Health Center

Designed to prioritise patient well-being, the Mestrino Health Centre (Padua) is a multi-functional clinic that offers a highly evolved model of treatment and assistance. Located in a rapidly transforming urban area, the building stands out for its contemporary architectural style and strong visual identity, immediately conveying its dedication to service, hospitality, and health.

Designed by Tecnostudio Padova, the health centre is spread over multiple levels and houses medical offices, diagnostic areas, and a pharmacy. The pharmacy itself, Farmacia Foscarin Ferro, represents the conceptual heart of the project: situated on the ground floor and designed by Novembre Studio, it was conceived as an interactive space in which treatment, consultation, and wellness express themselves through an immersive and engaging spatial experience.

The approximately 2,800 square metres of the structure are clad in Concreto, a collection designed by Fabio Novembre for Lea Ceramiche, fruit of their ongoing creative collaboration. The series offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the aesthetic of cement thanks to a sophisticated palette of colours, finishes, and formats that seamlessly adapt to any environment with extreme versatility. Part of the 3-Tech Project, this collection is available in three different ceramic solutions: Slimtech, over-sized, ultra-thin slabs; porcelain stoneware of traditional thickness; and L2, a 20 mm thick version created for outdoor use. This comprehensive series guarantees stylistic continuity and outstanding technical performance at every stage of the design process.

A Cohesive Aesthetic, Inside and Out

The building’s identity is first expressed through its striking façade, conceived to resemble a dynamic Rubik’s cube: Slimtech 6 mm slabs, in the Rust shade, alternate with the large windows, creating a pattern of positive and negative space that conveys the durability and airiness of the surfaces even in outdoor applications.  Inside, the ceramic solutions reinforce the architectural narrative. In the Farmacia Foscarin Ferro, the Italian garden-inspired layout is enhanced by the Light shade, chosen to amplify the brightness of the space and evoke a sense of harmony. The same nuance was chosen for the cladding of the medical offices on the upper floors, establishing a calm and reassuring aesthetic continuum. In the service areas – bathrooms and underground storeroom, where a robotic system is in place to manage the pharmaceuticals – a 9 mm thick, 90x90 cm format was used. Meanwhile, for the outdoor terrace, the 20 mm thick L2 version, also in the Light nuance and with the Grip finish, was selected to ensure maximum safety and visual continuity.

Ceramic Technology and Environmental Sustainability

At the heart of Lea Ceramiche’s design philosophy is a vision that blends design, performance, and environmental responsibility. The collection’s surfaces fully reflect this commitment. Thanks to the reduced thickness of its slabs, Slimtech technology requires fewer raw materials and makes it possible to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions, with a product lifecycle that is 100% offset. These slabs also feature PROTECT^®, an innovative, silver-ion antibacterial shield that is integrated in the ceramic material and eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria present on the surface, offering a fundamental added value, especially in a high-traffic healthcare setting in which hygiene and safety are non-negotiable requirements.

A Shared Vision

With the Mestrino Health Centre, Lea Ceramiche renews its long-standing creative partnership with Fabio Novembre, reaffirming its important role in the dialogue between architecture, design, and technological innovation. This exemplary project demonstrates how ceramic surfaces can serve as an active tool in the design of contemporary healthcare facilities that are beautiful, functional, and sustainable.