Hospital Case Studies of KOTOBUKI SEATING GROUP
How hospitals are shifting toward 2025
Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital
Unraveling the future of hospitals through space utilization case studies
University of Tsukuba Hospital Kirinoha Mall
Tokyo Medical University Hospital
Juntendo University, Hongo Ochanomizu Campus, New Research Building
Polaris College of Nursing
Sendai City Hospital
Odawara Municipal Hospital
Yamaguchi University Hospital, New Ward
Case studies of hospital art
Diverse space utilization is required for hospitals. The reform has already begun.
With the advent of a super-aging society and the increase in disasters, the demands placed on the medical field will continue to increase.
Changes in hospital auditoriums and halls are in progress, not only for their role as places for learning and study, but also for their flexibility in the event of a disaster.
There is also an urgent need to ensure a restful environment for napping so that workers can perform their busy, life-supporting jobs in perfect physical condition.
KOTOBUKI SEATING GROUP has been supporting reforms of space utilization in hospitals for many years. This booklet introduces the current utilization of space that matches the changing times and needs of the workplace through KOTOBUKI SEATING GROUP'S case studies.
About 2025 Problem
In 2025, when the so-called “baby boomers” will reach 75 years of age, Japan will enter a super-aging society. Therefore, we can predict that there will be an even greater impact on the healthcare and nursing care fields than there is now. Even though the demand for healthcare will inevitably increase, the balance of supply and demand could be disrupted by a shrinking labor force due to the declining birth rate. Major changes and reforms are required in the healthcare field, such as accommodating the increasing number of patients and creating a more comfortable working environment for employees.
In many developed countries, social security systems are under pressure due to population aging. Pension and healthcare costs are already increasing in Europe and the United States, and Asia is facing similar challenges. Countries urgently need to reform sustainable social security systems.
The
pursuit of
the ideal hall
led to the enhancement of spaces with healthcare functions
P02-07 Miyanowa Hall, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital
Optimize space use
P25 Optimize space use
Unraveling the future of hospitals through space utilization case studies
P08-09
P10-13
P14-15
P16-17
P18-19
P20-21
P22-24
University of Tsukuba Hospital Kirinoha Mall
< University of Tsukuba Hospital Auditorium >
Tokyo Medical University Hospital
< Auditorium / Meeting Rooms A/B / Night Duty Room for ICU > Juntendo University, Hongo Ochanomizu Campus, New Research Building < Auditorium >
Polaris College of Nursing < Megrez Hall >
Sendai City Hospital < Nap Room >
Odawara Municipal Hospital < Nap Room >
Yamaguchi University Hospital, New Ward ( Ward A )
< Auditorium / Nap Room and Duty Room >
P26-27 Turning the auditorium and hall into a multi-purpose space
█ Telescopic seating system █ Auditorium seating █ Stage
P28 More freedom and comfort in meeting rooms
█ Stacking chairs █ Folding tables
P29 Turninga nap room into a restful private space
█ Capsule beds
Case studies of hospital art
P30-31
New ward / Outpatient area, Yamaguchi University Hospital
Saitama Red Cross Hospital
Ibaraki Children’s Hospital
Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center
Saiseikai Iizuka Kaho Hospital
Expansion of Hospital Art
Miyanowa Hall, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital
The Pursuit of the ideal hall led to the enhancement of spaces with healthcare functions
Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital was established in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan in 1942, and it celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2022. The hospital has been designated as an emergency center, a regional base hospital for cancer treatment, a flagship disaster hospital, and a regional perinatal medical center. As a core hospital for community healthcare, its functions are constantly being expanded to care for a variety of medical conditions and meet diverse needs. Due to the need for “comprehensive community care” in provided collaboration with general practitioners and surrounding hospitals, a new south building was built in 2017 with a chemotherapy center, an inpatient support center, and an oral care (dentistry) facility. At this time, Miyanowa Hall was built.
Equipped with 200 retractable seats that can be electrically deployed and stowed as needed, the hall can be used not only as an auditorium for various lectures, but also as a temporary hospital ward in the event of a major disaster. We interviewed Hirofumi Ueno and Ayaka Kawahara who work in the hospital's Management Support Section about how the hospital is utilizing the Miyanowa Hall with its retractable seating, which has been in operation for about 5 years.
Head of Management Support Section and Management Strategy Office
Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital
Ayaka Kawahara
Management Support Section
Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital
Hirofumi Ueno
A new building was constructed for a changing healthcare delivery system
― Please tell us about the story behind the construction of the south building and “Miyanowa Hall”
Ueno:
As we move towards 2025, when the baby boomers will be 75 years old or older and we begin to have a super-aging society, the government has finally started serious reforms of its healthcare delivery system, including the formulation of a hospital bed function reporting system in 2014 and a community healthcare plan in 2015. Amidst the drastic changes in the environment surrounding hospitals, we started to look toward the future and considered what our hospital should be like in 2025, which was the start of the south building’s construction.
We conducted analyses ourselves and also talked to people in the local community and professional consultants. In the end, we decided to expand the functions of the intensive care unit (ICU) and operating rooms, since we are an advanced acute care hospital and a flagship hospital in the region. However, we had no more space in the main building to expand, so we decided to build a new building and move functions that are not directly related to medical care to this new building, securing space to expand our medical functions in the main building.
― What exactly are the functions that are not directly related to medical care?
Ueno:
The administrative areas, conference rooms, executive offices, and other things like that. In addition to these functions, we relocated the chemotherapy center for outpatient anticancer drug treatment to the first floor of the south building and expanded it. Additionally, we established a new hospitalization support center, which provides explanations to patients before hospitalization, and a new oral care center for the prevention of complications. The oral care center was started in collaboration with the Utsunomiya Dental Association, it is one of a few pioneering projects of its kind in Japan.
