Asahi no Mori Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Clinic by TSC Architects: A Warm, Wood-Centric Healthcare Environment in Owariasahi

The Asahi no Mori Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Clinic, designed by TSC Architects, redefines the atmosphere of community healthcare in Owariasahi, Japan. Completed in 2023 with a total area of 852 m², the project brings together three distinct medical programs: internal medicine, orthopedics, and a pharmacy: within a shared architectural language rooted in warmth, transparency, and calm spatial experience.

Located along a major arterial road with future urban expansion planned, the project responds not only to its present context but also to the long-term development of the district. The clients sought a unified design identity that would feel bright, welcoming, and non-institutional, setting the tone for a regional medical center that prioritizes comfort and patient well-being.

A Healthcare Landscape Defined by Wood and Connection

The design purposefully moves away from the typical commercial roadside aesthetic and instead cultivates a soothing clinical environment shaped by natural materials. TSC Architects chose wood as the primary design medium, creating a gentle atmosphere that conveys warmth the moment patients arrive.

A central design feature is the sunoko-inspired wooden façade, a rattan-like slatted skin that envelopes the three buildings. This not only visually unifies the internal medicine clinic, orthopedic wing, and pharmacy but also improves the building’s environmental performance. The sunoko walls enhance airflow, allowing the exterior to dry more efficiently and improving long-term durability compared to standard wood cladding.

By visually connecting the three structures through this shared wooden code, the architecture encourages a sense of cohesion, clarity, and calm wayfinding, supporting the project’s function as a neighborhood medical hub.

Light-Filled Interiors with Exposed Rafters

Inside, TSC Architects continue the wooden expression by exposing the rafters and structural framework, transforming functional elements into a central part of the spatial aesthetic. The exposed ceiling draws the eye upward and outward, visually extending the interior toward the natural surroundings.

To amplify this sense of openness, the design incorporates large full-height openings, positioned outside the structural frame. This strategy highlights the wooden skeleton while allowing abundant natural light to diffuse into waiting rooms, consultation areas, and circulation spaces.

All photographs are works of Hiroshi Tanigawa