This project involves the new construction and relocation of Hinata Clinic, a long-trusted medical facility in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, known for its close connection with the local community.

At the beginning of the design process, we conducted detailed interviews with regular patients to understand their habitual use of each consultation room in the old clinic, as well as their movement patterns during various medical examinations. Extensive discussions were also held with the clinic’s staff to ensure the smooth flow of their work operations.

For elderly patients, special attention was given to minimizing the psychological discomfort that might arise from the spatial changes of the new building, as well as to reducing the physical burden caused by altered circulation routes. Within this careful balance, we sought to define what new value could be added beyond what the previous clinic offered.

Located in a residential neighborhood, the new clinic adopts a gabled roof with a gentle 2/10 slope—a common typology in the surrounding area. However, by combining this form with a series of 6-meter-long Douglas fir beams, the interior achieves a spacious, column-free wooden structure that blends the warmth of a home with the functional clarity required for a medical facility. The openness and natural texture of wood create a sense of familiarity and comfort, while enabling flexible arrangement of medical equipment and efficient circulation planning.

The lighting plan directs illumination toward the wooden roof, softly diffusing light throughout the space. This gentle brightness aims to ease the tension and anxiety that patients may feel before and after consultations.

The design embodies the sincerity and thoughtfulness of the clinic’s director—someone who continuously places the well-being of patients at the heart of his practice—and translates that spirit into architectural form.