When we started thinking about what to do with the second floor, the idea of building an auditorium came up. The main building has a conference room named “Green Hall” that can accommodate approximately 200 people when its three rooms are connected. Up to that point, seminars and academic conferences were held there, but often the hall wasn’t big enough. Also, the floor is completely flat, so people sitting in the back can’t see the speaker or panelists. when we offered opportunities to bring people together, we faced problems because the space was too small and not functional.
Tiered seating and a flat space were both needed. The solution was Kotobuki Seating's Telescopic Seating System.
What was important when you were building the new hall?
Ueno:
As we were going through all of the trouble of building an auditorium, we wanted build an outstanding one that can accommodate a large number of people, so we decided on one that was approximately 390 m2, among the largest halls in hospitals, with a maximum capacity of 380 people. We also wanted the audience to be able to see the speaker and panelist from anywhere, so we discussed a staircase style design, like a university lecture hall. If we did choose a staircase style hall, we could only use it in that form. We wanted to use the space for purposes other than using it as an auditorium. So we did some research and found the retractable seating system.
When the retractable seating is stowed away, Miyanowa Hall can be used as a temporary hospital ward in the event of a disaster. That is why the walls have medical gas lines installed in them and 50 beds are kept ready for disasters.
1.The auditorium can accommodate up to 380 people, making it one of the largest hospital auditoriums. 2.Medical gas lines are installed in the walls for use in the temporary hospital ward. 3.The hall accommodates up to 50 beds in a disaster.
Fully utilize the retractable seating in various ways.
Did you think about using the hall in a disaster from the beginning?
Ueno:
Yes. We are an advanced acute care hospital and also a key disaster hospital in Tochigi Prefecture, so when a disaster occurs, this hospital will be a cornerstone of the community.
When you thought about the functions that are required for a hospital, you needed tiered seating but you also wanted a flat space. This is the main reason you introduced the telescopic seating system, isn’t it?
Have you seen the telescopic seating system anywhere before installing it?
Ueno:
As we were researching, we learned that the system was being installed at the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities in Saitama Prefecture, so we went to visit the center together with our director and office manager at the time. When we saw the seating system in operation, we were impressed and thought that it was great, so our discussions progressed to a more concrete level. It was exactly the kind of functionality we were looking for.
The seats have rotating desks. Were you looking for this type of seat from the beginning?
Ueno:
Taking notes during seminars is essential. We checked many times to see how the memo tablet would come out and whether it would be easy to take out. We also spent a lot of time considering the comfort and size of the seats. The director at that time was particular about this. We went to Kotobuki Seating's showroom with the director two times. I think it is fair to say that he was the main person in the selection of the seats.
At the showroom, we were able to see the seating system in operation and get technical explanations, which gave us a lot of information for us to use in deciding if this was necessary for our hospital. I think it was very good that we went to the showroom.
I see that you installed the forward-moving type of retractable seating.
Ueno:
The hall can accommodate up to 380 people, but we often use it for fewer than 200 people. So, when we have fewer than 200 people, we move the retractable seating and use it. For example, we can move the seating forward for a lecture and then have a reception in the space behind the seating afterward. We also hold management seminars once a year, where section chiefs doing all sorts of jobs gather to discuss a single topic. At these seminars, we first listen to a keynote speech by the director, and then go around to the back of the retractable seating and each team sits around a round table to discuss the topic. We use the one hall for a variety of purposes, including seminars, conferences, and presentations after conferences.
― What other uses does Miyanowa Hall have, other than hospital-related activities?
Ueno:
We use it for seminars and public lectures for the local community, mainly on weekends. We weren't able to hold large-scale lectures that were open to the public in Green Hall, but now that Miyanowa Hall has been built, we can do it. Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, we held public lectures every month for citizens that covered, for example, palliative care, dementia, diabetes, strokes or the Nutrition Support Team (NST). Our hospital also runs a senior care center and a nursery, so the hall is also used for other welfare-related events.
You mentioned the ability to be a temporary hospital ward in an emergency. Was it used for something specific during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Ueno:
We used the hall to triage people with fevers during the initial outbreak. Some hospitals used temporary tents, but our hospital had this space. I think the staff felt more comfortable performing their duties in a larger space.
Kawahara:
We have also used the hall as a vaccination site and as a place for caring for employees' children when schools were closed during the pandemic.
What are the staff's opinions about Miyanowa Hall?
Ueno:
It's been great. I'm sure everyone is glad we installed the new system, and I also think that having such a magnificent hall is a source of pride for the staff. Everyone who visits says, “Wow,” and, “It doesn't look like we are in a hospital.” Frankly speaking, we are proud of this hall, and we can hold events with pride, or rather, we can feel good about holding events. The president of the Utsunomiya Dental Association also likes this hall so much that he said he would love to hold dental association seminars here. He said he wanted to show the association members that the chairs actually move. We were very happy to hear that.
1.The retractable seating moved forward to hold a lecture. 2.Desks and stacking chairs placed in front of the retractable seating for combined use. 3.Hosting a CPR training program for healthcare professionals. 4.The space behind the retractable seating shown in 1 is used for presentations andreceptions.
What kind of hall does a regional core hospital need?
What was your first impression of Miyanowa Hall?
Kawahara:
I joined the hospital after the south building was built, and the orientation and training sessions for new employees were held here. The building is so magnificent, and I was happy to find out that I would be able to work in such a magnificent place.
