Tile motif creates patterned interior for Porto dental clinic by Ren Pepe Arquitetos
Ren Pepe Arquitetos has converted part of a former bank in Porto into a dental surgery, featuring geometric patterns that reference the city's many tiled frontages (+ slideshow).
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_21.jpg)
The dentists resides on the first floor of a five-storey building located in the centre of the Portuguese city.
Local firm Ren Pepe Arquitetos – which is led by architects Ren Ito and Alessandro Pepe – sought to give the clinic a distinctive aesthetic and looked to its surroundings for inspiration.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_19.jpg)
"There are plenty of tile-rendered buildings in this area and we wanted to use one of these tile patterns in our design," Ito told Dezeen. "Our design concept is inspired by one such design: the windmill."
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/Ren_Ito_Clinica_Dent%C3%A1ria_Ricardo_Loureiro_2015_100dpi_468_03.jpg)
This motif is made up of tessellating triangles – similar to the facade of a recently renovated apartment building elsewhere in the city. The architects applied it to the interior walls and furnishings, but also integrated it into light fittings, doors and screens.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_13.jpg)
"The challenge of this project was coordinating everything from the plan to the section's incorporation of this pattern," Ito explained.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_4.jpg)
The clinic comprises five treatment booths and a waiting room. Patients and staff enter the building via the ground floor and can choose to take the stairs or a lift up to the first floor.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_8.jpg)
Upon arriving at the waiting area, visitors are faced with a reception desk decorated with triangles in two colours. There are also a series of custom-made wooden benches, which feature the three-sided shapes on their sides.
Public toilets are neatly tucked away to one side of the reception desk.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_15.jpg)
The five treatment booths are located just beyond the waiting room, behind a door that also features the windmill motif.
These booths are divided up by freestanding screens, and each space has its own window to allow plenty of natural light and ventilation.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_11.jpg)
A small office, locker room and private restroom are also provided within staff quarters.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_17.jpg)
The triangles that feature on the walls throughout the clinic are created using three materials – plasterboard, PVC plastic, and a Portuguese wool known as Burel, which provides acoustic insulation.
Lighting fixtures sit within recessed sections that run along the edge of the ceiling.
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_468_20.jpg)
Photography is by Ricardo Loureiro.
Project credits:
Creative directors: Ren Ito, Alessandro Pepe
Designers: Michela Piddiu, João Ramos, Cátia Cunha, Marta Machado, Ricardo Leitão
![Dental clinic in Porto by Ren Pepe Arq.](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/07/dental-clinic-in-porto_ren-pepe-arq_dezeen_1.gif)