Biograph brings luxury, concierge services to preventative healthcare. Launched publicly in February, this members-based diagnostic clinic offers comprehensive assessments for improved health and quality of life. Following a clinic in San Francisco, a new outpost has opened in New York’s Financial District. For a non-traditional healthcare approach, the interiors by OOM Architecture rightly fit luxury wellness into a previously cold, concrete building.

“From the get-go, we wanted to create a place that was non-clinical, non-institutional. We came up with this concept of a secret garden, so the space is designed like a private sanctuary for Biograph’s members. We deliberately went away from the cold, transactional sort of tone that you often see in traditional healthcare to try and create a warm, welcoming environment,” said Lucinda Tay, a principal at OOM.

The lobby, located on the first floor of a high-rise, makes the transition from the bustling streets to the calm sanctuary of the clinic immediately apparent. A reflecting pool and vertical wood cladding along the walls greets members, signaling the tranquil clinic lying upstairs.

Through the elevators, a central courtyard acts as a visual landmark and an orientation point around which the member suites and diagnostic rooms are organized. OOM uses materials to better discern rooms intuitively, while keeping a biophilic, warm aesthetic between them. “The light programs, like the member suites and exam rooms for simple diagnostics, are all clad in lighter weight materials, like shou sugi ban,” explained Tay. For diagnostic rooms with heavier programming, like MRI rooms, stone-like textures and raked plaster take over.

“The MRI can be a bit of a nerve wracking experience, so we wanted to make sure that the space felt comfortable and that the space helped calm you down,” said Tay. A kinetic light sculpture on the ceiling paired with soothing music helps distract from the bulky machinery and establish a calm atmosphere. The light sculpture presented a challenge, as it interfered with the typical wiring of the machinery, but measuring and adapting components of the machine to redirect the infrastructure tie-ins to the rear allowed the sculpture to work with the technical needs of the room.

In the member suites, plush seating and tactile materials continue the serene style. OOM ensured each incorporates negative space, making rooms feel gracious like freestanding pavilions.

“Healthcare should feel human and authentic—not clinical,” John Hering, Biograph’s chairman and cofounder, told AN Interior. “Biograph’s New York clinic is an expression of this idea, where cutting-edge diagnostics and medical care is delivered in an environment designed to support a more intentional, human-centered experience.”