Slatted wood panels and ambient lighting are intended to make visitors feel more at ease at this orthodontist practice in Canada, by designer Natasha Thorpe.

Natasha Thorpe Design used timber to add a sense of lightness and comfort to the otherwise mechanical and hygienic environment at Go Orthodontistes in Quebec.

The 1,943-square-foot (180-square-metre) space features hundreds of wood boards that conceal storage units and service areas. The office is kept as open as possible to enhance visibility between patients and doctors.

"In the context of a clinic, sensitivity to visitor experience is essential, as feelings of anxiety are often present," said Thorpe. "The use of natural materials and open-plan layout were essential to creating a feeling of ease and comfort."
A central reception area forms the focal point of the main space, where a circular desk is lined with slatted wooden boards in a vertical arrangement. The area is treated as an independent space and designed to be welcoming.

Douglas fir is used as the primary material throughout the space to create a cohesive feeling. The mono-thematic design was also chosen to enlarge "the relatively small office, for the environment that might have otherwise felt claustrophobic", said the designer.

The treatment rooms visible just beyond the reception desk, while the waiting room features large windows and wall-mounted benches with low backrests.
"The palette favours light natural tones...