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When you step off the elevator, you
step into another world. The environment transforms what could be a stressful
situation into a tranquil oasis. Stark unadorned halls are replaced with warm
inviting colors and inspiring artwork. Soothing music fills the air and blends
with the subtle scent of lavender. A receptionist offers you cucumber water and
a warm towel as you settle into a soft cozy chair. Just as you are about to daze
off into a blissful daydream, the receptionist announces that the doctor will
see you now. This is what
patients at the Center for Longevity and Wellness experience when they come to
see their doctor. When
a physician approached me to help him design a new medical spa, I was excited
with the possibilities. What a wonderful use of the balancing and healing principles
of Feng Shui. His intention was to create a space that was nourishing, tranquil,
as well as professional and state of the art. He valued the ideas of conscious
design and wanted to utilize many eco-friendly and efficient materials and processes
in his medical spa. The blending of both western medical practices and complementary
services offered a palette of possibilities for an inspiring design. When
all was said and done, the design included many concepts from Feng Shui, green
design, sacred geometry and environmental psychology. One
of the first recommendations I made was to change the name of the "Waiting
Room"to the "Reception Hall". This gave both the staff and patients
a new perspective and reinforced their intention of not having patients sitting
around waiting hours for their appointments. The management process they utilize
insures that patients are brought to the treatment rooms within 15 minutes of
their arrival. Using most
of one floor in an existing building, we had many set parameters around which
to work. The use of sacred geometry solved a major challenge that the support
columns in the Reception Hall presented. I discovered that making the Reception
Hall a golden rectangle would conceal the columns and create a pleasing proportion.
For
those of you unfamiliar with sacred geometry and the golden rectangle, it is a
proportion 1:1.618 used by artists and architects since the Renaissance to replicate
proportions found in Nature.
For more information visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio) Using
the auspicious shape of the ba-gua from Feng Shui, I designed a raised ceiling
in the Reception Hall. This created an architectural interest and provided the
practical placement of mechanical ductwork. 
We installed eco friendly materials such as bamboo flooring in the Reception Hall
and retail areas. Using natural fabrics for upholstery and full spectrum bulbs
brought more "green" awareness to the design. We placed linoleum floor
tiles in the hallways and treatment rooms. I selected three different colors and
designed a random pattern for the hallway. This created variety and slowed the
fast moving chi along the long hallway. Linoleum is a durable, biodegradable material
constructed from all natural ingredients and creates a comfortable surface for
the staff to stand on for hours. It is a perfect eco-friendly choice for high
traffic areas that need to withstand excessive cleaning.
Another
eco-friendly choice was making the entire Center paperless. We all know how much
paper accumulates from needed documentation around offices. By implementing a
state of the art computer network system, the staff was able to become more efficient
and do away with the typical mounds of paper records. And as the historical records
are input into the system, the center will recoup the area we had to earmark for
a large filing room. This will be extremely useful as the medical spa grows. 
We incorporated a wall water
fountain to distinguish the entry of the treatment areas from the Spa area. The
soft soothing sound encourages patients to feel relaxed before their treatment.
We used residential styled pendant lighting in the front entry hall to give a
more elegant atmosphere. And the medical director's office was placed in the wealth
area of the center to reinforce the prosperity of the medical spa. The
Center has been flourishing for several years now and has grown into a rejuvenating
haven for its staff, physicians and patients. Utilizing the subtle yet profound
principles for conscious design have paid off and the Center's success is testament
to the value of blending the worlds of modern medicine with the contemporary awareness
of eco-friendly design and the ancient art of Feng Shui.
Lou
Stewart is a professional Feng Shui Interior Designer, living in Asheville, North
Carolina. She co-authored a book with her husband, Bruce, entitled Your Way Home
- The Psychology of Place Inside and Out.
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