So the staff members use it a lot, too?
Kawahara:
We use it quite frequently for training sessions and similar purposes. In addition to lecture-style events, we also use the spacious Miyanowa Hall for practical training programs such as Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare professionals, which are held regularly, so the hall is familiar to the staff.
What other ways would you like to utilize Miyanowa Hall and what are your future plans?
Ueno:
We built Miyanowa Hall hoping that our hospital could become an information provider for the local community, but soon after it was completed, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now, I want to do what I originally intended to do, and also the Saiseikai Fair.
Kawahara:
In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic started, we held an event called the Saiseikai Fair. The purpose of this event was to make the local community aware of our hospital and to encourage their interest in healthcare and welfare. We carried out many activities, including free health checks and a visit to an operating room where people were not normally allowed to enter. Visitors were able to hold the equipment used during surgery. We held a special lecture by the chairman of the Saiseikai Headquarters in Miyanowa Hall. Sayaka Hirano also gave a special lecture. She is a table tennis player who was born in Tochigi and competed in the Olympics.
Ueno:
We had about 4,200 visitors. It was really a big event.
Kawahara:
We used all the space in the south building, the main building, and the parking lots. I was happy that so many people from the local community came to the event. It was gratifying.
Ueno:
Other Saiseikai Group hospitals have also held similar events, but the record of 4,200 visitors has yet to be broken. We received very positive feedback from visitors filling out our questionnaire, with many saying they wanted to visit again and that they hoped we would hold the event again. I want to have an event like that where we can interact with the local community and do things together again soon. I’m sure that not only I, but all of our staff cannot forget the Saiseikai Fair and are keen to have opportunities to interact with the local community.
Kawahara:
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saiseikai Fair hasn’t been held since its second year. Although there are still some restrictions on events for patients and the community, we hope that we can effectively use Miyanowa Hall in this situation.
― From what you have told us, we can see that you believe that sharing information and interacting with the local community are very important. Do you think that facilities like Miyanowa Hall will be built in other hospitals?
Ueno:
I think it is difficult to install a telescopic seating system unless there is an opportunity like the construction of a large building or the renovation of a hospital. At our hospital, the idea came up when we were discussing the construction of a new building. We wouldn’t have been able to install the seating system in the existing Green Hall. It would have cost a lot, too.
I think it ultimately comes down to what we value. When we planned to build Miyanowa Hall, it was just after the Great East Japan Earthquake. So it was a time when we were seriously considering what we could do in the event of a similar disaster—what functions we should have and what role we should play as a key disaster hospital to contribute to the local community.
Perhaps these things were on everyone’s mind. It seems to me that the hall naturally turned out this way, rather than the simple building of a large auditorium. This must be the result of our decision to focus on two points that our hospital values: communicating information to the local community and handling disasters when they occur.
― I see that the telescopic seating system is contributing to the use of the hall for multiple purposes, which is unique for a hospital. I was impressed to learn that this has also enhanced community healthcare. Thank you very much for your valuable insights today.
Facility Overview
Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital is a regional flagship hospital in Tochigi Prefecture with an emergency medical center. The hospital contributes to local healthcare services, with a focus of enhancing health checkups, promoting advanced emergency care and providing highly specialized medical services. The auditorium located on the second floor is approximately 390 m2 in size and can accommodate up to 380 people. It was named Miyanowa Hall in the hope that the hall would become familiar to local residents.
Facility Information
Location: Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Owner: Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital,
Opened: August, 2017
Number of beds: 644
Designation and Certification: Flagship Disaster Medical Hospital, Community Healthcare Support Hospital, and Emergency Center
Products: Retractable seating, stacking chairs, and folding tables
Seating capacity: 380 *including retractable seats
An ideal auditorium for an international academic city which can be used for conferences as well as practical training
University of Tsukuba Hospital Kirinoha Mall, University of Tsukuba Hospital Auditorium
The seating area becomes a flat space in about three minutes A new auditorium with retractable seating to enable the space to be used for multiple purposes.
In April 2020, a new amenity mall, “Kirinoha Mall” was opened at the University of Tsukuba Hospital, including a multipurpose auditorium on the second floor.
The aim of the new auditorium was to create a better environment for lectures and seminars. These were previously held in the hospital’s community space, as well as at other facilities in the prefecture. Kotobuki Seating’s electrically operated retractable seating system was introduced to accommodate situations requiring desks and chairs (for example department conferences, meetings, and committee gatherings), as well as situations requiring a large flat floor space, such as practical skills training. This retractable seating system was already highly regarded because of its use in other facilities on the campus; a deciding factor in choosing it for this space. A sliding wall was also installed in the center of the room, allowing the space to be divided into two separate areas when required. The synergy between the sliding wall and the retractable seating system has brought about an occupancy rate of almost 100% on weekdays.
The retractable seating area consists of movable tiered seating that can be deployed and stowed away. Because most events that take place in the auditorium require seating, the seats usually stay in place and are used in the same way as fixed seating, offering everyone a great view. When a large seat-free space is required, 126 seats can be folded by pressing a remote control switch, stacking eight rows of seats, and stowing them against the wall at the rear of the auditorium. This takes approximately three minutes. The greatest advantage of the retractable seating is that anyone can quickly and easily operate it.
