50 Shades of Wood by Declerck-Daels Architecten is a timber dentist surgery in Bruges
Declerck-Daels Architecten used different varieties of timber and "frivolous" colours for this surgery in Bruges, in an attempt to make going to the dentist more bearable (+ slideshow).
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_dezeen_highres_936.jpg)
The Belgian studio named the project 50 Shades of Wood after the variety of tones found in the building's silvery timber cladding, as well as its brightly coloured wooden interiors.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_dezeen_468_28.jpg)
The surgery sits in front of a red brick house on a residential street in Bruges and its silhouette is a mirror image of its neighbour.
The pitched-roof volume that forms the upper portion of the building continues the line of the terrace, while a lower rectilinear volume acts as a plinth. Its height is designed so as not to block views from the windows of the residence behind.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_dezeen_468_20.jpg)
Glazed sections of the facade are decorated with vibrant orange graphics of dandelions. The large windows provide glimpses of the dentist's painted wooden interior from the street.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_highres_dezeen_936_5.jpg)
"To expose the structure and the honest materials a lot of attention was paid to the numerous details, counting on the craftmanship of all the builders," said the architects. "All materials play a key role."
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
"Wood is a warm, soft and tactile element, and is found in all shades: wooden beams, cladding, windows, stairs, ceiling and fixed furniture," they added.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_highres_dezeen_936_2.jpg)
"It is combined with exposed concrete, calcium silicate units and frivolous colours. There's nothing to hide."
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_highres_dezeen_936_3.jpg)
Blocks of bold paintwork and upholstery break up the surgery's exposed timber cabinetry, raw concrete floors and beams, tiled walls and sterile white equipment.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_dezeen_468_3.jpg)
A skylight and glazed gable situated by the examination area are intended to distract patients during their appointments.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_highres_dezeen_936_6.jpg)
The glazed gable points towards a small garden patio, which is tucked behind the lower section of the building to hide it from the street.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_highres_dezeen_936_1.jpg)
"The project is the result of a strong symbiosis between architecture, interior design, structural engineering, technical engineering, landscaping and decoration – padded out with playful accents," said the architects.
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_highres_dezeen_936_0.jpg)
"It is gracious, warm and welcoming. It's an original and perhaps funny approach to a dental practice."
![Dentist practise in Bruges by Declerck Daels](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/10/Dentist-practice_Declerck-Daels_Bruges_dezeen_468_21.jpg)
"There's an abundance of light and patients are distracted by the clouds seen through the skylights above the dental chairs," they added.
Photography is by Thomas Debruyne.