Designer Challenging Stereotypes in Medical Therapy, Aging, and Intimacy through Interiors that "Emerge You from Routine Living"
In the modern era, where surface-level improvement and preventative health have become dominant trends, wellness and beauty clinics have seen a significant rise in popularity. From cosmetic procedures to diagnostic scans, people are increasingly seeking out solutions that prioritize their appearance and overall well-being. A new development in this field is the emergence of imaginative dental, aging, and fitness hubs that seamlessly blend interior excellence, chromotherapy, and craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.
Historically, the health sector has not been recognized for its forward-thinking design, with few exceptions like the renovated Art Deco Zitomer pharmacy in NYC. However, a growing number of creative, wellness-focused destinations are now making their presence felt.
One such establishment is a retro-futuristic aging management clinic in Milan, housed within a 1925 palazzo. This unique venue combines James Turrell-style porthole windows, opaque chrome finishes, neon lights, polished marbles, coffered ceilings, and classical floor mosaics, providing a comprehensive approach to enhance patients' natural appearance through meticulous procedures. Meanwhile, in London, Neko Health's utopian scanning suite offers a thorough physical assessment in less than ten minutes, all while delivering a Space Age design experience.
Brooklyn-based architectural design firm Ringo Studio, founded by Madelynn Ringo, has played a considerable role in shaping these imaginative destinations. A Yale University graduate, Ringo started her career at traditional architecture practices before finding her passion for developing concepts and spaces for the public while working at American beauty brand Glossier. Since establishing her studio in 2020, Ringo has focused on creating destinations that connect authentically with their respective locations.
In an interview, Ringo shared her excitement about collaborating with CEOs working to change consumer behavior in various aspects of wellness, from reducing stigma around sexual and aging wellness to reshaping the experience of visiting a doctor. Ringo's portfolio, characterized by sculptural, multisensory use of materials, nuanced color schemes, and a particular attention to spatial design, is split evenly between wellness and retail brands.
The designer stresses the importance of being intentional and playful with color, engaging viewers through a complex, organic color scheme, and lighting, vital components that foster wayfinding and storytelling within a space. The sculptural design of spaces, characterized by curves and human, soft shapes, is another crucial factor in Ringo's approach. By carefully considering how people are affected by the structure of specific spaces, designers can create environments that facilitate calmness and trust, making these spaces more inviting and less intimidating.
Ringo's portfolio demonstrates her ability to create a journey for visitors, with sequencing serving to guide people through space, evoking anticipation, and creating a sense of immersion. For example, her Contact Sports project in SoHo transported visitors from a flower shop-like counter to a nostalgic series of wood-paneled rooms, ultimately culminating in a semicircular lounge area that offered a comfortable, inviting space for customers to hang out.
The designer also emphasized the importance of harmonizing the palette and storytelling in a project. Earthy, organic neutrals may initially come to mind when thinking of colors that induce calmness, but, according to Ringo, all colors can have a positive influence when used strategically. By linking the chosen material palette to the core narrative and story of the project, designers can create spaces that feel invigorating, surprising, and evocative.
Examples of this approach can be seen in Ringo's work with SAMA, an oral health practice promoting a holistic approach to well-being through the teeth. To reflect the connection between nature and wellness at the heart of the founder's mission, the designer incorporated a sagey green color throughout the space. At a forthcoming bathhouse, deep, saturated reds will balance with light, airy shades, referencing the hot-cold therapy concept underlying the business. For Modern Age, a peachy tan, baby blue, and chartreuse palette was chosen to create a welcoming, uplifting environment for aging management.
Looking ahead, Ringo is eager to explore new ways to incorporate surprise and inventiveness into her designs, with a focus on spaces that address a lack of design or present an opportunity for it. An aspiration for the future is the development of female-focused gym environments designed to be more comfortable, inviting, and immersive for women, moving away from the raw, bare aesthetic commonly found in many fitness centers.
Overall, wellness-focused architecture and interior design are revolutionizing built environments by prioritizing health, comfort, and emotional well-being for occupants. By integrating sustainable materials, biophilic and natural elements, wellness-oriented spaces, color and texture psychology, and salutogenic design principles, these spaces provide immersive, holistic, and inviting experiences that cater to the full spectrum of human needs. Wellness-focused architecture and interior design are, therefore, essential for modern, health-conscious living.
- In collaboration with wellness-focused CEOs, architect Madelynn Ringo designs destinations that blend aesthetic appeal and health-and-wellness principles, such as creating comfortable, less intimidating spaces through attentive spatial design and organic color schemes.
- Ringo's firm, Ringo Studio, has led the creation of imaginative destinations, including the Contact Sports project in SoHo, which guides visitors through a sequential journey from a flower shop-like counter to a nostalgic, wood-paneled lounge area.
- Color plays a crucial role in Ringo's designs, with the designer emphasizing the importance of being intentional and playful with color to foster wayfinding, storytelling, and evoking specific emotions within a space.
- Earthy, organic neutrals are often used in Ringo's projects to induce calmness, but she believes that all colors can positively influence occupants when used strategically, linking the chosen palette to the narrative and story of the project.
- Ringo is passionate about incorporating surprise and inventiveness into her designs, particularly focusing on female-focused gym environments that prioritize comfort, inviting atmospheres, and immersive experiences for women, providing alternatives to the typical raw, bare aesthetic commonly found in fitness centers.
- Wellness-focused architecture and interior design, such as in Ringo's portfolio, revolutionize built environments by prioritizing health, comfort, and emotional well-being for occupants through the integration of sustainable materials, biophilic elements, wellness-oriented spaces, color and texture psychology, and salutogenic design principles, creating immersive, holistic, and inviting experiences suited for modern, health-conscious living.
