kengo kuma tops seijo kinoshita hospital with floating timber louvers

kengo kuma tops seijo kinoshita hospital with floating timber louvers
all images © kengo kuma and associates

acclaimed japanese architect kengo kuma has revealed plans for a new hospital building to be built in setagaya, a special ward in tokyo. named ‘seijo kinoshita’, the scheme will replace the site’s previous medical center, which has existed in the region for many years.

the building is topped with a series of angled timber louvers that soften the visual impact of the stacked volumes below

after consulting extensively with both doctors and patients, the design team sought to create an open and welcoming facility that featured areas of integrated greenery. consequently, the 2,400 square meter project is organized around an enclosed garden at the rear of the plot that establishes a close relationship with the natural environment.

communal areas of the plan are naturally lit

the building is topped with a series of angled timber louvers that not only help shade internal spaces, but also control sightlines. the system also softens the visual impact of the stacked cuboid volumes below. communal areas and individual rooms are naturally lit throughout, ensuring that both patients and their families are as comfortable as possible. ‘seijo kinoshita hospital’ is scheduled to open in early 2017. 

the hospital is scheduled to open in early 2017

project info:

location: tokyo, japan
type: hospital
completion date: march, 2017
area: 2,406 sqm / 25,898 sqf