The Tree Clinic

The modern clinic is no longer perceived as a sterile, impersonal space. There is a growing trend toward destigmatization, where healthcare environments are associated with care, comfort, and aesthetics. Today’s clinics are increasingly integrated into the urban and social context.

Our clinic concept embodies a space where patients feel safe and medical staff work in supportive environment. The design plays on contrasts between large and intimate, warm and cool, natural and man-made which creates a complex and lively environment.

We moved away from traditional corridors and fluorescent lighting. Waiting areas resembles cozy cafés, with natural light, warm tones, wooden textures, tactile materials, and greenery — all aimed at reducing anxiety. The clinic environment communicates: “You’re safe, you’re cared for.”

The architectural metaphor is skin — a protective, sensitive layer — interpreted through woven wood textures. We intentionally moved away from cold, clinical palettes, using warm tones and materials to create a supportive, comforting atmosphere.

The clinic is multifunctional, serving various patient flows. It includes:

• Rooms for in-person and telemedicine consultations

• Counseling zones for psychologists and allied professionals

• A transformable physical therapy hall for lectures, seminars, and sports

• Wellness spaces for 40+ age group

• A café with a separate entrance open to the neighborhood

• Coworking spaces and medical staff training areas

Some spaces, including telehealth rooms, operate 24/7. The clinic becomes not just a medical facility but a community magnet. Shared spaces like the café and rehab hall can host lectures and workshops — turning the clinic into a “third place” that people enjoy returning to.

Modern clinics are no longer places of tension and anxiety. Instead of pale blue corridors with rows of benches, we now see cozy café-like waiting areas.

Natalia Kaurova, Partner and Chief Architect, architectural studio NF

Digital technologies are integrated throughout — from smart scheduling and online booking to AI-based patient analytics and personalized recommendations. Automation reduces administrative burden on staff.

The clinic of the future is about architecture that prioritizes ecology, technology, human-centered design, inclusivity, and care — it’s not just a building, but a health-centered cultural and social hub.