The old bones of a 1912 building have been preserved in its renovation into a plastic surgery practice on the Greek island of Rhodes (+ slideshow).

Greek architectural office DArch Studio carried out the project, which aimed to enhance the ageing beauty of the heritage-listed building, now the surgery of Dr Vassilios Papageorgiou.

"The interior space was renovated with subtlety into a contemporary, functional medical practice with all the necessary equipment but without losing its historic charm and character," said the studio.

"We aimed to preserve and emphasise the new from within the old."

The walls are painted white to evoke the cleanliness of a medical practice, but old floor tiles in colourful, geometric patterns are preserved for their character.

To fill any holes in the tiling, DArch Studio, led by architect Elina Drossou, used cement mortar to create a smooth, even surface.

The studio also custom designed all of the furniture for the space, apart from the desk and chairs, to introduce contemporary shapes and to recall various aspects of the human anatomy.

Their black metal grid bookcases, which sit in the two offices, are described as acting like the "fibrous connective tissue" that holds together the internal organs of the white, lacquered wood shelves and cabinets.

Four different varieties of tile fill the 100-square-metre space, which also features bare concrete floors in its operating room and one office, and a partially tiled bathroom.

Located on Ionos Dragoumi street in the centre of the town of Rhodes, the practice is bisected by a corridor that houses the reception and lounge area, and ends in a balcony at one end.

From it branch two offices, an operating room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Light pours into the space from the building's tall, old windows, which are highlighted with a coat of teal paint.

The studio's 2008 DArch light hangs in the office spaces, while empty walls in the circulation and waiting areas will later be filled with art.

The surgery is among a scattering of medical practices that have tried to create a more home-like, cosy environment for patients.

Architect Germain Canon used living room-like touches to create a Taiwanese dental clinic that patients wouldn't be afraid to go to, while Tato Architects created house-shaped enclosures for treatment rooms at a clinic in Japan.

Photography is by Evangelos Hatzikelis.