Radboud UMC, Dentistry department

The Dentistry department is where students of Dentistry and Oral Care are trained, where scientific research takes place and where patients undergo treatment. Nicolai Giling: 'We find it very important that our patients feel welcome here. Hardly anyone looks forward to a dentist’s appointment, especially when one has anxiety or will have to undergo a complex type of procedure. This is why we wanted to provide our visitors with an atmosphere that exudes peace and comfort.’

Ex Interiors: 'The traditional Japanese garden was our source of inspiration for the design of the reception area. The idea behind the Japanese garden is to create an organic landscape, but perfected. A landscape that radiates tranquillity and serenity. This concept has been applied to the so-called clinic square on the ground floor which houses the front desk, waiting areas and a restaurant. We opted for a transparent, minimalist layout with sleek white furniture and cast floors with distinctive carpets. Greens and blues in combination with warm wood tones create sharp contrasts with the characteristic concrete of the building itself.'

In addition to the clinic square with its treatment rooms, the building houses educational facilities on the first and second floor, a skills lab and research laboratory on the third floor and an office environment with a combination of open and closed workspaces and multi-functional conference rooms on the fourth and fifth floor. Nicolai Giling: 'We aimed to create a certain level of unity in the building. All types of different solutions had been adopted for the furniture throughout the years. The new furniture had to follow the same design language across the entire building, without it becoming too uniform at the same time. Several parties were asked to put forward a proposal for the interior design. Gispen won the contract after a mini competition including a presentation and trial setup.

Peter van der Linden, New Business Manager Healthcare at Gispen: 'The result is a striking combination of products from our collection that supports different ways of 'waiting' or 'working'. From high to low seating options in the reception area; from seeking privacy to meeting others and working together in the work environment. The custom solutions are mainly found in upholstery; the building is defined by an atmosphere of beautiful colour schemes that matches the concept of the Japanese garden.’ The coffee corners are distinguished by TM tables with sloping legs and solid wood tops with black More or Less chairs. The study environment is filled with custom-made study desks and Triennial Work chairs, as well as comfortable TST recliners. The conference rooms contain oval TT tables with Turn chairs. The work environment has been furnished with sit/stand Scrum tables and Multilounge niches.

Hetty Keiren: ‘I enjoyed working with Peter. With such a large project there are so many details to take into account, from a specific table leg or fabric to a stair rail. It’s great to have someone who has an eye for these intricacies – who double checks everything, shares his thoughts and keeps you posted.’

Nicolai Giling: 'It was a complex and large-scale project with multiple stages of delivery in terms of furniture. During the implementation process it took a while to get on the same page, but the final is something to be proud of. Everything matches and it’s not for nothing that we were rewarded with a prize and secured several nominations. People’s first reaction when they see it is often: 'wow, this is beautiful!’ When you ask patients, some absolutely love the entrance hall, but others would have preferred it to be smaller and more intimate – but there is no accounting for taste. What I personally find very important, in addition to a good design, is that the products that are supplied are of a high quality, which is also the case; the interior is sturdy and durable, can withstand heavy use and is easy to clean.'

Photography:

- Alexander van Berge

- Chris van Koeverden