I subscribe to dentalblogs.com…often my inbox is full of exciting dentistry information (a lot of which goes over my head, I must admit!).

However, a recent article on green surgery design caught my attention…check it out here.

As promised, some more pictures of our work!

Recently completed Secret Harbour Dental looks fabulous (even if we do say so ourselves;-) - check out the floor plan and a photo of the reception area here 

 We were recently contacted by the editor of Middle East Dentist magazine for our opinion on the latest and greatest in surgery design. Of course, we were pleased to assist! The article has been published in the May 2008 issue.

Click here to check it out ME Dentist article !

Well, it’s been over a month since my last post. My aim for our blog is to impart relevant and interesting information to you in regards to the latest and greatest in the dental design world.

However, we’ve got so much going on at the moment that my head is full of work, work, work. So, forgive me if I just do a quick ‘brain-dump’ on all the things we are working on currently.

Brand new surgery (southern suburb of Perth) - we completed the space planning, colour consultancy and reception and waiting area design a while back. The construction (by Dentpro) is nearly finished (YAY!) and we look forward to getting some photos on the site very soon!

Nuclear Physician (southern suburb of Perth) - this floor plan was designed at another company and we did some alterations to the space planning to suit the client’s requirements. We are currently looking at the colour consultancy and reception and waiting area design. This project is currently going through some serious structural engineering work (some of the equipment weighs tonnes!) and won’t be finished for a little while yet (ahhh the construction industry - can’t be more accurate than that, I’m afraid!)

Refurbishment (northern suburb of Perth) - we recently completed the reception design for this project (actually, there are some minor colour alterations still to do…where is my ‘to do’ list!)

Refurbishment (northern suburb of Perth) - again this is another reception area of an existing surgery we designed. The client was not totally happy with the designer they commission, so we were engaged to make some alterations to the existing (recently constructed design) and come up with a new reception desk.

Brand new surgery (Perth city) - as you may or may not know, there is HEAPS of construction happenening in and around Perth at the moment. This project is in a new building (which is still being constructed) and the client got the architect of the building to come up with a space plan for his new surgery. Unfortunately, the architect didn’t have any experience in surgery design, so the client came to us for help. We were able to incorporate two extra operatories and a disabled WC (council requirement) and create a much more usable layout for our client. We are currently working on the reception design and colour consultancy.

Brand new dental lab (Perth city) - this is a very small tenancy in the same building as above - we did some minor planning for council approval and will be looking at the colour consultancy for this project.

Existing surgery (central suburb of Perth) - the partners in this surgery approached us to do a feasibility study for their existing premises. They currently sub lease part of the building and the tenants will be moving in the coming months. They were unsure if they should do minor renovations and extend into the sub leased area or do more major renovations or even add a second storey. I am currently researching all the options in regard to council requirements, cost estimates, building issues and down time required for each option of construction. I’m quite enjoying this type of reporting and look forward to letting you know which way the partners decide to go!

So, thank you for indulging me in getting all this down on paper, so to speak! I hope to have some photos of the current projects up on the site soon.

One of the most important parts of a project is the design brief. You may not know exactly what you want or what to ask for - our job is to ask you the right questions (and read between the lines of your answers!).

We need to make sure that we ‘empty your bucket’ of needs and desires. If you have the feeling that your bucket still has something in it - that you haven’t been HEARD, then your designer hasn’t been successful in taking your brief.

As designers, we need to take ALL of your information (good or bad, vague or decisive) and tranform it in to something that fulfills as many of your needs and disires as possible.

Occassionally, some designers will push onto you their own desires for the space. It’s important to work through the design until you are happy with the end result.

We hope that we have past being too precious about a design. To us the definition of a successful project isn’t that the space would win the latest design award, but that we have a happy, fulfilled client.

For all you looking for new surgery office space, Perth is the place to be (in the next 5, 10, 20 years!).

Recently the state government announced the new Waterfront Development.

I went to the WA Property Council launch this morning and was amazed by the number of buildings and the amount space that will be available.

We were told the this is a concept only and that the actual design of the buildings were not finalised.  

Check out some of the images here

I have my own opinions of the development (particularly the ’swan’ shaped island reminiscent of Dubai’s ‘palm’ and ‘world’ islands- come on Perth, can’t we come up with something new…??!!) and am keen to hear your comments on the concept.

While recently flipping through a design magazine I was pleased to note that my favourite design was from Perth. ‘The Library’ nightclub recently opened after it’s extensive renovation and transformation.

The designer, Marcos Cain, magnificently executes what has been described as a ‘bordello/baroque/guidfordian’ blend. Now I’m not sure what that exactly means, but all I can say is that the space looks fabulous!

For more pics check out The Library here

Now what does this have to do with surgery design?

Well, all I can say is that if any progressive, ‘guildfordian’, slightly eccentric dentist out there would like to go in this direction for the design of their surgery, I would melodramatically sell my soul (Faustian style) to be involved in such a project!

I can’t see it happening, but you never know what sort of look your next client will ask for!

Over a year ago we met Bill Elsegood from Dentpro through one of our dental clients. We had designed Dr James Wong’s new surgery in Rockingham and Dr Wong engaged Bill for the construction.

 We were impressed with Bill’s professionalism and quality of work and were very enthusiastic when he approached us to design for his dental clients.

We currently have a number of designs in construction with Bill and look forward to ’showing them off’ soon!

 In the meantime, check out Dentpro’s website here.

There’s an age old (well, maybe not THAT old) struggle explaining what it is that we actually DO. Interior design conjurs up all these images of cushion scattering, curtains and pelmets and paint colours. I always say, this is about 10% of our job description and don’t think I’ve ever specified a cushion in my career, let alone scattered one!

This type of work falls into the realm of the decorator. Interior decorators come into your home or business and improve the aesthetics of the existing layout.

A designer, on the other hand, works with more structural elements to improve the space and then may use decoration to complete the overall look.

So, what about the architect? Architects, primarily design buildings. They may get involved in the interior design and decoration, however are more likely to engage a designer to complete the interiors. Larger firms have designers inhouse as part of the project team.

Who do you use to design your surgery?

It really depends entirely on your project. If you are looking to construct a purpose built building, I would recommend engaging an architect to design the building and an interior designer who has had experience with surgery design to design the inside. They will work together to get the best outcome for your needs.

However, if you are considering purchasing (or leasing) an existing space, I would get an experienced surgery designer involved.

And, if you want to refurbish an existing surgery, depending on how far you want to go, engage an interior designer with surgery knowledge and experience.

Last, but not least, if you are just looking for a little bit of a face lift (colours, furniture etc), a decorator will be able to help you.

I subscribe to a blog called Outfit Inspirations. Simone has recently posted a blog called ‘Five Quick Time Saving Tricks’ which follows on nicely from my previous post (and more succinctly at that - particularly Point 2!)

 Check it out here