GREEN LIFE Nursing Home

"Calm Moments"

Green Life Shonan is a special nursing home located in Kanagawa Prefecture. This project involved renovating the existing facility while preserving its core structure.　In medical and welfare facility spaces, chemical and smooth materials are often used due to their cleanliness and hygiene. While understanding the rationale behind this choice, we felt that such spaces can come across as somewhat sterile and lacking sensory warmth, especially considering the long time people spend there. Through thorough site surveys, we strongly felt the need for an environment that embraces the fundamental comfort people inherently seek, which became the starting point of the design.　What we aimed for was the uplifting power of light and a sense of warmth. The atrium, where residents gather, is filled with light that gently changes throughout the day, closely mimicking natural sunlight, creating an open and spacious atmosphere. Materials such as wood and unglazed tiles, which convey a warm tactile sensation, were incorporated extensively to bring moments of comfort into daily life within a confined setting.　Additionally, design considerations were made to gently round the edges of walls, columns, and furniture to reduce physical burden and the risk of falls, which also serve as distinctive features of the space. We hope this careful layering of fundamental elements that are gentle to both mind and body will help create a calmer, more peaceful living environment for the residents.