naoya matsumoto inserts soothing plants into koshida clinic in osaka

naoya matsumoto inserts soothing plants into koshida clinic in osaka
images © takeshi asano
all images courtesy of naoya matsumoto

japanese designer naoya matsumoto has redesigned the interior of a medical clinic to help both patients and staff feel more relaxed. located in umeda, osaka in japan, the walls were painted white to make the space feel as large as possible, with a brown carpet placed on the floor to evoke the image of natural soil on the ground. a series of planter boxes are inserted onto the 1300 mm high wooden cabinets, and are used as partitions to help break the room up visually and create an uplifting environment. the first thing one notices upon entering are these green plants, which need to be taken care of each day – people visiting are also encouraged to do so. enlivening the office, one can smell the soil and rocks and sense the movement of the water throughout to provide a feeling of calm.

 ‘I thought that taking care of people (patients) and taking care of the plants have something in common, so I hope for the staff it is enjoyable to come and work there.’ says naoya matsumoto.

people visiting are encouraged to help take care of the plants

the plants are inserted to provide a sense of calmness

the cabinets are used as partitions to divide the spaces

overview of a meeting space

detail of a meeting table

wooden cabinet　

a meeting space

the soil and water provides a relaxing atmosphere

detail of the planter box

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.