Luxury “Type L” seats were selected. The three-dimensionally shaped backrest conforms to the contours of the body, and the polyurethane-filled seats are generously thick, offering comfort even during long conferences. Vivid blue upholstery was chosen to harmonize with the University’s two school colors, “Tsukuba Purple” and “Future Blue”, as well as with the interior and the stackable seating. The color of the tactile solid wood armrests is light and natural, while the backboard and elbow frame are darker in color
Luxury seating with front tables chosen for ease of use
During departmental conferences, meetings, and committee gatherings, there are many moments when desks are required for taking notes or using laptops or tablets. Therefore, front folding tables compatible with laptop-sized items were installed. The tables are stored neatly away in boxes on the rear of the seats in front. When users bring them out or store them away, their silent design minimizes disturbance. They also retract slowly into the storage box even when lifted quickly, removing any risk of finger entrapment.
Facility Overview
Tsukuba University Hospital is the only Special Functioning Hospital in Ibaraki Prefecture. It functions as a place for medical treatment associated with medical science education and research, as well as providing advanced medical care to the community, fulfilling its social mission as a university hospital. The new amenity mall “Kirinoha Mall” was established through a PPP project (representative company: Lawson, Inc.) aiming to improve services for patients and other hospital users as well as to enhance the welfare of university staff. A dispensing pharmacy, a barber, and a convenience store are located on the first floor, while an auditorium and health promotion facility are located on the second floor.
Facility Information
Location: Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Representative Company: Lawson, Inc.
User: University of Tsukuba Hospital
Opened: April 2020
Product: Retractable seating
Seating capacity:126 *Retractable seating only
A space with a wide range of uses for the hospital and university, including its role as a base for disaster relief operations in a sub-center area of Tokyo
Auditorium, Tokyo Medical University Hospital
A
multiple-purpose clinical auditorium with variable seating at New Tokyo Medical University Hospital was opened in July 2019
A new hospital building was opened in July 2019 on the Nishi-Shinjuku campus of Tokyo Medical University. The original Tokyo Medical University Hospital building was completely rebuilt, with 20 floors above ground and 2 floors below ground. As a special functioning hospital, it has 904 beds and provides advanced medical care using state-of-the-art technology safely and securely, serving as a core hospital for the Shinjuku, Nakano and Suginami areas in the event of a disaster. It is also a university-affiliated hospital with educational functions. Based on the design concept of “creating a patient-first hospital,” the hospital offers a treatment and recuperation space filled with the spirit of hospitality and a soft, gentle atmosphere.
On the 9th floor of the new hospital building, people pass through the foyer, which offers a view of a green garden, to approach a clinical auditorium. The previous university hospital hall could seat 320 people, but this has been increased to 360. The auditorium is expected to host not only lectures, ceremonies and other university and hospital events, but also medical conferences and seminars, as well as lectures open to the public sponsored by the hospital.
The new clinical auditorium was designed to be versatile and to be used for multiple purposes including lectures, conferences, and other educational events. For this reason, a combination of a telescopic or retracting seating system and stacking chairs and folding tables was used.
A tiered seating area and a podium can be used for lectures. Additionally, the stage is retractable so when a larger space is needed, all of the furniture can be stowed away and the space can be used as a flat floor area. The flat space can be used for many purposes, including as a first-aid station in the event of a disaster. The room also has a sliding wall in the center that allows users to divide the space. The space can be used as two separate rooms for medium-sized meetings or training sessions.
An electric tiered retractable seating system that can be deployed and stowed away was chosen for ease of operation, as it can be remotely operated with the push of a button. A key point of the electric system is that it doesn’t require a lot of time or labor to operate, unlike a manual system. Anyone can easily operate it. Even with electric systems, some manual operations, such as the removal of handrails, are usually required. Here, however, speedy operation was emphasized. The storage room was therefore shaped to fit the seating platform without removing the handrails, eliminating manual labor as much as possible. A front cover panel and side doors were installed to hide the stored seating tiers and handrails when stored and to integrate the whole unit into the walls of the hall. The seats were designed for auditorium use, with slim cushions that are still comfortable enough for long hours of sitting. The wooden parts are a dark brown, and the upholstery is a silver gray that evokes cleanliness and elegance. All seats are equipped with a retractable desk which can be rotated and pulled up from under the armrests when needed.
The stacking chairs and tables are also comfortable and easy to use
The stacking chairs are the same color as the retractable seating. The chairs feature moderately resilient cushions made of polyurethane foam with a resin fiber core. The desks used in combination with the chairs are a movable type equipped with a lift-up mechanism. These tables can easily be moved by simply gripping a lever, even with objects on top of them. When the tables are not being moved, the casters are hidden in the leg ends, and it looks like a fixed table at first glance. The designs of the chairs and desks are both simple, but they are state-of-the-art products with functionality that is not apparent at first glance.
Facility Overview
Founded in 1916 in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Tokyo Medical University is a private medical school with over 100 years of history. The School of Medicine includes the Department of Medicine and the Department of Nursing which was opened in 2013, and the Graduate School of Medicine (which grands doctoral and master’s degrees). The hospital trains and develops doctors, nurses and researchers who are diverse, international and caring. As a pioneer in the healthcare industry, the university hospital continues to develop new technologies and take on challenging treatments and other initiatives.
Facility Information
Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Owner: Tokyo Medical University
Opened: July, 2019
Number of beds: 904
Designation and Certification: Regional Disaster Key Hospital (Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Core Hospital), and Emergency Center
Products: Retractable seating, Trolley ｍ obile stage, stacking chairs, and folding tables
Seating capacity: 360 *including 240 retractable seats
A meeting room adjacent to the clinical auditorium accommodating a variety of layouts
Meeting Room A/B, Tokyo Medical University Hospital
Meeting room that can be used together with the clinical auditorium Simple, stylish folding tables that are also very functional
On the ninth floor of the new hospital building, people pass through the foyer, which has a view of a green garden, to approach a clinical auditorium, and next to the auditorium is a meeting room that can be used together with the clinical auditorium. Kotobuki Seating delivered FT-603D folding tables and FC-304D stacking chairs for this meeting room. The tables are of the same type used in the clinical auditorium next door. Expectations were that this meeting room would be used not only by hospital staff but also by visitors from outside the hospital, which is why a sophisticated design was desired. Functionality was also important so that users could change the room layout quickly, such as having the chairs and desks in several rows or in a square arrangement.
