Mint Clinic is a dietitian center that promotes post-pandemic optimism via nutrition. It encourages a holistic view of health achieved via color psychology, synesthesia, day-light, and layered architectonics.

Brief:
The brief was to create a space that conveys the clinic’s holistic attributes as well as promote optimism, since Hong Kong was emerging from a difficult period: Covid. The clinic employs both technological and natural methods: advanced equipment and health supplements are used alongside herbal remedies (e.g. Traditional Chinese Medicine). Both physical and mental well-being are addressed.

Design:
ADRO conceived both the branding and interiors of the clinic. There is an experiential sequence leading patients from the somber, old-fashioned interiors of the 70’s building (Melbourne Plaza), through original oak doors, minimalist portals, and futuristic, ice-like light-boxes that guide the eyes towards a final splash of intense green called ‘Neo-Mint’, the protagonist of the space. It is a color signifying the union between nature and technology, optimism, and a refreshing flavor in the mouth.

(According to trend forecasting agency ‘Coloro’, ‘Neo-Mint’ is at the intersection of pastels and digitized brights: its green base conveys nature, its neon component evokes technology, innovation and hope, much needed in a pandemic-weary city.)

Visually, the design has ‘synesthetic’ characteristics: the color palette, light quality and translucent ‘ice cubes’ translate to an icy, refreshing taste in the mouth – suggesting that a healthy diet need not taste bland. The style is a nod to futurism, using stainless steel, geometry and lightboxes, whilst also having a nature component: ample sunlight filters through the south-facing windows and the reeded glass layers all the way to the foyer, promoting health and clean energy use.

Innovation:
This design is the first of its kind in the region in that it addresses nutrition in an emotive and atmospheric manner rather than a purely clinical standpoint. Most dietitian clinics of this nature have in the past conveyed the scientific aspects of dieting, with an emphasis on either weight-loss or curing diseases, rather than holistic health.

Sustainability:
The studio utilized passive design through daylighting and transparency: sunlight reaches the reception and waiting area through south-facing windows and layers of reeded glass, which fulfills lighting and heating goals with less energy. To maximize this, wall and flooring materials were chosen with a high light reflectance value in mind. On the other hand, sunlight is a core tenet of the client’s holistic view of physical health and of the union between nature and technology.

Only materials with clear Environmental and Health Product Declarations were used. All paints and millwork woods met VOC standards; the vinyl flooring was made from recycled greenhouse film sheeting; the glass and metals were also fully recyclable.