Transforming traditional commercial spaces through paint

The Animal Referral Centre (ARC), which specialises in providing emergency veterinary care, stands as a first in innovation and compassion in its field. Unlike any other facility in New Zealand, ARC offers a comprehensive array of services equipped to handle complex and delicate medical procedures for our beloved animals. The project's success lies in the seamless integration of functionality and a warm, welcoming aesthetic—an accomplishment made possible through the collaboration between Josephine Design and Da Vinci's Painting.

A vision of comfort and care

For over three decades, Russell Clark, founder of Da Vinci’s Painting, has been painting in New Zealand and abroad. His recent project, ARC, is a unique veterinary clinic that needed to address both the emotional and practical needs of its visitors and patients. “It was a completely new interior. The space was originally an obsolete office; Josephine Design’s team rebuilt it from scratch,” says Clark.

Josephine Love, the visionary behind Josephine Design, was tasked with creating an environment that could withstand the demands of a high-traffic veterinary hospital while exuding warmth and serenity.

Understanding the emotional turmoil pet owners often face, Josephine Love used her experience as a pet owner to inform the design process. The result is an interior space that feels more like a sanctuary than a clinical setting. Soft, curved lines throughout the design soften the building's edges, creating a sense of tranquillity crucial in an environment where stress is often high.

Functional aesthetics

The practical demands of the space were no less challenging. “With specialist medical equipment such as MRI, X-ray, CT machines, and operating theatres, the design needed to cater to highly functional, hard-wearing surfaces,” says Josephine Love, Interior Designer.

“These surfaces had to be easily cleanable and resilient to the rigours of medical procedures and chemicals.”

A particularly noteworthy aspect of the project was the incorporation of these finishes into areas housing sensitive medical equipment. This required a thoughtful approach, balancing practicality with the desire to maintain a calming atmosphere throughout the facility.

Paint meets design with Da Vinci's Painting

The transformation of ARC was completed by the artistic collaboration of Da Vinci's painting. Their expertise in colour and texture played a pivotal role in elevating the space.

“The chosen palette of custom Resene paint colours in cool, soothing blue and green hues reflects the medical sector,” says Clark. “Josephine’s blend of colours aligns with the functional needs of a medical environment and contributes to the overall sense of hope and healing that the space imparts.”

Clark reflects, “For the project, I suggested painting all the doors in different colours—cat doors one colour, dog doors another. We used the doors as places to feature the colours,” he says. Throughout the whole building, wherever it’s a cat area, it’s a cat colour; if it’s a dog area, it’s a dog colour."

Da Vinci's Painting's contribution extended beyond mere aesthetics. Their work enhanced the emotional impact of the interiors, ensuring that the space not only looks beautiful but also feels welcoming and reassuring to those who enter. 

“From the beginning, I was impressed by Da Vinci's detailed quote and the clear leadership provided by Russell,” says Karl Mathis, owner of ARC.

“The project was extremely stressful for me personally, but I had complete confidence that this team would make it work. As painting is typically one of the last trades on a project, I witnessed Sione, the Da Vinci foreman, and his team working tirelessly—often 12-hour days, seven days a week—to meet our deadline and ensure we could open on time.”

“Da Vinci's team recommended that we use feature colours for the doors, which were spray-finished to an exceptional standard. Now, every day, as I walk through the clinic and open those doors, I am so grateful for that decision, as it adds a significant touch of beauty and detail to our space,” Mathis adds.

The synergy between Josephine Design and Da Vinci's Painting is evident in every corner of ARC, where art and design create an environment that truly cares for its inhabitants. Clark shares, “It’s an incredible surgery. My dog needed a double knee replacement shortly after finishing the project, so my dog was one of the first through the surgery.”

The ARC project was a refit of an existing building. Josephine Love, in collaboration with John Love made a conscious effort to repurpose materials from the existing fitout and salvage materials from the adjacent space, diverting a substantial amount of waste from landfill.

Through the combined efforts of Josephine Design and Da Vinci's Painting, ARC is an admirable example of how design, paint, and sustainability can create a space that truly makes a difference.

In need of a local commercial painter? Contact Da Vinci's Painting on ArchiPro today.