The FT-603D folding table features a simpler and smarter design than the Kotobuki Seating’s conventional folding tables. The legs supporting the tabletop are seamlessly connected to the base, creating a sleek and sophisticated look. The lower leg bases also provide more room for the feet, preventing accidents such as tripping over the base when sitting in the seat.
At first glance, the ends of the table legs look as if they are fixed to the floor, but casters pop out from inside the legs when the lift-up lever located under the tabletop is held, enabling anyone to easily move the table.
The casters can only be used while the lift-up lever is being held, so users don’t have to worry about forgetting to lock the casters, causing the table to move when it’s in use, which is often a concern with conventional tables with casters.
Users can quickly change the room layout in the middle of a meeting, leaving their belongings on the tables. Additionally, the casters automatically extend when the tabletop is rotated, without using the lift-up lever, such as when the tables are horizontally stacked and moved to a corner of the room. The tables are easy for anyone to use in any situation thanks to their easy one-touch operation.
The FC-304D stacking chairs have a large curved synthetic resin backrest and a wide seat to support the seated person’s body firmly and provide a stable and comfortable seating experience. The looped legs firmly contact the floor, so there is no wobble. Despite their sturdiness, the chairs weigh just 4.2 kg. They are one of Kotobuki Seating’s lightest stacking chairs. The lower part of the backrest has a handle hole, making them easy to carry. The pink color of the chairs is close to the school’s burgundy, which adds glamour to the white, gray, and natural wood-textured interior and also represents tradition.
Products: stacking chairs and folding tables
Seating capacity: 84
*Total number of 2 conference room
To enable people to be motivated and in their best physical condition, capsule beds solve workplace environment challenges
Capsule beds installed in comfortable nap rooms
Restful and comfortable sleeping space with privacy
B-CUBE series capsule beds feature a simple integration of design and functionality. They were first installed in night duty rooms to improve the working environment for nurses. The entrance to the capsule beds is set perpendicular to the direction of the sleeping person’s body, with a total of 34 beds in 5 rooms.
In the past, the night duty room was a single room equipped with bunk beds, or a nap space was provided in break rooms using portable beds. This environment was far from perfect for a good night’s sleep or for resting, with the noise and light of the surroundings bothering the users and exposing their sleeping figures to others. By installing capsule beds, these problems have been solved in the new hospital building.
Capsule beds block out noise and light, so users are less worried about their surroundings, and their movements are also less likely to affect their surroundings. Blackout roll screens have been installed at the entrance of the beds, so that users can easily adjust the brightness of lighting using the night panel, according to their preference. There is also a switch for an exhaust ventilation fan, making it easy to adjust the air conditioning in the space. This night panel is also equipped with an electrical outlet for charging devices such as smartphones. Watches and accessories can be placed on the built-in table to reduce the risk of losing them. This small space contains all the elements needed for a good rest.
The bed is as wide as a single mattress, with plenty of room to turn over. The exterior features a calm brown color, but the ivory panels on the interior make the space feel less oppressive and more spacious.
Night duty rooms in hospitals must be capable of allowing people to sleep deeply sleep and recover from fatigue in a short time. The installation of capsule beds, which also provide privacy, is expected to improve the nurses’ working environment.
Products: Capsule beds
Number of beds: 34 *The drawing shows some rooms.
Night Duty Room for ICU, Tokyo Medical University Hospital
Multi-functional hall seats suited for large tiers for an easy view of the stage from every seat
Auditorium, New Research Building, Juntendo University Hongo Ochanomizu Campus
The
auditorium opened in Juntendo University’s new research building facilitates participatory communication
Phase I of Juntendo University’s new research building (Building A) construction was completed in April 2019. This is one of the Juntendo University Campus/Hospital Reorganization Projects commemorating the 175th anniversary of the university’s founding. An auditorium was built on the lower level of the facility incorporating a variety of functions for academic conferences and lectures.
The auditorium is a trapezoidal space that is not very deep. It’s tiered seating area with a maximum capacity of 525 people extend out from the stage. A spectacular full-size multi-monitor system (with 64 55-inch $K monitors) in the front of the auditorium extends to the left and right walls, allowing people to display multiple images including lecture materials. Audiences can see the greenery of the plants outside through the glass above the monitors, which enriches the space.
The auditorium seating is sloped with each tier being 330 mm taller than the previous tier to ensure that every seat has a clear view of the stage. Higher tiers provide good visibility by keeping the head of the person seated in front out of the way. To facilitate smooth access to and from aisles which have stairs, handholds were installed on the seats next to the aisles in consideration of accessibility for the many different visitors to the auditorium. A handhold with a rounded top for easy gripping ensures that people can descend the stairs safely.
The auditorium seats feature three-dimensional backrests and seating surfaces that conform to the body when seated, and all seats are equipped with retractable desks. The front row seats have rotating writing desks attached to the armrests, while the other rows have pull-out desks mounted on the back of the seat in front of the user. The pull-out desks are stored alongside the backrest and users can pull them out when needed. When the desk is in use, the user can use the lighting and electrical outlets hidden in the storage area, which are convenient for writing in darkness and using laptop computers. The table is equipped with a sound-damping mechanism to prevent it from making noise. Even if the user lets go of the table when stowing it, the table is stowed quietly, slowly, and automatically during lectures.
