A commercial healthcare environment is very different to a residence and should be treated in another way altogether when choosing finishes and lighting.
Finishes need to be practical, durable, comfortable and easily maintained while retaining an appealing aesthetic. The demands of a high-use healthcare environment mean that finishes need to withstand more wear and tear than a residential environment. It is the combination of materials that creates an ambience.
The selected scheme should not reflect current fashions, as most clinical fit outs need to last a minimum of 10 years, but generally 15 years. Certain colour combinations invoke certain responses and it is good to use this to your advantage.
Combining cool and warm creates a sense of balance within the colour scheme. Strong colours can be used in paint finishes and changed at a relatively low cost whereas joinery has a longer life span, which should be reflected in a more restrained selection of colour.
The demographic factors in any practice should be considered as a powerful influence on the selection of finishes throughout. Well-chosen finishes will attract potential patients and please your current patients while satisfying your practical needs.
Many finishes in the practice will need to comply with the Australian Standards - make sure that these codes are followed.
