産婦人科病院に併設することになった木造２階建ての新築計画。
一階が患者用のラウンジ兼ダイニング、２階が看護師やドクターのフリーアドレスオフィスと当直室という構成となっている。
クライアントからの要望は、敷地の可能性を最大限に引き出し、利用者が伸び伸び過ごせるような空間を作って欲しいというものでした。そこで、これを実現するため、閉塞感を感じないよう、建築基準法に基づいて最大限天井高をとり、カーテンウォールで囲うことで、開放感を持たせようと考えた。
カーテンウォールを採用した理由がもう一つある。それは、入院中、外に出る機会が少なくなる患者方に、開放感のある空間の中で、日の光にあたる機会を少しでも設けたかったからだ。
内装だけではなく、建物を建てるところから意匠設計をさせていただくことで、柱の位置や梁の組み方まで綿密に調整することできた。その結果、構造体自体を意匠の一部にすることができ、内装と外装が統一された世界観を創り出すことに成功した。
木造建築は、CO2排出量を抑え炭素を貯蔵し、断熱性や調湿性、衝撃吸収性に優れ、リサイクル性も高く、森林の若返りも貢献するなどサステナブル性にも優れているため、施設を利用される方だけではなく、地球環境にも貢献を実現することができた。
A Sanctuary of Light and Structure
This is the design for a two-storey timber annex, strategically integrated with a functioning obstetrics and gynaecology hospital. The program dictates a purposeful division: the ground floor is dedicated to a patient restaurant, while the upper level hosts a flexible, free-address office for clinicians and an on-call residence.
The Pursuit of Openness
The primary mandate from the client was to maximize the site's potential and establish a space of profound transparency. To achieve this, we employed a singular strategy to dismantle any sense of enclosure: the ceiling height was raised to the absolute maximum permitted by the Japanese Building Standards Act, and the entire volume was enveloped in a high-performance curtain wall system.
This choice served a dual, compassionate purpose. Beyond generating a breathtaking sense of release for the occupants, the expansive glazing was conceived to bring the therapeutic quality of direct sunlight to inpatients—a vital connection to the outdoors often denied to those undergoing treatment.
Structural Aesthetics and Material Synergy
Our ability to execute the design from the architectural foundation upward—not merely as an interior fit-out—allowed for the meticulous articulation of the structural elements. We precisely calibrated column placements and beam configurations. This holistic approach transformed the structural framework itself into the primary element of the aesthetic finish, eliminating the need for extensive, costly surface materials.
The result is a unified spatial experience: a seamless visual dialogue between the interior and exterior that achieves both sophisticated design integrity and a responsible reduction in finishing costs.
Commitment to Sustainable Timber
The selection of timber construction underscores a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. As a sustainable medium, wood not only provides superior performance—including exceptional insulation, humidity control, and shock absorption—but also actively sequesters carbon and minimizes construction's CO₂ footprint.
By prioritizing this highly recyclable and renewable material, the design delivers benefits that extend far beyond the immediate users of the facility, offering a tangible contribution to the global ecological environment.