A microphone is provided between each desk to enable all participants to communicate easily. The users can turn the microphone on by pressing a button, so there is no need to pass a microphone to each audience member each time they want to speak. This facilitates smooth communication between speakers and the audience and between the audience members. The microphones make it possible for the audience to not only listen but also to ask questions and voice their opinions to the speaker, leading to more active discussion.
Functionality, good design, and tranquility themed on flowing water and the fountain of wisdom
Surrounded by the warmth of wood, the themes of the auditorium were inspired by the name of the area, Ochanomizu. The themes are flowing water and the fountain of wisdom. The design of the walls is characterized by straight vertical lines evoking the image of water flowing into the auditorium from the upper floors. At the end of the walls, the floor is carpeted in blue in a pattern reminiscent of a rippling water surface, representing the fountain of wisdom. The color selected for the upholstery, which is the largest area of the chairs, is a bluish-purple inspired by the school’s Edo purple color. The color of the fabric and its bumpy surface create a variety of looks depending on the lighting, and, together with the natural wood of the armrests, the upholstery has an intelligent and refreshing appearance.
Facility Overview
Juntendo University has its origin in a Dutch medical school (Wada-juku) which opened in 1838. Today, as a university of health sciences and graduate school, it has six faculties, three research departments and six affiliated hospitals centered on the Faculty of Medicine, which has more than 5,000 students.
Juntendo University’s main campus, the Hongo Ochanomizu Campus, is now being renovated as part of the Juntendo University Campus Hospital Reorganization Project commemorating the 175th anniversary of its founding and supporting the future of Juntendo University.
Facility Information
Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Owner: Juntendo School Corporation
Basic Architect: NIHON SEKKEI, INC.
Execution Architect: Kajima Corporation
Opened: April 2019 *Phase I construction
Products: Auditorium seating chairs with table
Seating capacity: 525
A place for future nurses and a healing place for the local community
Megrez Hall, Polaris College of Nursing
A new hall with a warm atmosphere and beautiful design to nurture delicate aesthetics. A place loved by students that also plays a role in the college connecting with the local community
In July 2013, the Polaris College of Nursing built a new building next to Hoshi General Hospital in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Polaris College of Nursing was named because of its founding spirit, “Sick people who need nursing care are like a small boat drifting on a rough sea. Be a nurse like Polaris, a steady guiding star for these people.” Keeping this strong resolution in mind, many students are studying hard.
Kotobuki Seating delivered 330 seats to be used in the college’s Megrez Hall. The hall features a beautiful design with a warm wooden atmosphere. In the hall, students can enjoy lectures as well as concerts, developing the delicate aesthetics that are necessary in the nursing care profession. The acoustics were also carefully designed in line with the chairman of Hoshi General Hospital’s strong desire to hold the music festival hosted by the college in the hall, as the college is in Koriyama, the capital of music.
The auditorium walls are made of high-density Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) to achieve a crystal-clear sound, and the assembled LVL units were arranged to make a beautiful pattern creating a rich expression. The height of the armrests, the comfort of the seating, and the installation of the desks were discussed in detail with the chairman, and many users have commented that they don’t become tired even after sitting for long periods.
Megrez Hall’s namesake is the only star in the big dipper with an apparent magnitude of 3. The Big Dipper is a group of bright stars that includes Polaris, but Megrez is the one that glows most dimly. Megrez Hall also peacefully watches over the students who have bright futures ahead of them.
Facility Overview
Hoshi General Hospital is a public interest incorporated foundation which includes Hoshi General Hospital, which provides acute and advanced medical care as a flagship hospital in the central part of the prefecture, Hoshigaoka Hospital, which specializes in psychiatry, and the Hoshi Yokotsuka Clinic, which is in charge of community family medicine in Koriyama City.
In 2013, the Polaris College of Nursing was completed next to Hoshi General Hospital, and the Megrez Hall, an auditorium with excellent acoustics and seating for 330, was built within the college. The auditorium has become familiar as a place for cultural interactions involving the children and other residents of the city.
Facility Information
Location: Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Owner: Hoshi General Hospital
Opened: July 2013
Products: Auditorium seating chairs with table
Seating capacity: 330
*including 270 fixed seats and 60 movable seat
A nap room that supports nurses working overnight for community
healthcare has become the latest in style
Nap Room, Sendai City Hospital
Ensures not only a good sleep, but also privacy Creation of a state-of-the-art rest space
On July 15, 2014, the relocation of Sendai City Hospital was completed after nearly 2 years and 7 months of construction work. It has been more than 10 years since the relocation plan started due to the aging of the old hospital. The new hospital is bright and refreshing with large windows and sunlight.
Kotobuki Seating delivered capsule beds for nurses to the nap room. The old hospital’s nap room was a room with about 10 tatami mats, with futons laid out every time each person used the room for napping. Since the time of sleeping and waking varies from nurse to nurse, sleep was sometimes disturbed by the noise of other nurses. In particular, when the room was crowded with staff who wanted to take a nap, it was difficult to secure a space or to take a satisfactory nap. Then, Kotobuki Seating’s capsule bed was adopted to improve this situation. Initially, the installation of bunk beds was discussed, but the decision was made to install 40 capsule beds because they placed importance on the private room space that users could secure.
The B-CUBE series that they chose features a simple interior design, yet offers solid soundproofing. It has received high commendation from users for a good night’s sleep without the noise of other nurses coming in and leaving the nap room bothering them. Even if they don’t take a nap, they can spend some private time in the capsule beds reading a book, using and charging their smartphones, or whatever else they like. This space, where users don’t have to worry about other people, is excellent not only for physical rest but also for mental relaxation.
