HIMACS Creates Illuminated Curves At The Only Smile Dental Clinic

2 hours ago

3 min read

A dental clinic that transforms smiles has itself been transformed by the organic, sculptural forms of thermoformed HIMACS, integrated with atmospheric lighting. Healthcare interiors are often associated with straight lines, hard surfaces and a predominantly bright white aesthetic. At the Only Smile dental implantology clinic in Romania, the Atvangarde Design Team has taken a different approach. Flowing curves, sculptural fitted furniture and carefully integrated lighting create an interior that feels warm and contemporary, while retaining the hygiene, functionality and ease of maintenance essential to a clinical environment.

Modern white dental clinic lobby with wave-lit walls, beige bench, and sign reading Onlysmile implantology & dental clinic.

Led by architect Adriana Tihon, Atvangarde used HIMACS to translate the principle of ‘form follows function’ into an expressive architectural language. The material’s thermoforming capabilities allow furniture and surfaces to take on soft, organic forms, while inconspicuous joints create the sleek lines that define the project.

“We wanted to move away from a rigid, clinical language and create something softer and more welcoming. HIMACS gave us the freedom to develop continuous curved forms while still providing the practical hygienic qualities required in a dental environment. Combined with integrated lighting, the material adds depth and character to a predominantly white interior,” explains Adriana Tihon.

Empty modern white clinic reception with glowing green underlight and a purple chair in the background.

A gentler welcome

As the first point of contact for patients, the reception was an opportunity to establish a different visual language from the moment patients arrive. Rather than a conventional rectilinear counter, a sweeping bespoke desk creates a sculptural focal point, its curved geometry helping to organise movement and interaction between staff and patients.

HIMACS can be thermoformed into three-dimensional shapes and seamlessly joined, allowing the reception area to read as a smooth, continuous volume. Curved ribbed detailing in HIMACS introduces texture and rhythm, while integrated LED lighting accentuates the geometry and creates a subtle interplay of light and shadow.

Modern white lounge with a curved sofa, wavy wall panels, and a large window, creating a clean, calm feel.

This distinctive pattern becomes a recurring design thread throughout the clinic. Reinterpreted in HIMACS, wall cladding along the corridors with the ribbed motif established at reception creates visual cohesion, while the interplay of curved surfaces and integrated lighting gives depth and movement to the otherwise restrained palette.

The result retains the aesthetic clarity associated with a healthcare environment, but replaces its traditionally hard edges with curves, texture and light, creating a warmer and more considered experience for patients and staff.

Modern dental clinic reception with curved white desk, bench, and glowing walls; sign reads cnlysmile Implantology & dental clinic.

Organic design with practical performance

This coherent architectural language continues throughout the clinic’s bespoke fitted furniture. Soft curves, rounded edges and handle-free cabinetry maintain the pristine ambience while creating elements tailored to the practical requirements of the different spaces.

Here, the same properties that enable creative freedom also deliver important functional benefits. HIMACS is a homogeneous, non-porous surface that is easy to clean and maintain, particularly important in environments where hygiene is a priority. Its ability to be fabricated with inconspicuous joints also allows continuous surfaces to be created with fewer places for dirt or pathogens to accumulate.

Empty modern lounge with a long gray bench against a wavy LED-lit white wall in a sleek, calm, futuristic interior.

Durability and repairability provide further advantages in interiors subject to intensive daily use. Should signs of wear or minor damage occur, HIMACS can be professionally renewed or repaired rather than requiring the complete element to be replaced, helping it retain its appearance and performance over time.

HIMACS is also free from silica, formaldehyde and nanoparticles, with no VOC emissions. Its indoor air quality credentials include Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold, the highest level of Indoor Air Comfort certification, supporting the creation of healthier indoor environments.

At Only Smile, HIMACS helps turn a healthcare environment into a distinctive interior with its own architectural identity. The result is a dental clinic where material, form and light come together to create a space designed not only to perform, but to make patients feel welcome.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Design: Atvangarde Design Team, architect Adriana Tihon

Fabrication: Atvangarde Surfaces

Material: HIMACS S028E Alpine White with recycled content. www.lxhausys.com/eu/himacs Photography: Atvangarde Surfaces