Hygiene and personality: Corian® Solid Surface

Maintaining the highest hygienic standards and at the same time making the spaces cosy, elegant and functional. This is the challenge the architects of the Turkish firm ZOOM/TPU faced when designing Medicana Ataköy Hospital, a new healthcare facility in Istanbul. Located in the heart of the Ataköy district and overlooking the Mediterranean coast, the hospital features advanced technological infrastructure, qualified professionals, modern services and a strategic location to meet the needs of the local community and international health tourism. With 218 rooms distributed in 31 specialised departments, covering a wide range of medical fields, the hospital covers an impressive 23,000 square metres and stands on 14 floors complemented by a roof terrace.

A major part in the success of the facility is due to Corian® Solid Surface, an ingenious and versatile material, which has been used in many of the rooms: it can be found in the elegant entrance hall and reception desks, in the patients' rooms and their bathrooms, as well as in sterile operating theatres and some common areas. ZOOM/TPU's head of design, Yunus Emre Kara, explains the origin of this project: "We chose Corian® Solid Surface because of its conceptual versatility, which allowed us to create three-dimensional shapes and to incorporate fundamental lighting elements into seemingly homogenous surfaces. In addition, we took advantage of the extraordinary hygienic properties of Corian® Solid Surface to facilitate the hospital's cleaning and disinfection process, effectively reducing the risk of healthcare-acquired infections. Our extensive experience in designing medical facilities has taught us the role of colour in creating a relaxing atmosphere for patients and facilitating the differentiation of spaces."
Using Corian® Solid Surface in five distinctive colours – Suede, Cameo White, Mint Ice, Weathered Aggregate and Provence Nuwood – Medicana Ataköy Hospital redefines healthcare architecture. "Thanks to Corian®'s ongoing commitment to colour innovation, we have been able to explore new design possibilities. Provence Nuwood, for example, a wood-like shade, has broadened our design horizons," concludes Yunus Emre Kara.