Description

The Withus is a senior citizens’ residence offering nursing care. The building faces a narrow lane in Nezu, an old district in downtown Tokyo where one still finds old wooden houses standing in rows. The aim of the design for Withus Nezu was to retain the specific atmosphere of the wooden Tajima residence that had existed on the site from the Meiji Period (1868-1912).

The building is centred around the garden, which belonged to the old residence and was preserved as it was. In a densely populated area like Nezu, such a garden rich in greenery and birds was an indispensable asset for the community. Siding board façades face the street and the garden. An existing brick warehouse situated in the north-west was moved to the corner of the site to serve as a semi-public dining space, where people from outside are welcome. In this way the residents have the opportunity to mix with their neighbours from the area.

Materials and remains from the former residence were used for the new building: the old pillars support the exterior eaves, shoji screens function as mobile partitions. The stone slab in the entrance became a bench. The integration of these elements helped to create the unique atmosphere of traditional Japanese houses.

Shading plays a significant role in Japanese houses. Formerly, the deep eaves and roof of the Tajima house resulted in a succession of shading elements that protected the interior from strong sunlight. The same idea was applied in the new residence. Broad shading elements protect the openings. The pebbles and water in the garden reflect natural light deep inside the room.

A large hall on the first floor facing the garden, another important element of traditional Japanese houses, offers a place to welcome visitors, enjoy seasonal events and dine. The hall connects to the rehabilitation facilities around it. Access to the bathroom, members’ room and barber, arranged to the north of the hall, is separated from the other facilities in order to maintain the residents’ privacy. Their living rooms are arranged in two different sections – one for patients with cognitive difficulties and the other for general residents. The patients have easy access to communal space and are allowed to walk around freely in order to alleviate the symptoms of their condition.

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Originally published in: Eckhard Feddersen, Insa Lüdtke, Living for the Elderly: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2011.