TATHAAGAT

Sustainable healthcare space through thoughtful design

Tathaagat Infectious Disease clinic in Ahmedabad is designed as a space for healing. Upon first look, the feeling emoted is to be calming and homey by use of natural stones with pastel door colours.

Its technical requirements ranged from functionality, easy all-accessible movement and fully naturally ventilated. In recent times, the pandemic initiated reinvestigation of spatial design, not limited to healthcare, but the wholistic built form in domestic and other, to enhance the quality of life and mindfulness for us. With this, the focus was executing spaces catering to a naturally ventilated homey comfortable and cozy clinic.

Calming corner adjacent to Entrance

design

When you enter, you feel the space of entrance and waiting with a similar vibe. The waiting room is spaciously balanced with a grid ceiling and fully cross-ventilated with fully operable vertical louvered wall. The seating furniture in the waiting room is designed to be a versatile light entity to be reconfigured as distinct spatial possibilities, for instance, hosting a small talk followed by a celebratory evening, convening a panel of doctors and interactive, flowy, flexible waiting area in flux. The accents of floral coloured hosiery, lilacs, blues, and shades of green and pink subvert the serious atmosphere into an intimate space.

Reception and Waiting Area

Fluted reception table adorned by stone-veneer complements wooden grid ceiling in the waiting area.

Blood Collection Room

Use of pastel green fluted drawer cabinets complements the blood collection room. The mirror expands the otherwise narrow space.

study

What makes up a space?

The walls, canopies, the air it encloses, light and shadow it casts, the people and their movement.

The axonometric drawing deciphers the spatial arrangement of a healthcare clinic analysing light, ventilation and movement.

Natural light ventures in through the glazing with an extra set of openable windows. Natural ventilation is facilitated through openable wooden louvres in the central waiting area. The movement of staff, people and doctors is studied by intentional walking viz. drawing human movement.

Collaborating axonometric drawing with technical details adds another layer in analysing the spatial experience. It also hints at upcoming instances

process

salve +
INNATE

Throughout the conceptual design and planning stage, the doctors and designers at V&J collaborated to create a harmonious space, drawing on their shared interests in philosophy and mindfulness, inspired by the name –Tathaagat.

Tathāgata is made up of the Sanskrit words tathā, which means "thus", and gata, which means "gone, come, arrived". In later Mahayana Buddhism, the term came to mean the essential Buddha nature that is hidden in everyone and transcends material realms.

Tathaagat’s design transcends mere aesthetics, fostering a profound spatial and personal connection that resonates deeply with patients. As they enter the clinic, the carefully designed environment immediately evokes a sense of calm, alleviating stress and pain even before meeting with the doctors. This creates an atmosphere where patients feel at ease and fully present in the moment. The clinic’s design embodies transcendence—moving beyond the material to connect with the inner peace and healing it seeks to promote, reflecting deeper philosophical principles of balance, mindfulness, and a holistic sense of connection.

Functionality

Openness

Lilacs & Stone

Transfiguration

VISUAL IDENTITY + BRANDING

For Tathaagat Clinic, we developed a brand identity that merges spiritual symbolism, thoughtful design, and functional wayfinding. Central to the branding is a lotus logo inspired by the Unalome, where the spirals and lines of the Unalome subtly inform the petals of the lotus, representing the journey of life toward clarity, balance, and enlightenment.

The color palette—soft lilac and pink tones balanced with warm neutrals—reinforces a sense of calm, care, and mindful healing. These tones flow seamlessly through the clinic’s interiors, signage, and wayfinding, creating a cohesive visual experience that guides patients intuitively through the space.

COLLABORATION

Collaboration with local businesses has been integral in the design.

The custom “baans” canopy showcases the timeless craft of bamboo work, while carpentry and wooden shops were established in-situ to foster local entrepreneurship. The space is further enriched with locally crafted wrought iron artefacts, thoughtfully curated to reflect the area's craftsmanship and contribute to the community's growth. This approach not only supports local artisans but also builds a strong connection between the clinic and its cultural roots.