What a make-over: from shell to plastic surgery practice

Discover our 2 ultimate tips

This came as quite a surprising assignment: designing the space for a group practice specialising in plastic surgery. We already had a lot of know-how in the medical sector, but no one had ever commissioned us for a project of this nature before. How did we pull it off? By maintaining close contact with the client, relying on our experience with tight deadlines and offering smart solutions to technical challenges. Read on to find out how we approached this. And discover our tips for making your new design or renovation project a success.

Initial contact before the summer holidays, handover before Christmas.

‘Develop this space for our future practice.’ That, in a nutshell, was the briefing from the Plastic Surgery Institute. The assignment came in just before the summer holidays. One thing was clear from the outset: the timing was going to be tight, because the Plastic Surgery Institute was looking to open its doors before the end of the year.

Which meant no time to lose. Our in-house design office set to work on the first important steps:

• viewing the space;
• preparing the quote;
• having an intake-interview with the client.

The core housing space was 150 m2. Which left us with plenty of options in terms of customisation. Along with our client, we looked at what absolutely had to be integrated and what extras were still possible. Our colleagues then worked up an initial design, something for which we always use 3D renders instead of photographs, as it gives a much better view and insight into the space, with a lot more options for adjusting the visuals. The 3D drawings were ready by mid-August. With the client’s green light, we then finalised the plan and it was time for the implementation phase. Work started in early October. Twelve weeks to go before the deadline…

One more bottleneck

In addition to the tight deadline, a number of unexpected restrictions emerged. The property the client had bought was held in co-ownership (on the ground floor of an apartment building). And it offered few possibilities for technical installations.

Normally speaking, we would tackle this problem before the roll-out of the entire project. Due to circumstances however, we were only involved at a later stage. Nevertheless, we managed to catch up technically at that later stage, after the finishing work had already well advanced. How? Rather than passively waiting, we attended the general meeting with the co-owners of the apartment building to sort things out. A direct, open-minded approach that was greatly appreciated by all parties. In the end, we were able to execute everything to perfection from a technical point of view.

Is this typical of our usual M.O.?

Yes and no. This project instantly reveals the Studio Clement touch: quick thinking, solution-oriented conceptual input, proficient design and tailor-made implementation. We have the know-how and the people. But did you know that we can do so much more? A lot of the time, we are involved from the very beginning, in an advisory and even preventive capacity. This enables us to step in where necessary, long before problems arise or become acute.

We even add value when it comes to picking the right location.

In fact, in some cases our input starts with selecting the location itself whereby our team visits the premises you have in mind, asking a number of critical questions.

• Is this the best possible location for your needs?
• Is this an interesting location for your audience?
• Are there any nearby competitors?
• Is this a suitable property (in terms of urban planning and technical aspects)? As mentioned earlier, the technical possibilities at the Plastic Surgery Institute were limited, but we were able to resolve this with our proactive approach.
• Is the proposed budget realistic and feasible for your wishes and expectations?

On experience, we know: if we are allowed to take a critical approach to your briefing, you can rest safe in the knowledge that the foundations are going to be ‘A okay’. In other words: allow us to ask purposive questions in advance, and we will make your project a resounding success.

What made this project unique?

Caroline Denys of the Plastic Surgery Institute explains: “We were not looking for a one-size-fits-all solution, but a tailor-made solution, with a partner that lends his conceptual input and comes up with answers to the specific requirements of our practice. The first thing that comes to mind is the choice of materials. We use chemical products and disinfectants, such as Iso-Betadine, on a daily basis. All materials need to be resistant to these products. We also wanted a dedicated place to disinfect our hands, with swing doors so we do not need to touch the doors. This is more hygienic than doors with a handle. These are just a few of the small and bigger challenges that kept coming up and which Studio Clement knew how to solve.” Colleague Lore Budiharto goes on to say: ‘The 3D drawings with the floor plan quickly gave us a clear picture of what to expect. And picking the materials and viewing samples in the showroom just made everything even more tangible.’

Two ultimate tips certain to benefit you

1 Involve Studio Clement as early on as possible.

This project is in the medical sector. The parallels between that sector and our approach to interior design are striking: just as it is better not to wait until a medical problem becomes too serious before seeing a specialist, it is better not to wait until your project is too far advanced before coming to see us. The earlier you call on our expertise, the easier the process will be and the better the end result for you.

2 Allow us to lend our conceptual input on the project as a whole.

Sure, we could restrict ourselves to just making beautiful furniture. If you want, you can do the electrical work yourself, for instance. But we take the broad view, and you will often get more out of your project if you opt for our one-stop-shop approach. It is no coincidence that we are renowned for our integrated concepts. With an in-house design and engineering department and our own production workshop, we make things happen every day. It is not for nothing that we have close to a century of experience. Which simply enables us to be quicker at spotting the problems and opportunities than you are.

Keen to find out what the Plastic Surgery Institute finally looks like after its grand opening? Take a look at their website.

If you are considering a renovation or a completely new design, get in touch with us.