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Refurbishment feature


First impressions count for Blackhills


Upgrade.It doesn’t have to take a complete overhaul to change the feel of an important space,as this project shows


A


little over three years after opening their doors in Aberuthven, Perthshire, the team at Blackhills Clinic decid-


ed the time was right to revamp the waiting and reception areas. Clinic Manager, Trudie Imrie said: “When we moved in the areas gave a feeling of open space and comfort and we bought in the furniture ourselves to reflect this. “However, the waiting area, as well as being for our customers, was now being used for educational meetings. The furniture we purchased original- ly, while being functional and comfortable, was not easy to move around and after three years it had become a little ‘tired’ looking.” After seeing previous examples of their work in Scottish Dental magazine Trudie, along with the practice’s clinical directors Paul Stone and Ken Watkins, decided to contact Farahbod Nakhaei and Homan Varghaei of NV Design and Construction. They were tasked with reinvigorating a bright open space and incorporating the practice colour scheme and identity into the design. The waiting and reception desk


area was already spacious with a double-height window facing the front of the building but, as Trudie explained: “Previously, it was neutral and comfortable but not very contemporary and we wanted to freshen it up and bring to the forefront our brand image.” Farahbod takes up the story: “We


were tasked with coming up with the ideas for reinvigorating the space and make it a more interesting space to move through. They mentioned that at certain times of the day the sun


The waiting and reception area


comes through the big two-storey window and shines on the waiting area and the reception desk. They wanted to make the most of that. “So, we came up with the idea of using the wall next to reception as a feature wall and take advantage of the light coming from the sun.” Farahbod designed a green glass


feature wall next to the reception desk incorporating the practice logo and opposite the reception desk they installed a glass partition to separate the two areas, but keep the sense of space and light. The new partition also has the added benefit of provid- ing patients with an extra level of privacy when they are discussing treatments at the desk. As the waiting area also


accommodated the practice’s education evenings for dentists the furniture needed to be modern, comfortable and practical, to replace the older more cumbersome furniture they had previously. Farahbod continued: “Quite often it is the small details that can make all the difference and this attention to detail is important in waiting and reception areas. So, rather than having numerous pieces of furniture and fittings serving different functions, such as bins, fridges, display cabinets, etc, we designed a


Scottish Dental magazine 57


single unit which houses all these disparate elements into a single piece of fixed furniture. This has freed up space and created a more coordinat- ed arrangement within the seating area, reinforcing and better reflecting the Blackhill’s passion for creating a quality environment for their patients.”


And the effect of the changes


hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Trudie said: “It is just excellent, we are so pleased with it. We’ve had positive comments from both patients and other dentists. “First impressions are very important; it is a top priority for us. You only get one chance to put across that first look at the image and the style of the practice.”


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