By Herbst Maxcey Metropolitan Architects
A high-tech clinical floating glass box is inserted into a historic building fabric, creating a dialogue between two primary architectural elements; the high-tech floating glass box and the existing historic building fabric. The public spaces (Reception, waiting, circulation, imaging, point of sale, and ancillary spaces) are articulated with historic Britomart building fabric finishes and textures being exposed historic brickwork, old cracked leather, concrete, recycled rimu wall lining, and recycled pururi flooring. The floating glass box, housing the dental surgeries, is expressed in clinical high-tech finishes including LED back-lit translucent glazing, raw steel, and white internal surfaces.
The floating glass surgery box is the primary light source within the space, and is a glowing stratagem that lures the attentions of the constant stream of passing pedestrians and idling vehicles outside the space through the historic Victorian shopfront windows.