Why do medical centre waiting rooms look so sterile and impersonal? This was the question Klein Architects asked when they started the design of the Shortland Health medical clinic. Their answer was to turn this on its head with use of their unique design philosophy of Wellness in Design.

Klein's four Wellness in Design concepts; health, happiness, sustainability and purpose are central to their design. "Happiness is somewhat intangible but, here we define it as something beautiful: something that makes you enjoy spending time in the space," says Dan McNelis from Klein.

This beauty starts in the patient lounge with a sophisticated curved island with an aged brass top and stained European birch ply curved around the sides of the island. Finishing the comfortable feeling in the lounge is the soft, inviting materials and the wall plantings.

Continuing the beauty into the corridor, Klein have included archways of richly stained European birch ply with thin strips of bespoke lighting custom-designed by Klein. "The lighting emulates shards of light peeking through the forest canopy," says McNelis.

Klein used Jacobsen Decotile Stone Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) on the floor to complete the look.

"We chose Decotile Luxury Vinyl Tile as this product was able to provide the durability required for a busy medical facility, as well as the strong and solid aesthetic we looked to achieve as a contrast against the softer elements of this delicate interior."