Dentist with a View by Shift
Dutch studio Shift has converted a suburban house in the south of the Netherlands and turned it into a dental surgery with a new zinc-clad wing (+ slideshow).
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_3.jpg)
Located in the small village of Best, the old house follows a traditional vernacular with brick walls and a tiled roof. The extension mirrors the profile of the house, but is clad with zinc across both its roof and walls.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_1.jpg)
Shift explains: "This strengthens the iconic quality of the archetype and renders the new extension into a 'contextual alien' that blends into the rural surroundings and at the same time creates a clear new landmark that expresses its new function."
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_4.jpg)
A row of four treatment rooms spans the length of the new wing and each one features a pointed ceiling, formed by the ridge of the gabled roof overhead.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_5.jpg)
Small skylights direct daylight onto the dentist's chair, while a single long window runs along the rear wall of the four rooms and offers a generous ledge for flower boxes or outdoor seating.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_6.jpg)
A glazed corridor connects the new wing with the old house, which contains reception spaces, a kitchen and secondary treatment rooms. "The patient enters and waits in a homely and familiar atmosphere," say the architects.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_14a.jpg)
Shift architecture urbanism is based in Rotterdam and other projects by the firm include a townhouse with a three-storey bookshelf and the stone-clad Faculty Club pavilion.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_13.jpg)
See more dentists on Dezeen, including one with stripy glass screens.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_15.jpg)
Photography is by Rene de Wit.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_8.jpg)
Here's some extra text from Shift:
Dentist with a View, by Shift architecture urbanism
The task of this project was to transform and extend an historical house in the centre of Best, a village in the south of The Netherlands, into a dental practice with four treatment rooms. The central question was how the extension responds to the existing architecture and how it profits from the green setting.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_9sq.jpg)
The four new treatment rooms are situated in a new volume that at the same time mimics and contrasts the existing house. Its archetypical volume is derived from the existing house – it takes over the exact same inclination of the pitched roof - while it is being materialized in a very different material. Both the roof and the facades of the extension are clad with zinc. This strengthens the iconic quality of the archetype and renders the new extension into a "contextual alien" that blends into the rural surroundings and at the same time creates a clear new landmark that expresses its new function.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_12.jpg)
The new volume provides each treatment room with an archetypical space of a miniature house. Its high ridge and steep ceiling results in a vertical space that connects to the perspective of a patient in the dentist chair. A roof light in each treatment room enables the patients to relate with the outside, even during treatment. A large ‘flower window’, that also serves as a bench, floods the rooms with daylight and provides both the staff and their patients with a framed view of the surrounding green.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_10.jpg)
All secondary functions of the dentist practice are positioned in the existing house without harming its structure and typical 1930’s details. The patient enters and waits in a homely and familiar atmosphere that, together with the experience of the surrounding garden from the extension, makes the necessary visit to the dentist a (slightly) more comforting experience.
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_18_situationplan.gif)
Above: site plan
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_16_plan.gif)
Above: floor plan
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_17_section.gif)
Above: long section
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_17_frontelevation.gif)
Above: front elevation
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_17_leftelevation.gif)
Above: side elevation
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_17_backelevation.gif)
Above: back elevation
![Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism Dentist with a View by Shift architecture urbanism](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_Dentist-with-a-View-by-Shift-architecture-urbanism_17_rightelevation.gif)
Above: side elevation
Address: Oranjestraat 55, 5682 CA Best
Client: Lisette van Gils & Ruben Timmermans
Design: Shift architecture urbanism, Rotterdam
Project architects: Harm Timmermans, Pieter Heymans
Advisor construction: B2CO, Richard Fielt, Ede
Adviseur installations: Van Delft Groep, Nieuwkuijk
Contractor: Van der Weegen Bouwgroep, Tilburg
Contractor Furniture: Bots Bouwgroep, Deurne
Sub contractor zinc facade: Bax koper en zinkspecialist, Bergeijk
Sub contractor frames: Hoefnagels Groep, Tilburg
Gross surface area: 292 m2
Building costs: €340.000 excl. vat