![Book Flatlay Cover Front Transparent Trio[1]](https://d31dpzy4bseog7.cloudfront.net/media/2024/06/07080212/Book_Flatlay_Cover_Front_Transparent_Trio1.png)
Blooms Chemist by Tom Mark Henry
Tom Mark Henry reimagines a pharmacy where wellness, natural textures and contemporary design converge, creating a welcoming and sensory-rich environment.
Located in the vibrant Surry Hills Village development in the inner Sydney suburb of the same name, this new Blooms Chemist marks a bold evolution for the brand. Designed by Tom Mark Henry, the space offers a refreshing departure from traditional pharmacy design, focusing on wellness, natural materials and a sensory journey that invites customers to engage with their surroundings in a new way.
“We felt the old-world-style apothecary has been done in the obvious way, so we took subtle cues from this era while tweaking the design to suit modern healthcare.”
This new direction for the Blooms brand embraces a more elevated retail experience, pairing a contemporary material palette with minimalist design. Integral to the design is wellness architecture, which blends natural materials and thoughtful spatial arrangements to create a holistic environment. “We aimed to balance a warm and sensory retail experience while ensuring the product was sufficiently highlighted,” explains Cushla McFadden, director of Tom Mark Henry. “Wellness architecture harmoniously pairs textures and forms. Subtle curves and natural woodgrain textures are examples of layering textures to create a wellness aesthetic not seen in traditional pharmacy environments.”
One beautiful and notable aspect of the design is the incorporation of early apothecary influences, woven into the space through understated features. “We felt the old-world- style apothecary has been done in the obvious way, so we took subtle cues from this era while tweaking the design to suit modern healthcare,” McFadden says. Curves that reference old entryways are paired with high-gloss textures and finishes, creating a deliberate contrast of old and new.
“This creates an environment that not only showcases products but also offers an inviting, multi-sensory experience that encourages exploration and connection.”
The material and colour selection plays a vital role in enhancing the sensory experience. “We used high-gloss finishes on the joinery in contrast to the natural, rough-textured walls and ceilings,” says McFadden. “This creates an environment that not only showcases products but also offers an inviting, multi-sensory experience that encourages exploration and connection.” The colours used throughout, particularly the pale blue, subtly reference Blooms’ branding in a subdued palette, elevating the experience beyond the traditional, brightly lit, saturated retail environment.
Despite the compact size of the 11-square-metre space, the design ensures a smooth and intuitive flow. “The spatial planning maximises the retail display and maintains a fluid and comfortable flow of traffic from the entry to the prescriptions ‘in and out’ and point of sale.”
“The spatial planning maximises the retail display and maintains a fluid and comfortable flow of traffic from the entry to the prescriptions ‘in and out’ and point of sale.”
Through thoughtful material choices and design cues, Blooms Chemist offers a space that goes beyond conventional pharmacy design, creating a modern, inviting environment which promotes wellness and encourages customers to connect with the space in a more meaningful way.
Interior design by Tom Mark Henry.
