The prime area of the acquired building was occupied by existing tenants - which needed to be retained for reasons of viability. The area available for the practice was dark and divided into a serious of small claustrophobic spaces arranged, at different levels, around a service yard. The building was also hidden behind a high solid brick wall, resulting in an uninviting and unwelcoming first impression. Access was contrived and via the tenant space. In order to achieve better natural light conditions, the service yard was transformed to be- come a landscaped courtyard and brick walls facing the consultation spaces and surgeries were replaced with glass shopfronts. At the heart of the courtyard, a Japanese maple tree grows up to an oval shaped roof opening. This species of tree was selected for its seasonal colour changes, ranging from green to burgundy and scarlet before ultimately dropping in winter to reveal the dark-red bark. Oval shapes and spiraling curves provide relief to the oth- erwise rigid geometry, a loose play on the similarities between dentistry and Japanese land- scape gardens – aspiration to naturalistic curated end results. In order to create a more welcoming entrance, a large section of the perimeter wall was de- molished and replaced with a transparent steel gate and fence providing views from the road through the reception area to the courtyard. The reclaimed reception counter was intention- ally moved away from this axis, not only to provide clear views, but also to be less intimidat- ing – a learning from hospitality design. Floor finishes alternate between white terrazzo and reclaimed teak with walls mostly simply smooth plastered and painted. Both floor and wall finishes are repeated both on the interior and exterior to blur the lines between inside and outside spaces.