AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL BY IF (INTEGRATED FIELD), DESIGNED TO EMBRACE AND PROTECT PETS, OWNERS AND MEDICAL TEAMS IN THE SAME SPACE
TEXT: NATHATAI TANGCHADAKORN
PHOTO: W WORKSPACE
(For Thai, press here)
Today, even as birth rates continue to decline, more people are welcoming small living creatures into their homes as cherished members of the family. While many designers might instinctively consider how this shift influences residential architecture, other typologies have evolved just as markedly. Shopping malls are increasingly positioning themselves as pet-friendly destinations, and the number of animal hospitals continues to grow to meet rising demand. It is not merely a question of quantity, but of quality too: standards of care and service have advanced in step with the deepening bond between people and their pets, who are loved just as dearly as their own children.
main entrance of medical zone
Town Hall
Earlier this year, IF (Integrated Field) unveiled images of their recently completed Arak Animal Hospital Thonglor, the fifth branch of Arak Animal Hospital in Thailand. For this project, the studio oversaw everything from architecture and interior design to a refreshed brand identity and signage, with FOS Lighting brought on to craft a warm, inviting lighting scheme. At its core, the design brief was deceptively simple yet considerably challenging, as it involved creating an environment that feels reassuring and safe for both people and animals alike. The new facility meets the Thai Animal Health Standards (TAHSA) and is thoughtfully planned to support the smooth, efficient work of the hospital’s veterinary staff.
Designing an animal hospital inevitably comes with its own set of constraints, perhaps even more so when the site is a narrow-fronted rectangle tucked into an urban context. In this project, the difficult task lay in giving the building a distinct, recognizable presence without overshadowing the structures behind it, all while maintaining the credibility and reassuring image expected of a medical facility. To address this, IF’s design team carved a sweeping curve out of the front massing, opening up the façade to reveal glimpses of the interior and catch the eye of passersby from the street. Warm timber cladding softens the impression, communicating a sense of approachability and care, while the crisp glass frontage reflects a professional, contemporary spirit. Together, these elements strike a careful balance between trustworthiness and warmth; qualities that are essential for an animal hospital.
Pet Salon
Pet Hotel
The hospital is organized into two distinct parts. The front section, directly facing the street and shaped by the carved façade, houses a three-storey non-medical zone. The ground floor is dedicated to retail, while the second level offers grooming services. Crowning this volume is a pet hotel, defined by an eye-catching steel lattice structure that the interior designers have woven directly into the space’s use and character. Finished with natural rope elements, the design invites pets to climb and interact freely and safely.
At the rear of the site rises the five-storey medical zone, comprising both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) zones. Here too, the interior language echoes the architecture’s defining gestures: a double-height atrium arcs gracefully, with mirrored glass walls expanding the perception of space. Throughout, timber and stainless steel remain central, underscoring the project’s core concept of ‘embracing and protecting.’
OPD waiting area
An animal hospital comes with its own unique sensitivities, distinct from a hospital designed for humans. Issues of diversity and heightened behavioral nuances must be carefully addressed. Beyond the array of specialized medical departments, this facility includes a dedicated feline unit to ensure a calmer atmosphere for its more easily unsettled patients (after all, we all know who the real mischief-makers are). The waiting areas have also been thoughtfully reimagined: instead of a single bank of seats, the layout breaks them into smaller clusters that interweave with some of the consultation rooms. Each seat’s orientation has been planned to minimize direct eye contact, creating subtle buffers and supporting the varied temperaments of both animals and their owners.
IPD
Inside, resilient vinyl flooring with minimal seams ensures a non-slip, easy-to-clean surface. Notably, this flooring continues partway up the walls. Such a detail is calibrated to align with an animal’s line of sight, giving them a clear sense of spatial boundaries. This small gesture embodies the project’s commitment to design that responds, quite literally, to the perspective of users who cannot speak for themselves.
room for parents
The inpatient zone here is notable not only for its functionality but also for the attentive care embedded in every detail. Dedicated spaces for animals come equipped with monitoring stations and screens that allow staff to observe patients around the clock. One particularly meaningful feature is a family room designed for owners who wish to stay close to their pets during treatment, with medical staff always on standby just outside. Even the ‘kennels,’ which is a core element of any inpatient ward, have been reimagined: here they are cage-free, well-ventilated, easy to clean, and open enough for pets and people to see each other with ease. The same kennel design is used in the pet hotel at the front of the building, underscoring the project’s commitment to creating a healthy, humane environment for its true users: the animals themselves, not just the people who care for them.
A swimming pool sits nestled between the two wings of the building.
rooftop garden
rooftop garden
That same attentiveness extends outdoors. At the heart of the site, a swimming pool sits nestled between the two wings of the building, offering a safe space for pets to exercise or rehabilitate as needed. Above, a tranquil rooftop garden has been designed to shield visitors from street noise and the city’s bustle, creating a peaceful corner where both pets and owners can find calm and comfort during recovery.
spaces for Arak’s staff
spaces for Arak’s staff
At the heart of the entire design lies the meaning of the word ‘Arak,’ which translates to protection. IF translated this concept spatially through the curves that embrace both the building and its users, softening the emotional distance between caregivers and those receiving care while balancing the professional image expected of a modern medical institution. The project’s greatest challenge went far beyond arranging functions efficiently or achieving a polished, credible look. It entailed understanding living beings who cannot communicate directly, drawing on data, careful observation, and close collaboration with the veterinary team to interpret those silent needs. In the end, the goal was to craft spaces that heal not only the animals’ bodies but also the spirits of everyone who enters the hospital.
