The existing dental practice, Dental Specialists of Turramurra or commonly known as DST first opened it’s doors in 1999 by a husband and wife team, Dr Kamini Titus, Orthodontist & Dr Anthony Au, Prosthodontist.

They commissioned Lexie Vatavalis of Lexis Design to design the interior and oversee the fitout. The existing practice of 130m2, was bursting at the seams so it was inevitable to expand into the neighbour tenancy of 75m2.

The new part of the surgery consists of a reception, waiting, 2 surgeries,OPG and an administration/consultation area. Rather than try and marry the existing practice, Lexie felt it was important to depart from the traditional style and incorporate a new fresh & exciting approach especially when most of Dr Titus’s patients were of a teenage vintage.

It was essential to provide a space that was conducive, warm, welcoming and above all bright and airy. However, there were a few constraints to consider when designing the new addition to the existing practice.

Firstly, the size was small in stature and there were different levels to contend with, as the existing building was on a steep site. In some respect it was more like a jigsaw puzzle that required clever use of space planning to provide a result that both client & patients would be happy with.

On approach there is a bright tangerine/red bold fabric upholstered walls that are incorporated into the banquette seating which sits as a throne for patients rather than just another waiting area. The warmth of the timber floors offset the use of an exquisite piece of Calacutta marble on the reception counter with functional cupboards finished in a ‘crisp white’ polyurethane paint finish. The frosted glass panel behind the reception desk was incorporated for a couple of reasons, one being for a subtle use of signage and the other to provide light and some visibility from the administration area.

The two new surgeries are divided by a full height frameless frosted glass panel which provide some visual barrier for patients. As the surgeries back on to a busy Pacific Highway it was prudent to double glaze the existing windows and also provide a film frosting to ensure privacy from the street. The use of a soft blue glass mosaics on two small feature walls above the dentists joinery add some interest and a lovely translucent quality to the surgery.

Legend 1. New entry 2. Waiting area 3. Reception 4. Consultation/admin 5. OPG 6. Surgery 3 7. Surgery 4	8. Existing waiting area 9. Consulting/lecture 10. Sterilization 11. Existing surgery 1 12. Existing lab 13. Existing surgery 2 14. Existing unisex WC 15. Existing staff room 16. Existing entry

Images: Reception desk & fixed fully upholstered banquette seat, Surgeries 3 & 4 looking through to existing dental practice, this page top, view of reception area showing stairs to surgeries, this page bottom left, existing waiting area & consultation lecture area.