A dental clinic that transforms smiles has itself been transformed by the organic, sculptural forms of thermoformed HIMACS, integrated with atmospheric lighting.
Healthcare interiors are often associated with straight lines, hard surfaces and a predominantly bright white aesthetic. At the Only Smile dental implantology clinic in Romania, the Atvangarde Design Team has taken a different approach. Flowing curves, sculptural fitted furniture and carefully integrated lighting create an interior that feels warm and contemporary, while retaining the hygiene, functionality and ease of maintenance essential to a clinical environment.
Led by architect Adriana Tihon, Atvangarde used HIMACS to translate the principle of ‘form follows function’ into an expressive architectural language. The material’s thermoforming capabilities allow furniture and surfaces to take on soft, organic forms, while inconspicuous joints create the sleek lines that define the project.
“We wanted to move away from a rigid, clinical language and create something softer and more welcoming. HIMACS gave us the freedom to develop continuous curved forms while still providing the practical hygienic qualities required in a dental environment. Combined with integrated lighting, the material adds depth and character to a predominantly white interior,” explains Adriana Tihon.
A gentler welcome
As the first point of contact for patients, the reception was an opportunity to establish a different visual language from the moment patients arrive. Rather than a conventional rectilinear counter, a sweeping bespoke desk creates a sculptural focal point, its curved geometry helping to organise movement and interaction between staff and patients.
HIMACS can be thermoformed into three-dimensional shapes and seamlessly joined, allowing the reception area to read as a smooth, continuous volume. Curved ribbed detailing in HIMACS introduces texture and rhythm, while integrated LED lighting accentuates the geometry and creates a subtle interplay of light and shadow.
This distinctive pattern becomes a recurring design thread throughout the clinic. Reinterpreted in HIMACS, wall cladding along the corridors with the ribbed motif established at reception creates visual cohesion, while the interplay of curved surfaces and integrated lighting gives depth and movement to the otherwise restrained palette.
The result retains the aesthetic clarity associated with a healthcare environment, but replaces its traditionally hard edges with curves, texture and light, creating a warmer and more considered experience for patients and staff.
Organic design with practical performance
This coherent architectural language continues throughout the clinic’s bespoke fitted furniture. Soft curves, rounded edges and handle-free cabinetry maintain the pristine ambience while creating elements tailored to the practical requirements of the different spaces.
Here, the same properties that enable creative freedom also deliver important functional benefits. HIMACS is a homogeneous, non-porous surface that is easy to clean and maintain, particularly important in environments where hygiene is a priority. Its ability to be fabricated with inconspicuous joints also allows continuous surfaces to be created with fewer places for dirt or pathogens to accumulate.
Durability and repairability provide further advantages in interiors subject to intensive daily use. Should signs of wear or minor damage occur, HIMACS can be professionally renewed or repaired rather than requiring the complete element to be replaced, helping it retain its appearance and performance over time.
HIMACS in Alpine White featuring 8% recycled content was used throughout and the material is also free from silica, formaldehyde and nanoparticles, with no VOC emissions.
At Only Smile, HIMACS helps turn a healthcare environment into a distinctive interior with its own architectural identity. The result is a dental clinic where material, form and light come together to create a space designed not only to perform, but to make patients feel welcome.
Fabrication and Photography: Atvangarde Surfaces
About HIMACS
HIMACS is a high-performance solid surface material for architectural and interior applications, from façades and wall cladding to kitchens, bathrooms and bespoke furniture in commercial, residential and public spaces. Composed of minerals, acrylic and natural pigments, it delivers a smooth, non-porous and visually seamless surface meeting the highest standards of design, fabrication, durability and hygiene.
