Interview about Clinic Zen Residential and Commercial, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2022
In order to present the professional image of the dentist's clinic, the designer used clean lines to present its rationality and professional. And the internal space in addition to connecting the architectural appearance style, improve the brightness so that its clinic can present a clean, bright professional environment, but also the use of the way to bring the outdoor landscape into the room, which provides patients with a comfortable environment. Besides, wood textures and refreshing tones were used in the residential area to create a comfortable home feel.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe vision for Clinic Zen Residential and Commercial began with the duality of its program: a professional clinic seamlessly integrated with a private residence. Our design approach sought to balance the clinical precision required of a medical practice with the emotional warmth of a home. Clean, minimalist lines and elongated windows reflect the calm and confidence of the physician, while views of lush greenery help reduce patient anxiety. In contrast, the residential area is softened through warm tones and natural textures, providing the doctor a peaceful retreat after work.As the design evolved, the biggest challenge became zoning—especially in the context of the post-pandemic world. Clear separation between public (clinical) and private (residential) areas became essential. The final solution embraces simplicity and nature, achieving a thoughtful blend of rationality and humanity that redefines how healing and living can coexist harmoniously within the same architectural space.
From the outset, we were deeply aware of the anxiety and tension many patients feel when visiting a clinic. This inspired us to use transparency as a healing design element—connecting interior spaces with surrounding greenery through large, uninterrupted windows. Natural light and open views soften the clinical atmosphere, helping reduce stress and evoke a sense of calm and openness.Balancing transparency with privacy, however, was crucial. We carefully designed window heights, used vertical louvers, and strategically placed plants to create visual shielding without fully closing off views. This approach allows patients to feel visually connected to nature while maintaining personal discretion—achieving a subtle harmony of openness and separation.This semi-transparent design language stems from our commitment to human-centered healthcare environments, ultimately crafting a space that feels both professional and emotionally supportive.
Living in Argentina profoundly shaped my perception of space and its relationship with human behavior. The Argentine emphasis on openness, natural light, and the seamless flow between interior and exterior environments taught me to view architecture through a more fluid and human-centered lens.In designing Clinic Zen, I drew upon Eastern architectural philosophies—such as the appreciation of voids, subtle transitions, and the aesthetics of “in-betweenness”—while integrating Western principles of material expression and structural clarity. This fusion created a space where serenity meets order, and where natural softness coexists with architectural rigor.Ultimately, my cross-cultural experience helped me develop a design language that transcends geographical borders, focusing instead on the universal needs of healing, living, and quiet introspection.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a rethinking of spatial boundaries between public and private domains. In Clinic Zen, we strategically addressed this by creating a clearly separated layout: the clinic occupies one side of the building with a dedicated entrance and circulation path, minimizing overlap with residential movement.Yet, spatial separation should not result in visual disconnection. To maintain aesthetic cohesion, we used a consistent architectural vocabulary—clean lines, natural materials, and lush greenery—to tie both zones together. Whether in the waiting area or living quarters, the design tone remains unified.This approach not only satisfies functional demands for health and safety, but also introduces a new paradigm where professionalism and domestic warmth coexist in a single architectural narrative.
In Clinic Zen, materials were not chosen solely for their structural role—but for their ability to shape emotional experience. We aimed to soften the often sterile nature of clinical spaces, transforming them into environments that communicate trust and warmth.Exposed concrete anchors the design with its raw honesty and composure, reflecting the clarity and professionalism of the medical practice. Granite facades convey durability and reliability—qualities essential to a space that serves the public. In contrast, natural wood textures introduce warmth and domestic familiarity. Used across ceilings, floors, and furniture accents, wood becomes the emotional thread that ties the residence to the clinic.Through this material dialogue, we created a space that balances authority with intimacy—where people feel both cared for and at home.
Located in a narrow urban alley in Chiayi and surrounded by aging buildings, Clinic Zen presented a key challenge: how to realize a modern architectural vision without disrupting the surrounding structures.We adopted a low-interference construction strategy, including phased operations, modular construction methods, and temporary protective barriers to shield neighboring buildings. During foundation works, we used top-down construction and micro-pile support systems to minimize soil movement and structural risk to adjacent properties.From a design perspective, we reduced visual and physical pressure by creating a vertically composed form with clean lines, implementing setbacks and green buffer zones to soften the interface between old and new. This ensured that neighboring structures retained their light, space, and structural integrity.This approach not only protected the historical context of the neighborhood but also allowed our design to blend harmoniously into the urban fabric—achieving a balance between innovation and preservation.
The five-story vertical layout of Clinic Zen reflects our core philosophy: professional medical practice and personal living should coexist without interference.The ground floor is dedicated entirely to the clinic, with a separate entrance and reception to establish a strong professional identity and streamline public access. The second and third floors serve as transition zones—housing extended clinic functions and private offices—bridging public and private realms.The fourth and fifth floors are exclusively residential, designed with high ceilings, natural lighting, and warm materials to foster a calming, homelike environment.This "clinic below, home above" concept ensures functional independence while maintaining a subtle architectural connection. The result is a thoughtful vertical ecosystem where trust, privacy, and well-being are all carefully respected.
In Clinic Zen, smart technology was integrated to enhance comfort and operational efficiency—but always guided by the principle that technology should be invisible, and serenity should be felt.Automated curtains, for instance, adjust lighting throughout the day to maintain privacy and create a soft, natural ambiance. Smart locks provide secure, seamless access for both the physician and their family. All systems are discreetly embedded into the architecture—minimal in appearance and quiet in function—so as not to disturb the project’s calm, Zen-inspired aesthetic.We treated technology as a silent assistant, not a centerpiece. Scene control systems allow lighting, air conditioning, and blinds to shift automatically according to time or need—ensuring the rhythm of the space remains tranquil and intentional. The result is a space where modern convenience and meditative beauty coexist in harmony.
The minimalist, box-like form of Clinic Zen was a deliberate architectural response to both the site's urban context and its hybrid medical-residential function.Functionally, the box shape allows for efficient interior zoning, clear vertical circulation, and simplified construction—crucial for integrating a clinic and a private home within limited urban space.Aesthetically, the clean lines and pure white facade reflect professionalism and order, reinforcing a calm and trustworthy atmosphere essential for a healthcare environment.To harmonize with the surrounding neighborhood, we introduced setbacks and lush greenery around the perimeter, softening the form’s impact and avoiding visual intrusion.This restrained geometry creates a quiet presence—professional yet serene, distinctive yet respectful—allowing the building to contribute meaningfully to the community without overwhelming it.
Clinic Zen’s recognition with the A' Design Award underscores a key shift in how hybrid medical-residential spaces can be reimagined—not as two conflicting functions, but as complementary experiences within one cohesive structure.As urban land becomes increasingly limited, Clinic Zen demonstrates the potential of vertical programming, clearly separating public and private zones while preserving architectural unity.By integrating natural light, greenery, and transparent boundaries, the project redefines clinical spaces as more human-centered, helping reduce patient anxiety while enhancing livability for residents.Furthermore, the combination of smart technology with minimalist aesthetics sets a precedent for how future healthcare environments can be both calm and connected, blending professionalism with comfort.These innovations provide a model for future mixed-use healthcare facilities to move beyond cold institutional typologies and embrace empathetic, integrated, and sustainable design.
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