Natural look

Vizage is an aesthetic clinic in a London garden setting. Owner Dr Jasmin Taher tells us about the design and concept, including the challenges of renovating a Grade I listed building

How did you choose the space for your new clinic Vizage?

“I was renting a small room in Fulham for five years. It was tiny but served me well and allowed me to save up for this clinic in Fulham Palace [a historic house and botanic garden]; I had a patient who said I went from a Ford Fiesta to a RollsRoyce. My husband works in demand forecasting, and he kept telling me to be sensible and save. Ultimately, all I need is a chair in a room, but I wanted a space I’d really feel proud of.

“As I walked through the gates and saw greenery everywhere, I knew this property was something special. You know when you feel butterflies in your stomach? The whole courtyard is tenanted; there’s architects, and tech companies, but there’s no real client-facing businesses, except for mine. When I came in and saw this room, with its high, vaulted ceilings, I was speechless.”

What were the challenges of opening within a Grade I listed building?

“I couldn’t alter the internal structure; for instance, I couldn’t change the plumbing, so I had to have portable units. We couldn’t have anything external to the building, so had to go for a special type of air conditioning, which runs through water lines in existing penetrations through the roof made over the past 600 years.

“I needed conservational architects to plan the work, and a designer to work alongside me. Every single detail needed approval before works could start, including making changes to the flooring, adding walls; even the paint needed to be a special breathable paint.

“There were points where I questioned why I went for this place. It took six weeks of negotiations just to get approval for a curtain, because it’s being hung from original timber beams. If I just went for any old place on a high street, I could tear it apart and not have to get anyone’s approval. But then, as it was developing, I thought, ‘This was the right decision’. Yes, it was difficult and expensive, but it’s a one-time thing; I have no plans to move. There are four treatment rooms, so it’s large enough for me to stay here.”

How did you come up with the design?

“My designer had a vision from the beginning. I felt lucky because when I showed her my clinic inspiration it looked like a standard clinic. She said, ‘No, I won’t let you do this’. Most designers just go with what the client wants, but she said, ‘You’re in a historical building, in a park – you can’t have this modern clinic look. It won’t match at all.’ She then showed me her ideas and the concept evolved. It does feel cosy and warm, but still artistic and unique”

How does the design reflect its environment?

“Because the clinic is in a park, I wanted there to be a focus on nature and sustainability. Every room is named after a flower, so we have Jasmin, Wisteria, Violet, and Rose. Vinyl is not a sustainable flooring; Marmoleum is a lot more expensive, but we wanted to have this sustainable focus and nature theme.

“The scents were custom-made for the clinic by an aromatherapy specialist. I blind-smelled a bunch of different smells to create my perfect cocktail of scents. She asked, ‘What feelings do you want these smells to invoke when patients walk into the common areas or the clinical rooms?’ I said, ‘I want patients to feel calm and reduce anxiety in my room. When they walk into the reception, I want them to feel excitement and happiness.’

“In the reception, we have real, preserved flowers; it took 100 hours to make that arrangement because the designer did them one by one. Underneath are original timber beams, and I wanted to do something to cover them and make them a centrepiece. When you walk in, the first thing you see are these flowers. We wanted it to almost be an immersive experience: the smells, the sights, the textures.

We even have a Vizage signature tea.”