Shinagawa-Ku, Japan
@nikkenhousingsystem
The Nibankan Phase 2 building, nestled on a tranquil, verdant street in central Tokyo, reimagines the concept of elder care homes. This innovative Nursing Home is strategically designed to integrate seniors into urban life, promoting a dignified and comfortable lifestyle. Japan, grappling with an aging population and challenges like isolation and care worker shortages, finds a novel solution in Nibankan. The facility aims to maintain the elderly’s health and independence through community engagement.
Nibankan’s design thoughtfully blends into the local milieu, allowing its residents to engage with the neighborhood at their own pace. The architectural layout strategically arranges spaces to facilitate this interaction. Dining areas, salons, and lounges facing the street encourage spontaneous exchanges with neighbors. The communal dining room, in particular, serves as a hub for public events, fostering intergenerational connections and enriching the lives of its inhabitants.
This project also addresses the site’s steep slope challenge ingeniously. Entrances and exits are optimized for both pedestrians and vehicles, and the building maximizes its stories despite the incline. At the base of the slope, a striking two-story glass-walled entrance hall connects to a luminous three-story atrium. This design choice bathes the underground space in light, transforming its character. The interplay of different levels inside and outside the building creates a sense of openness and fluidity across the spaces.
An advanced natural ventilation system is another highlight of the design. Windows and skylights in the atrium and corridors adapt to varying wind pressures. The exterior is adorned with custom aluminum louvers, balancing aesthetics, privacy, and functional needs like solar radiation reduction and discreet air conditioning unit concealment.
The Nibankan offers a range of communal spaces infused with a sense of the outdoors. The double-height entrance lobby leads to the expansive atrium, filled with sunlight from a large skylight and fostering an indoor al fresco environment. Gravity ventilation brings natural breezes into areas like the lounge and dining room, blurring the indoor-outdoor divide and minimizing environmental impact.
With inclusivity as a priority, 23 unique room layouts ranging from 35 to 80 square meters are available. This diversity allows residents to find spaces reminiscent of their former homes, fostering comfort and familiarity. All areas, including individual rooms, are designed with accessibility and nursing efficiency in mind, ensuring ease of movement and a high quality of life for residents. This approach represents a forward-thinking model for senior living in the heart of Tokyo, where dignity, community, and environmental consciousness are paramount.
