This project is a pediatric dental and orthodontic clinic located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. For centuries, the surrounding area has been covered by oak trees, some of which are still preserved in the owner’s garden.
△ Area covered by oak trees
The owner’s family has been living and running a dental clinic surrounded by greenery for the past 60 years. Currently, the clinic primarily offers routine dental care, with occasional orthodontic treatments and pediatric dentistry. Due to growing demand for pediatric and orthodontic services, the owner decided to expand these offerings specifically for children.
△ Aerial view of the project
We proposed situating the clinic among the existing greenery, creating a seamless landscape transition from the owner’s garden to the surrounding town.
The therapy room is nestled within a small forest, enclosed by building blocks and continuous eaves. This setting offers a calm and comforting environment that blends nature with the consultation space, helping to ease the anxiety of young patients. Surrounding shrubs provide ample privacy for each area.
Plants provide privacy to various areas within the clinic.
Guided by the philosophy that oral health is closely linked to overall physical and mental well-being, the clinic also offers a gym that integrates medical care, spinal treatments, and fitness programs.
△ Floor plan
The exterior and interior walls, as well as the floors of each building block, use different materials. The indoor elevations vary constantly, creating a playful and engaging atmosphere for patients during their visits.
The roofs of the building blocks vary in their relationships—connected at edges, offset, cut open, or penetrated—yet all these elements unite under a reflective silver roof.
The continuous roof resembles a mountain range, covering the rooms and courtyard while being occasionally perforated to allow natural sunlight to reach the ground and plants below.
The folded eaves resemble the gable roofs of neighboring houses, forming a self-supporting structure with minimal columns. The roof extends outward, creating a cantilevered sunshade over the entrance plaza and the front garden leading to the street.
The clinic is enveloped by lush trees, creating a soothing atmosphere for young patients and providing a nurturing space for their growth.
Technical Drawings
△ Site planning map
△ Structural schematic diagram
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Takashige Yamashita Office
Area: 299m²
Project Year: 2020
Photographer: Ken’ichi Suzuki
Project Manager: Takashige Yamashita
Project Designer: YoungAh Kang
City: Saitama City
Country: Japan
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