Niseko Grand Hirafu has become an international ski resort, attracting many foreign tourists every year. During their stay, they require medical care for injuries and routine internal medicine that are unique to winter sports, but there was no clinic in the vicinity of the ski resort that could meet their needs. This clinic provides primary care that transcends the barriers of age, gender, nationality, and medical specialty.
In planning the project, we were asked to create a design that would match the strength of the NISEKO brand on a small site and within a budget that was far from ample. The building is a cost effective wooden structure, and the planning is based on the same east-west axis as the road. The second floor is a space where the doctor's office can be used for training, and the walls are raised across a terrace like a veranda, creating a comfortable space that is wrapped around the outside space while blocking the bustle of the busy road side. In contrast to the simple plan of the building, the sloping roof and large eaves on the elevation are designed to gently welcome the patients. We hope that the clinic will continue to play an active role as a family clinic in the community.