Urbanmistrii’s Ritika Rakhiani unleashes her inner child while creating a positive space for the stage-wise developmental needs of a child’s wellness journey.
Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Avesh Gaur; courtesy Urbanmistrii
The brief
When a renowned paediatrician wanted to set up a clinic in Gurgaon, the brief she gave Ritika Rakhiani, principal designer, Urbanmistrii, was to meld an expert medical care facility with a vibrant, playful ambience tailored for comprehensive growth of toddlers, children, and adolescents.
The design intent
“We embarked on this spatial exercise keeping in mind the doctor’s mantra: getting healthy is a team sport,” says Ritika. The result: a clinic that embraces a holistic approach to the wellness journey, seamlessly integrating medical expertise with an atmosphere brimming with warmth and positivity.
A tour
Upon entering the clinic, one is welcomed with a vibrant wonderland filling the space with infectious energy, embracing a departure from traditional clinical aesthetics. The layout is seamlessly divided, transitioning from a vivid waiting area to a subtle tonality for the workshop area that is centred around a focal tree, and finally to the doctor’s cabin.
The reception area is cocooned with walls adorned with playful dots and clouds, while a cheerful sky-blue desk invites children to unleash their artistic talents. Designed with the young ones in mind, the reception desk adjusts to a height comfortable for children, featuring an engaging abacus game to keep them entertained during check-in procedures. Cork-board panels in soothing pastel hues line one wall, offering a canvas for wooden toys to be plugged in, providing endless amusement for children of all ages. Floating shelves in bold red acrylic create a whimsical book-niche, adorned with plushies and inviting seating for little ones to delve into their favourite stories. Beyond the reception lies the workshop and doctors’ rooms, seamlessly connected by glass doors to maintain visual transparency.
The workshop, reminiscent of a magical forest with its central tree, serves as a blank canvas for children to unleash their colourful personalities. Muted tones of grey and white, juxtaposed with warm wooden accents, create a serene backdrop conducive to exploration and creativity. Doctors’ cabins, strategically positioned around the workshop, feature retractable desks and glass doors that open up to form a unified space for events and workshops. Soft, muted tones harmonise with warm wooden accents, evoking an amicable ambiance and binding the interiors. Recognising the sensitivity of young minds to overwhelming stimuli, the proportion of colours, patterns and textures opt for simplicity with every step of transition through the spaces.
The doctor’s own cabin is envisioned as a sanctuary radiating a friendly calm. This is articulated through light grey wall panels adorned with minimal wooden floating shelves. Soft accents of chocolate-brown pendant lighting, a curving pastel-green table, and a graceful Monstera plant infuse the space with a gentle touch.
Fact file
Project: Plug and Play
Location: Gurgaon
Area: 2,000 sq ft (BU)
Principal designer: Ritika Rakhiani
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