This project features a residential building that also houses a dental clinic. The client, a dentist and former chief physician in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, is starting a new chapter of life in Tanabe City, near Shirahama City in Wakayama Prefecture. To the west of the site lies the Nanhe Geshan Medical Center, surrounded by a cluster of medical institutions along the street. On the southern side, the Tanabe City Art Museum and Xinzhuang Comprehensive Park offer abundant natural scenery.
Our primary focus was the patient’s first visit experience. We aimed to create a simple and calming environment that reduces stress and fear, making the clinic approachable and welcoming for patients.
The client is also reflecting on what it means to establish a dental clinic from the ground up in Tanabe City, an environment quite different from Ashiya City. This involves redefining common dental practices by creating an inviting atmosphere that encourages patients to visit and by offering straightforward, painless treatments. Beyond the clinical goals, the client hopes to contribute to the local community through this project.
Architecturally, the design embodies the core values of the clinic’s management philosophy, carefully integrated with the architectural concept.
The design avoids arbitrary choices by first placing a single treatment room that allows patients to feel relaxed while gazing out at the surrounding forest, rather than feeling intimidated by fear. The rest of the space is allocated according to the clinic’s functional needs.
The second floor serves as a residential area, offering a more private retreat compared to the first floor. The approach here favors creating therapeutic spaces rather than large open areas.
Taking a deductive design approach, the planning begins with the treatment area and then extends to other spaces, always prioritizing the patient’s comfort. Our goal is to develop a dental clinic that patients find convenient and comfortable enough to visit regularly.
The exterior walls are clad in unpainted cedar wood, while the interior features structural plywood. By using wood both inside and out, the building harmonizes beautifully with its natural surroundings.
We intentionally employed structural plywood, known for its solid wood texture, to enrich the interior. While the textures vary, all materials originate from natural sources and maintain their genuine appearance, avoiding excessive refinement to keep the design authentic and warm.
The design includes reserved cross-sectional planning to accommodate future updates. While the second floor currently serves the client’s residential needs, it is planned to be used for pediatric dental treatments later on.
To facilitate this, double-layer floor slabs were installed, allowing space for future piping and infrastructure. The structural design supports a large, flexible space to adapt to various future floor plan needs and ideas.
We sincerely hope this space will serve as both a community hub and a calm, welcoming dental clinic for all its patients.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: YYA / Yusuke Yoshino Architects
Area: 180 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Takumi Ota Photography
Architect: Yusuke Yoshino
General Contractor: Ko Hosokawagumi
Landscape Designers: Hideyuki Ishii, Hakubun Ko
Architectural Design: Studio TERA
Landscape Design: YYA / Yusuke Yoshino Architects
Location: Tanabe, Japan
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