery practice. On the fourth floor, Düsseldorf-based interior architect Dirk Pidun and his office Plankontur showcase how a refined, restrained design approach creates precisely the right framework for the space.

The client envisioned a refined yet minimalist environment—one that would embody his sophisticated aesthetic approach to plastic surgery. Equally important was fostering an organically flowing spatial experience that serves the clinic's workflow while delivering genuine comfort to patients. To achieve both clarity and calm, the interior composition has been deliberately pared down to essential elements. A minimalist reception desk in dark-stained oak anchors the space as the practice's primary focal point, its deep tone providing striking contrast against the otherwise light-filled rooms rendered in subtle whites. The layout prioritizes efficiency, eliminating unnecessary distances between zones. Equally deliberate is the integration of the building's existing architecture—creating a seamless dialogue between exterior form and interior design. A gently curved central corridor, for instance, connects the waiting area (positioned at a prominent corner) to the consultation, staff, and operating rooms. This restrained material palette is complemented by thoughtful lighting design: minimalist recessed fixtures in walls and ceilings establish distinct moods throughout the space, while strategically placed accents guide both function and atmosphere.

www.plankontur.de

Photography Credits:

Oliver Edelbruch
www.edelbruch.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 04|23)