Studio Dental

Studio Dental’s new home has positive patient and staff experiences at its core, and it achieves that alongside fiscal and contextual sensitivity. Its efficient box form incorporates ornate features inspired by architectural elements of the owner’s Korean family heritage and the neighbouring villas to create a landmark for patients to easily locate. Seen from the street, reception and waiting areas feature soft curves and textures, warm tones and plenty of natural light continue that welcoming experience. Moving into the dental studios, the focus shifts towards efficiency for staff and a more clinical feel that emphasises precision and hygiene.

Q Being a space that serves a range of people with differing needs, what impacts have you seen?

A (Jenny) Our new premises have had a really positive effect on both the team and our patients. It’s an environment where our team feels more energised, and the serene atmosphere has been mentioned by patients as enhancing their overall experience, which is especially important in a dental setting where a lot of people experience anxiety around visits. 

Q An early part of the patient’s experience is locating the building on busy Papanui Road – and you really notice the lattice screen. What was the idea behind it?

A (Mitchell) The screen is an important feature that transforms the efficient but simple form of the building into something distinctive for patients to easily find. Inspired by traditional Korean architecture which reflects Jenny's heritage, its design and proportions were also carefully considered to complement the fenestrations of the surrounding 1940s-50s villas and provide an appropriate amount of coverage to reduce heating, cooling, and maintenance costs.

Another consideration was how the building could respond to light. The depth and movement of the shadows created by the screen as you approach or pass by brings intrigue and joy to what could have been a utilitarian building. Since Studio Dental is open into the evening, the building is softly lit after dark to maintain the dynamic movement of the screen experienced during the day.

(Jenny) The unique design has captured a lot of attention. We’ve had people stop by to enquire about the building, and it has attracted new patients without any formal advertising. 

(Mitchell) The integration of personal meaning to Jenny is what makes it so unique. It adds depth to the building, and celebrates the cultural diversity that’s so important in Aotearoa.

Q What other meaning does the building have – perhaps in relation to its context or the service it offers?

A (Mitchell) The scale, siting, and use of traditional materials like weatherboards and battens echo the neighbouring homes, allowing the building to feel at home in its environment. 

(Amy) The choice of white both inside and out further complements the surrounding homes and gives a hygienic feel. Rather than a bright white, its pearly tone better reflects the colour of teeth and adds to the interplay of sunlight and shadow created by the screen.

Q Creating sustainable buildings is important to you for all projects, but how was this approached for a building that is home to a business?

A (Mitchell) It is much the same as a home, however, Studio Dental is a busy business so extra consideration went into the ongoing operational costs and maintenance requirements – both of which contribute to the building’s lifetime carbon use.

To minimise this, as well as the carbon used during the construction, timber was favoured for its carbon sequestration including PLT for the midfloor, thermally modified weatherboards and battens for the exterior cladding, and LVL timber for all other structures. Each base build element was assessed for carbon, and the data was used to make informed decisions about material selections – collectively resulting in a base build with negative embodied carbon. Other key considerations included a focus on high performance detailing, ensuring services were appropriately sized and located for future maintenance, and thermal modelling throughout the design stage to achieve the correct amount of solar gain at all times of the year.

Q How did you find the process?

A (Jenny) Being my first commercial build, I was both excited and apprehensive – the challenge of balancing aesthetics with the practical needs of a busy dental practice required close collaboration. Fabric's involvement was crucial – from finding the right contractors to overseeing all the nitty-gritty aspects of the build – and I felt supported throughout the entire process and it was very seamless. 

(Mitchell) As with any project, whether commercial or residential, a successful process comes down to trust, open communication, and a great team – in this case Mike Newman Builders and James from SemiCreative. Our observation role helped keep decisions streamlined and avoid surprises at what can be the curly part of a project, but Jenny’s astute and collaborative approach made it easy for everyone involved. In the end, the team delivered this project six months ahead of time.