Clinic in Airdrie

USE: Interior Retail
LOCATION: Alberta, Canada
TOTAL AREA: 220 m2
PROGRAM: Clinic

Designing and constructing a clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic posed significant challenges. Being based in Tokyo and working on a Canadian project without the ability to visit the site prompted me to reconsider workflows in the post-Covid era. Drawing inspiration from this situation, the primary design goal was to establish an open and airy space.

Airdrie, enveloped by natural fields and distant mountains, stands as a relatively new city planned with a block system. The clinic occupies the ground level of a chamfered corner within a commercial complex. The emerging chamfered blocks in urban settings are seen as enhancements and modernizations of urban spaces. This corner, where three surfaces converge, encourages visibility and public congregation. The secondary objective is to encapsulate the city's distinct public character within this modest interior project.

Rather than starting with purely functional spaces with a rational arrangement, I envisioned an interconnected Airy Place, extending from the exterior to connect with the city and its spaces. The continuity of the airy space marks a series of common spaces that interlink the project. The fluid, airy space aligns with windows, inviting natural light. Enclosed smaller rooms are interspersed in this main fluid space, creating an interplay between openness and enclosure to facilitate diverse activities by establishing an everyday experience environment.

In response to Airdrie's snowy climate, a sheltering folding ceiling is introduced to instill a sense of protection. The faceted ceiling descends, giving shape to a three-dimensional area within the primary open orthodontics space. This design promotes a communal atmosphere with open seating, moving away from conventional privacy and encouraging shared experiences among staff and patients.

The airy space, much like the air itself, lacks a fixed direction. Enabled by a hybrid wood and metal stud structure, dynamic walls adopt polygonal facets to ensure visibility and efficiency. Wooden surfaces and bespoke furniture subtly define areas while fulfilling essential clinic functions. This design introduces a novel typology that enriches Airdrie's social fabric, transcending conventional enclosed interiors to better support its various activities in the post-pandemic landscape.