A holistic approach to wellness, and a collaboration with local artist, Peta Miller, has transformed a clinical and utilitarian public health service into a unique dental facility that speaks to the local population.

Fremantle Dental Clinic is a warm and welcoming environment with a sense of freshness and atmosphere of wellbeing. Blonde timber features add tactility and warmth as well as contrasting black and white neutrals give a modern yet timeless appearance that is both functional and low maintenance.

Tertiary shades of blue and green add colour accents and transitional patterns create a holistic vitality that instigates an association to wellbeing. Local artist, Peta Miller, contributed to the interior design with scenic subject matter of Fremantle and the Western Australian landscapes in vibrant tertiary colours. Reproductions of her work are incorporated into graphic canopies located over the dental chairs to create engaging visual focal points for patients during their treatments. The artist’s signature brushstrokes also inspired the graphic film design and signage utilised throughout the project.

The three most important elements to the design comprise security, natural light and easy maintenance. To address these issues staff are enclosed behind a feature timber wall element with a frameless glass opening to the Waiting Space; there are expanses of external glazing and opportunities to view the surrounding landscape; and anti-microbial and impact resistant compact laminate along with selected flooring was installed for easy maintenance.

The vibrant visual vernacular of Freemantle Dental Clinic is well suited to the eclectic nuances of the port city’s distinctive culture of vivid colours and with an ‘art-centric’ aesthetic coupled with state-of-the-art technology this is a place of health and wellbeing.

Furniture: Innerspace WA, UCI, Castledex, Zenith. Lighting: Pacific Lighting, Eagle Lighting, Evolt Ektor, Kliksystems. Finishes: Shaw Contract, Woven Image, Laminex, Dulux, Forbo, Easycraft (Gunnersons). Fittings & Fixtures: Aqualoo, RBA, Hettich, Hafele, Barben, Luxaflex.

Photography: Stephen Oliver Dill-Macky