Doctor’s practice DOK
A dilapidated house on the village square of Moorsel was purchased with the idea of relocating a doctor's practice. The state of the existing building and the size of the requested program (six doctor’s rooms, an entrance, sanitary, a meeting room, a kitchenette and two waiting rooms) led to the decision to demolish and rebuild.
The entire plan of the new doctor's office is built around a central patio, which allows natural light to penetrate far into the building. The entrance desk, waiting rooms and six doctor's practices are located on the ground floor. On the first floor there is a multifunctional room that serves as a meeting room and a kitchenette with private terraces at the front and rear.
The architecture of the building is deliberately minimalistic. A limited palette of materials was used; the entire facade composition is made out of sand-coloured natural stone (a nod to the sand-coloured natural stone of the centuries-old church on the village square in front), bronze-coloured aluminum window profiles and wooden accents. By pulling back the first floor of the building and providing a terrace at the front, the building blends in completely with its immediate neighbours.
The central entrance area is double-height. A spiral staircase that connects the ground floor with the upper private floor is placed as an organizing element between the entrance desk and the waiting area. The dark painted steel staircase, together with the steel bar balustrade, connects the ground floor with the first floor, both functionally and visually.
The intermediate and upper floor slab consists entirely of visible wooden beams, covered with plates of birch plywood. The parallel beams give rhythm to both the practice rooms and the connecting corridor next to the patio. The plywood panels and the wood used for the beams and interior doors (Canadian Oregon, FSC labeled) are treated with white oil.
The fixed furniture consists of a combination of walnut wood and subtle green colored elements (both painted and green marble).
The building is completely future-proof and equipped with all the most sustainable techniques: a heat pump for heating and cooling, PV panels on the roof, rainwater recovery and an extensive insulation are included.