A restful environment that supports tough workplaces where human lives are at stake. Proper rest is also a major factor in maintaining motivation for work. Capsule beds are being installed more and more for staff in a variety of facilities, such as hospitals, fire departments, and police stations. Sendai City Hospital is a pioneer in this effort to improve the working environment for its employees.
Facility Overview
Sendai City Hospital is a general acute care hospital established by Sendai City. Since its opening in February 1930, the hospital has contributed to the improvement of the health and welfare of the citizens in Sendai for more than 90 years. As a hospital that provides national policy-based medicine, such as emergency medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, disaster medicine, and other advanced acute care, it plays a vital role in protecting the health and lives of the citizens.
Facility Information
Location: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Owner: Sendai City
Opened: July 2014
Number of beds: 525
Designation and Certification: Regional Disaster Key Hospital, Community Healthcare Support Hospital, and Emergency Center (Emergency Medicine Specialist Designated Facility Community Healthcare Support Hospital)
Products: Capsule beds
Number of beds: 40
Space-saving and privacy-preserving capsule beds were selected through real experience
The renovated night shift room is a capsule space that gives the feeling of a private room where users can stand up and walk around
In March 2020, the night shift room was renovated.
The plan to expand the emergency center to improve emergency medical care included using the existing night shift room in the expansion, so when construction began, it was necessary to set up a temporary night shift room in a different location. Because of this, the installation of capsule beds was discussed because they are space efficient, provide a privacy-conscious environment, and are relocatable.
After trying out a variety of capsule beds in Kotobuki Seating’s showroom, they decided to install VISIT-E Series capsule beds, which are a single room type.
The VISIT-E Series offers a private room-like experience, allowing users to stand up and walk around inside the capsule, unlike conventional capsule beds, which are just a place to lie down.
In addition to a bed, the capsules also have a table, wall mirror, and storage for the user’s belongings. They are 1900 mm wide, 2245 mm deep, and 2360 mm high, providing ample space for a comfortable stay.
A blackout curtain installed at the entrance blocks light and people outside the capsule’s line of sight, creating an environment similar to a private room. Privacy during sleep is ensured, so users can rest with peace of mind.
Healthcare workers are responsible for people’s lives and work in a high-stress environment, so they need to take a short but deep rests in the night shift room.
The installation of innovati ve capsule beds for resting efficiently is expected to enable night shift rooms in the healthcare field to become places where both the mind and body can relax.
Nap Room, Odawara Municipal Hospital
Facility Overview
Odawara Municipal Hospital is a flagship hospital in western Kanagawa Prefecture, with a total of 26 departments. The hospital has been designated as a regional perinatal medical center and a regional base hospital for cancer treatment and it also plays a core role in acute and emergency care.
Facility Information
Location: Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Owner: Odawara Municipal Hospital
Renewed: March 2020
Number of beds: 417
Designation and Certification: Regional Disaster Key Hospital, Community Healthcare Support Hospital, and Emergency Center
Products: Capsule beds
Number of beds: 7
Connecting and protecting people — A multi-purpose auditorium that is only possible in a hospital
Auditorium, New Ward ( Ward A ), Yamaguchi University Hospital
Ease of use, safety and design going beyond the solution to the space utilization problem — An that auditorium that can be utilized in an emergency
In June 2019, the new Yamaguchi University Hospital Ward A was opened to integrate the major functions of the hospital. An auditorium was built on the first floor to be a multi-purpose space, not just for hosting concerts, conferences, seminars and other events in normal circumstances, but also to treat injured disaster victims in an emergency in a 200 m 2 temporary treatment space. It features a design that places significant emphasis on disaster management, with emergency power sources and medical gas outlets installed in a total of 7 locations in the room and lobby. Kotobuki Seating’s retractable seating, stacking chairs, and folding tables were chosen because these products can be used in both normal and emergency situations, which are completely different.
Retractable seating can be deployed and stowed in tiers. A fully automatic system was chosen which can be operated remotely by pushing a single button. When the button to deploy the seating is pressed, a 7-tier 154 seat seating area unfolds. Press the stowage button to have the seats automatically fold down, the seven tiers stack, and then the main retractable seating unit is stowed on the wall at the rear of the auditorium. The Type L seats mounted on the retractable seating platform feature thicker cushions. The three-dimensionally shaped backrests follow the lines of the seated person’s body, and the voluminous polyurethane seating surface offers a comfortable seating experience. The sitting area is spacious, with the width of the single-person seats being 540 mm, wider than the typical hall seat.
All seats are equipped with A3-size front folding desks for conferences, seminars, and other events where it is necessary to take notes and use laptops. Each desk is in a storage box on the back of the seat and it can be pulled out for use as needed. The silent design allows the table to be pulled out and stowed smoothly while events are in progress. In addition, the desk slowly slides into the box, preventing accidents such as pinched fingers. The shape of the storage box is simple and does not spoil the appearance of the seating area, even at events where the desks are not needed. The seats are upholstered in a warm gray, and the front table are white providing an impression of cleanliness. The color scheme is calming, well suited to a hospital auditorium.
TS-1212 stacking chairs and SD-613FF2 folding tables can be placed in front of the retractable seating or used in various layouts when the retractable seating is stowed, increasing space utilization flexibility.
The TS-1212 stacking chairs have the same design as the Type L retractable seating. The chair features the same luxurious design as the Type L, with natural wood used for the back and arm rests, as well as a thicker cushion that provides a comfortable and spacious seating experience. The color of the upholstery matches the retractable seating.
