In the wake of the pandemic, safety and comfort have become central to the healthcare design revolution—especially as a growing number of boutique medical offices specializing in everything from Botox to dentistry are popping up in major cities. This evolving landscape is proving that well-crafted, thoughtful environments not only make patients feel better and dignified, but they also create enjoyable experiences that build brand loyalty and make customers want to come back.
“Good design in healthcare equates to happier patients. We don’t just affect the spaces—we change and challenge the user experience, which impacts the bottom line,” says Dan Mazzarini, owner and creative director of BHDM Design, the New York-based firm that has designed multiple medical offices for various healthcare startups like Tend. For the dental practice’s Williamsburg location in Brooklyn, New York, “we built brush bars into the front-of-house experience, complete with swish wallpaper inspired by toothpaste and mouthwash,” he says. “Joy and celebrating the process is common in our approach to new health and wellness concept designs.”
The reception area at Clinique D’Orthodontie is anchored by green velvet benches and a wooden desk
Today, the sterile uniformity that once defined the typology is giving way to warmer, hospitality-inspired vibes. Upscale models like Montreal orthodontic clinic Clinique D’Orthodontie showcase elements like white oak, fluted glass, and sculptural objets d’art. The design by locally based firm Atelier Échelle reimagines areas like the waiting room into a hotel lobby or the living room of a chic artist.
An evergreen-hued wall at V & Co. is punctuated with fluted glass windows
Meanwhile, textural, earthy motifs contrast with sleek, modern fixtures in San Francisco-based Studio BANAA’s design for the V & Co. medical spa in San Jose, California. Organic forms soften an industrial backdrop, while novel treatment pods ensure discretion and intimacy.
Spanish design studio Vitale crafted Sergio Moralles Podiatry in Castellón to evoke the Mediterranean through a soft palette of sand and stone hues across 4,000 square feet. Here, functional elements like vinyl flooring are offset by thoughtful focal points like ceramic latticework reminiscent of coastal structures. “Mediterranean-inspired references help create an environment that feels more like a retreat than a clinical space, setting a new standard for healthcare facilities in the area,” says Vitale cofounder and creative director Lucía Chover.
This dovetailing of sophistication and practicality benefits all users. “By blending innovative elements with a thoughtful analysis of patient behavior and workflow, the clinic achieves a balance of operational efficiency and emotional wellbeing,” Chover adds.
Curving forms soften white treatment rooms at Sergio Moralles
Insights from doctors and other healthcare professionals also foster a holistic vision that considers the needs of even the most vulnerable patients. For family medicine practice Galt Health in Cambridge, Ontario, local firm Fonseka Studio conceived a central core of patient rooms surrounded by a continuous corridor loop that perpetuates a sense of openness.
Custom millwork and a 115-foot-long bench line the perimeter, while slatted, locally sourced timber spans the clinic’s pitched ceilings to accentuate the neutral color story and abundant daylighting. “We wanted the space to be void of any visual clutter and to enable a sense of ease and mindfulness,” says architect Jaliya Fonseka. “By designing compassionately with natural light, warm, tactile materials, and intuitive circulation, the space not only meets practical needs but also encourages calm in the body and mind.”
With sensitivities at the forefront, the space not only serves the individual but strengthens their dynamic with caregivers. “Our goal was to create a design that can encourage a sense of trust between patients and the medical system,” Fonseka adds. “Such an approach can enhance functionality rather than detract from it.”
Soft tones and materials define Tend Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York
Tranquility is the key to success for Paulo Merlini Architects’ design of Skin Boutique, a medical aesthetic clinic in Lisbon. “Our main inspiration for this project came from the idea of beauty integrated with wellbeing,” says Paulo Merlini, founder of his namesake Cosme, Portugal-based studio. “We aimed to create an environment that blends sophistication with warmth. This fusion of beauty, functionality, and wellbeing is what truly differentiates this project, ensuring that clients don’t just visit the clinic—they experience it.”
Mirrors expand the visual experience of the interior, where a large central dome infuses light and a sense of openness—not to mention a moment of grandeur. Dusty pink walls and white linen curtains contribute to the soothing environment, offsetting more pragmatic finishes and materials like linoleum floors in treatment rooms. “We wanted the space to have a visual impact, reflecting the modernity and sophistication of the new brand,” Merlini adds. “The ultimate goal was for each client to leave feeling that they had a transformative experience because of the effectiveness of the treatments as well as the environment.”
Frosted glass and artful details adorn the exterior of V & Co., a medical spa in San Jose, California
Such approaches tap into the very roots of mindful design, in which human centricity is the guiding light behind every choice. “We felt this project could demonstrate how thoughtful design can humanize these traditionally cold and clinical spaces,” Fonseka says of Galt Health. “While most clinics are sometimes forced to prioritize functionality alone, this project demonstrates how spaces of medical care can be both highly functional and deeply supportive of the emotional and physical wellbeing of patients and doctors.”
The landscape remains ripe for innovation, but for now, centering emotional health throughout environments long considered impersonal is a revolution all its own. “It’s essential to go beyond superficial aesthetics and create a space that takes care not only of the exterior,” Merlini says, “but also of the emotional experience of those who visit.”
READ MORE: 9 Trends That Will Shape the Hospitality Industry in 2025
Locally sourced timber runs across the ceilings at Galt Health in Cambridge, Ontario
An arched doorway leads to the treatment rooms at Skin Boutique in Lisbon
Ceramic latticework infuses a calming ambiance into Sergio Moralles Podiatry in Castellón, Spain
This article originally appeared in HD’s December 2024 issue.
