Westlake Dermatology Concrete and Glass Pavilion

The Westlake Dermatology building stands out as a timeless frame in the rolling landscape, rather than appearing clinical or sterile. The medical and cosmetic dermatology practice was founded by Dr. Nikolaidis who believes great design serves as an inspiration for aesthetics. The facility in Marble Falls was a ground-up design project strengthened by a collaborative process directly with the clients and consultants. From a distance, the structure is a pavilion in the landscape, standing as a structure to behold in and of itself, but from in and round the building, it acts as deferential backdrop to function and as a frame for views beyond.

The nuanced concrete and glass shell merges with the designed landscape architecture, enveloping the bright and open interior in calm and quiet as one transitions from the road, through a garden zone, and into the space overlooking the rolling hills. Patient care and comfort are priorities – both influencing the design to embody feeling of security, ease, and solidity. Calibrated detail along with careful material selection result in a soothing and refreshing environment that is considerate of spatial and sensory experiences.

"Restrained in both materials and form this building reflects an appropriate typology for the West Texas setting." ~ Jury comment

How this project improves patient healthcare

Patient care and comfort was a priority that influenced the design to tend towards a feeling of security, ease and familiarity. Upon entering or leaving the building, a physical transition and subtle mental cleanse occurs as patients, staff and physicians move through the interstitial space formed by the garden. Once inside, natural daylight from a skylight is filtered through the layering of a perforated and parametrically-designed wood screen. While uniform in size and shape at a glance, the concrete shell adapts to functional requirements such as the tapered, deep overhang that provides shade in conjunction with the fritted glass. The interior is easy to navigate, intuitive, and provides a workflow that allows patients to wander without interacting with the more private areas of the space. Calibrated detail along with careful material selection and placement result in a soothing and refreshing medical environment that is considerate of spatial and sensory experiences