Interior Design

Minami-Nagano Dental Clinic & Residence by HIROKI TANABE

Minami-Nagano Dental Clinic & Residence

::: Location: Nagano, Japan
::: Purpose: Dental clinic and dentist's residence
::: Floor area: 273.92 m2
::: Height: 3.75m
::: Number of floors: 1 floor
::: Construction methods: Reinforced concrete structure
::: Outside finishes: Urethane resin paint + photocatalytic treatment
::: Inside finishes: Acrylic acid resin paint walls and ceiling, homogeneous vinyl tile floor
::: Furniture and fixtures: Plywood urethane resin paint finish
::: Date of completion: August, 2005















The project is combined design of a dental clinic and a dentist’s residence, located in the suburbs of Nagano, Japan, in a beautiful farm village surrounded by rice fields and peach orchards. A concrete plate 300 millimeters thick forms zigzag structure, which makes up three shells and two open courtyards. As well as lying in alternate shifts, they face each other across the plate. Each shell has different functions inside, residence, clinic and waiting lounge.

In each courtyard two glass boxes are set as pathways and entry halls between two adjacent shells. Inside the glass there is the same visual environment as outdoor. People pass through the glass can see the sun or the rain falling above their head. They move from one function to another with change in mood.















The residence and the waiting lounge require being separated and kept off from clinic to ensure dwelling ability. For dentist, the residence is the space for relaxation separated from working place. For patient, the waiting lounge is the space for relaxation kept off from anxiety about dental care. However, Japanese urban planning law in this area requires combining new-built residences with public functions structurally. Building an individual residence newly is not allowed. One-piece zigzag structure fulfills both functional separation and structural combination.
10 meters-wide concrete frame with post-tensioned cable avoids columns and beams inside, which has a useful life span of 100 years or more.















The interior is build with timber and light-gauge steel skeleton, if necessary, it can be remodeled without any structural constraints. 10 meters-wide opening offers a great view of the farm village, designed to allay patient's anxiety and comfort the pain of dental care.















Both the exterior and interior are painted white, matching plaster walls of neighboring traditional houses, standing out against the deep blue sky and bright green rice fields, turning to shining golden color. The clinic shows up and be vividly retained in memories of local residents as well as it blends in with the beautiful landscape.