(click on the images for more details)
Keval - A Sincere, Down to Earth, Helpful person.
Space
Fine Feather Dental
City
Mumbai, Ahmedabad
Area
475 sq. ft. clinic
Design Style
Functional, Soothing & Minimalist
Founder
Dr Keval Shah
Could you tell us something about Fine Feathers Dental Clinic?
“We are a chain of 22 Dental Clinics, spread across 7 cities of 2 states, predominantly in Gujarat and one in Kandivali, Mumbai. We provide a platform for young skilled dentists who wish to provide Quality Care at Affordable Rates, thereby serving the community at large.”
“Our objective is to provide our clients with, "Reasons to Smile". Our Child-friendly Environs and Transparency in Work reflect our ethos.”
“To achieve this objective, we have the Best-in-class Infrastructure, Certified Equipment, Highest Standards of Quality & Hygiene, at all our clinics.”
As I took a tour around your clinic, I could notice that your Clinic Goals are seamlessly portrayed in the various elements of Interior Design. For example, pictures of smiling faces, a soothing colour palette and extensive usage of glass partitions.
"Yes, one of the main objectives of the interior plan was that the design should be soothing and functional because we care for the utmost comfort of our patients and want to allay their fears about dental treatment. Also, we wanted our Design Goals to be in sync with the Clinic Goals. This, we could achieve with the help of the creative ideas poured in by our team members and the same was beautifully conceptualized by the interior designer.”
You have used a light colour palette for the clinic, how challenging is this to maintain, especially when you have a lot of kids visiting your clinic?
"Yes, we have used different shades of light green and white, as psychologically it has been proven that this colour puts you in instant calmness. With the help of soothing interiors, our patients settle down quickly, especially the young ones. This helps our team of doctors to work efficiently and give a better quality service.”
“To maintain the quality of décor and proper hygiene, we do partial renovation after every 2 years."
What was the most challenging part of the design?
"There were many suggestions and ideas given by our team members regarding the design objectives and we wanted to incorporate every pointer. Out of which the most challenging part was to make the ambience of the Reception Area warm & functional and at the same time soothing & comforting for the patient visiting the clinic.”
Did you get information about the material that was used?
"The interiors of our dental clinic is very important to us. It is a place where we want our patients to be comfortable and relaxed, knowing that their dental issues will be resolved seamlessly."
"Hence we place great emphasis on the material that gets used, the tone of colour used, the pictures that are put up in the waiting area and the meeting area, etc."
"Therefore I made sure that I gave enough time and effort to get all the information about the materials that were going to be used in the clinic."
Did you recycle or reuse old material?
"While I believe in recycling or reusing old materials, as I believe we must be a giver to nature, in this case, we discussed a lot and tried to find reasons to use the old material. However, the dimensions, the looks and many other factors went against the recycle/ reuse concept and we had no choice but to go with the new materials. The outcome proved us right as well."
Which part of your space do you like the most?
"I like the Reception Area the most. The transition of calming effect due to interior, as I step inside our clinic every time, is undeniable. Also, the courteous approach by our staff at the reception, who are trained to do so towards each patient, is an add-on and well appreciated by the patients who visit the clinics.”
Has any part of your space turned out to be better than expected or was not part of the original plan?
"The design goal and approach for every space of the clinic were identical; however, the final look of Waiting Room turns out to be outstanding always. The combination of the green colour used and the frosted glass panels that allow maximum natural light to pass through, make the overall ambience look amazing, especially during the daytime.”
Do you believe in blending style with sustainability?
“Yes, I believe in a sustainable lifestyle and have tried my best through minimalism in design approach.”
“Usage of glass in interiors was to maximize natural light and ventilation, and also the fact that glass is recyclable.”
“We take an appointment or send appointment reminders through online text message. Also, we maintain our records on computers as far as possible, to reduce paperwork. We have achieved our goal of paperless experience if a patient prefers it.”
“In few of the clinics, wherever it was possible, we have managed to put indoor plants.”
How would you describe your overall experience of the renovation phase?
"We have a standardized specification for starting a new set-up/ renovation phase, across all clinics. Each clinic undergoes the renovation phase after every 2 years, which is slightly customized as per the size of the area and under the guidance of the architect/ interior designer. Due to this systematic process, the renovation phase becomes very good and convenient."
Would you like to share a design tip with our readers that have helped you?
"Pay extra attention to plumbing & electrical layout at the planning stage itself; especially for a Dental Clinic, as you cannot compromise in these areas and would like to avoid any patchwork/ ugly additions to your interiors at the final stage."
What are your unmet needs in this sector? What service or product do you wish existed?
"Ease of working in terms of designing a workplace & ease in maintaining hygiene."
The dynamics of the interiors are fast changing. Any new concept you are looking forward to?
"Yes, a concept which works in sync with nature in terms of a more biodegradable material, maximize usage of natural light, cross-ventilation, hygiene and cut down on our carbon footprints, wherever possible.”
Dr Keval, Thank you so much for giving us your valuable time and insights about a dental clinic. It was a pleasure to feature your clinics on our webpage. Our Best Wishes to you for all your future endeavours.
Dear Readers, Fine Feather Dental is planning to grow even further across India. If you wish to know more about them, please click here - finefeather.in
We hope to bring you more interviews in the coming weeks. Do you want your space or a friend's space featured here? Please click here to fill out this form.
