Nagaoka Kinen Zaidan Healthcare Center, Japan

This 350-bed long-term care center provides psychiatric services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Architects Hawaii Ltd. (AHL) was asked to produce a contemporary design that would comfort patients. For this project, creating a healing environment was very important.

Many patients consider this facility to be their only home. Therefore, it needed to feel more residential than a hospital. AHL introduced elements from nature into patients’ everyday living community. Non-threatening simple patterns and gentle to stimulating color palettes were provided to help resident-patients feel more connected with the active world outside.

The need for ease of identification of various floors and areas also was important. Therefore, the design was based on flowing movement from one space to another, creating design interest and a walking path for patients.

With efficiency and security also playing an important role, locating the central nurse station with direct visibility into patient areas also was a key design requirement. Two of the six floors are lock-down levels, some with isolation rooms. Although these were secured areas, AHL still provided a healing environment of patterning and colorations.

Another requirement was to provide an interesting interior space for staff and families who need a comfortable interior that encourages them to feel positive when they enter the facility. Comfortable lounge areas on each floor as well as gathering spaces for dining and recreation became valuable communal spaces. An abundance of natural daylight was a wonderful introduction into the previously darkened interior.  AHL also added calm landscapes and cheerful artwork to common areas.

The main staff dining room/kitchen and new café (which are open to the public) provide much-needed respite from the serious nature of the facility.