Tranquil Recovery – Melbourne Shoulder and Upper Limb by Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design

In a deliberate step away from a sterile white and steel palette, Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design has designed a warm and tranquil space reminiscent of a contemporary bathhouse for the operating practice of an orthopaedic surgeon and a team of physiotherapists at Melbourne Shoulder and Upper Limb, in Hawthorn East.

To maximise the clinic’s functionality and flow for a balanced model of care, the architects stripped the interior back to its long and tapered shell and constructed dedicated spaces for initial consultation, treatment, post-operation and rehabilitation. Throughout and between these rooms, gentle indirect lighting, a muted palette of neutrals and tactile materials such as cork and timber are all important in relaxing the senses to facilitate rest and recovery.

Throughout and between these rooms, gentle indirect lighting, a muted palette of neutrals and tactile materials such as cork and timber are all important in relaxing the senses to facilitate rest and recovery.

Before and after an appointment, the more open, naturally lit entryway provides a transition space to the busy outside world and playfully references the clinic’s raison d’être with curved, off-white pieces such as the custom-designed reception counter.