LAVA Dental Studio, Riga

There is no rule, which says clinics must be white and impersonal. Of course, it must be functional and sterile, but that leaves plenty of room for creativity. Inspired by the flow and movement of lava in its natural environment, Open AD’s design for LAVA Dental Studio features floaty materials, earthy tones and textures.

Delivered in a relaxed environment, quality dental care should be a stress and fear-free experience. With this in mind, we introduced colour, lighting and texture to ease the patient experience and enhance staff wellbeing. The reception area is designed to make patients feel more like arriving for an appointment at a beauty salon or spa. Above the reception desk, soothing projections show scenes of transformation in nature, hinting at how a patient will feel after their visit – positively transformed. The walk from the reception area to the treatment rooms is calming and sparks curiosity and the joy of discovery rather than tension. Corridor lighting is both a practical means of navigation, as well as a playful feature to lighten the atmosphere.

Apart from the dental equipment and a few pieces in the meeting room and waiting area, the furniture is custom-designed and built by local craftsmen. Since a large proportion of the budget had to be invested in medical equipment, bespoke solutions were an effective way to achieve more bang for buck.

The clinic occupies the ground floor of a recently revamped Art Nouveau building in an affluent Riga neighbourhood.

LAVA Dental Studio illustrates how even medical settings can benefit from creative thinking.