Warm Transparency: A Clinic Infused with the Warmth of Wood

Yoshiaki Tanaka's Innovative Design Merges Functionality with Aesthetic Appeal

Yoshiaki Tanaka's inspiration for the design came from the client's request for a clinic that exudes the warmth of wood. The architect aimed to create a "warm transparency" by using an abundance of wood for both the interior and exterior of the clinic. The large wooden eaves, extending from the inside of the building, serve as a welcoming symbol for the patients and the town.

What sets this design apart is the large wooden eaves that provide a space for patients to feel secure, even outside the building. Inside the clinic, an L-shaped open ceiling space along the tangent offers patients a sense of warmth and openness. Wood is extensively used in areas directly touched by people, reducing nervousness and creating a "warm transparency" for the town.

The clinic's structure is realized through a steel frame, configured to support the large eaves and the L-shaped open ceiling space. The steel members are intentionally visible, showcasing their functional purpose. The clinic covers a total floor space of 501 sqm, with a built area of 374 sqm.

The design interacts with its surroundings by creating a gradation between the town and the clinic. The L-shaped open ceiling space connects the rehabilitation room and the waiting room on the second floor, creating a relaxing and comfortable environment for the patients. The project was completed between May 2018 and January 2019 in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.

Yoshiaki Tanaka's design overcame the challenge of configuring the large eaves and the L-shaped open ceiling space by using a space truss on the upper part of the open ceiling space. The surface rigidities of the space truss and the roof support the large eaves while ensuring power transmission in the horizontal direction. This design won the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2020, a testament to its innovative and trendsetting nature.