Lumident Peds

A pediatrics dental clinic was set to relocate their business in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, during what the World Bank classifies as one of the most severe financial and economic crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century.

As William McDonough put it “Design is inherently optimistic. That is its power.” We took this challenge as an opportunity to recreate, rebrand and inject a new vision to the clinic. The dire economic situation dictated a series of constraints that drove design decisions to a more prudent, and perhaps a more sustainable approach. Much of the material, such as the cabinetry and chairs, mechanical equipment, glass doors and glass blocks, was repurposed from the previous location, incorporating them with the new design seamlessly. The exercise was quite literally a three-dimensional puzzle, where moving one element had repercussions on another.

The design proposal was to shift away from the often bleak medical or clinical settings, and instead focus on playfulness as a core theme. To support the child’s curiosity primarily and to eliminate the fear associated with visiting the dentist, peep windows into the workrooms were incorporated in furniture and doors around the waiting area, prompting children to peek through and watch as the dentist works.

To increase seating in the new, more compact space, mini “stools” are pulled out from underneath the waiting area bench for children to use. These colorful seats of various shapes double as play objects that can be moved around freely.

The new space encourages the interaction between parents, young patients and dentists, and by so doing, eliminates the unknown and thus reduces anxiety commonly associated with dental clinics.

  • Location: Beirut, Lebanon
  • Program: Pediatric Dental Clinic
  • Year: 2021
  • Category: Architecture
  • Team: Dana Muhsen, Omar Bacho