Smooth operation, outstanding stability and convenience. Tables and chairs for flexible space utilization
The SD-613FF2 folding table is equipped with a lift-up mechanism and features casters that appear when the lever under the tabletop is held. These casters are normally stored inside the legs. When the table is in place, the casters are not exposed, preventing common problems with movable desks, such as the casters being unknowingly unlocked, causing the table to accidentally move while a person is writing, or a person tripping on a caster and falling. It isn’t necessary to fold the table while holding the lever that makes the casters appear, enabling people to smoothly change the table layout with computers and documents still on the tables. When the chairs and desks are not needed, they can be put away in the storage area. The TS-1212 is stowed using storage carts located under the stage and special moving carts that can carry 6 chairs each, and the tabletop of the SD-613FF2 can be folded up so they can be nested together and stowed compactly in a minimum amount of space.
1.The auditorium was designed to be a multi-purpose space. 2.Fully automatic telescopic seating system that can be operated with the push of a button. 3.When stowed, seats are secured to the rear wall. 4.All seats have a front folding desk. 5.Stacking chairs and tables can be placed in front of the retractable seating or used in a variety of layouts when the retractable seating is stowed.
Yamaguchi University Hospital’s new Ward A opened in June 2019 in the second redevelopment and improvement project, the first of its kind among national university hospitals in Japan. The hospital is a core healthcare institution in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It has the latest medical facilities and equipment as one of the finest national university-affiliated hospitals. It also has an emergency care system that includes a heliport and an ICU. In addition, the hospital has many artworks on display as part of the Hospital Art Initiative to create comfortable spaces.
Location: Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Owner: Yamaguchi University
Opened: June 2019
Number of beds: 756
Designation and Certification: Regional Disaster Key Hospital, Yamaguchi Prefecture Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Designated Hospital, Advanced Emergency Medical Center (Tertiary Emergency Hospital)
Products: Retractable seating, stacking chairs, and folding tables
Seating Capacity: 262
Please see page 30 for details on case studies of hospital art.
Quality rest in limited time and space made possible by capsule beds
Nap Room and Duty Room, New Ward ( Ward A ), Yamaguchi University Hospital
The new hospital ward also aims to improve the working environment of doctors and nurses. Providing a comfortable napping environment by integrating simple but necessary functions
Before the construction of Yamaguchi University Hospital’s new Ward A, many discussions were held not only to improve the hospital from the perspectives of its visitors and inpatients, but also to ensure that doctors and nurses would be able to work in a physically and mentally comfortable environment. One of the most significant advancements was the nap room and night shift room. Previously, ordinary bunk beds like those used in people’s homes were placed in a napping area in a hospital ward. While an advantage of bunk beds is that they use less space than futons, they also have disadvantages: the light and noise from the surrounding area can be distracting and vibrations are transmitted easily between the upper and lower bunks. The newly installed Kotobuki Seating capsule beds have solved these problems.
Capsule beds are characterized by their ability to provide a comfortable and compact space that is similar to a private room. The main difference from a typical bunk bed is that the sleeping space is enclosed by panels. A blackout curtain is also installed at the entrance of each bed, which blocks light from the surrounding area and peoples’ ability to see into the bed, protecting privacy and ensuring a good night’s sleep. It is expected that users will be able to rest well in a limited time, refresh their bodies and minds, and prepare for their next shift. The B-CUBE series of beds was chosen, with eight installed in the night shift room and four in the nap room. This capsule bed, with its simple but necessary equipment, is one of the longest-selling products in the Kotobuki Seating lineup.
The front-opening entrance is perpendicular to the direction of the sleeping person’s body. Two capsules, one on top and one on the bottom, are placed in a connected arrangement.
The capsules are equipped with an LED light that can be dimmed as desired, a digital clock with an alarm, a table for small items, and electrical outlets for charging smartphones and other electronic devices, all of which are useful not only for napping but also for short breaks. The interior panel color is white, giving the bed space a larger, cleaner look. The exterior panels have a calm dark tone. At the entrance to each bed, there is a number plate for identifying each capsule. The ladder is set at a slightly slanted angle, making it easy to put your foot on the first step and thin enough to grip. They are easy to use even when the user is tired before taking a nap.
Products: Capsule beds
Number of beds: 4 beds in the nap room; 8 beds in the duty room
*The drawing shows some of the rooms.
Optimize space use
We wish to more effectively use the common spaces in hospitals and expand the possibilities for their use. Kotobuki Seating offers products meeting diverse needs.
For the auditorium and hall
Retractable seating, stacking chairs, and folding tables
These products are easy to use and provide comfortable seating, but they also facilitate conversion in flat spaces that can be used as evacuation and first aid bases in a disaster.
For the meeting and training room
Stacking chairs and folding tables
Flexible layouts that support active communication, including open space layouts suitable for practical training programs.
For the cafe, lounge, and cafeteria
Wall storage and movable stages
By deploying a stage and stowing tables, ordinary cafeterias become event spaces. These spaces can be effectively used for multiple purposes.
For the entrance and waiting room
Hospital Art
We create comfortable environments for visitors and workers by comprehensively coordinating art aligned to the hospital’s philosophy.
For the nap room and duty room
Capsule beds
To enable people to sleep and rest comfortably and safely, we make the most of limited space to create private room-like spaces.
Photo: Daici Ano
Turning the auditorium and hall into a multi-purpose space
Telescopic seating system
Our telescopic seating system can change a seating area, such as a lecture seating area, into a flat space suitable for practical training programs.The seating can be electrically deployed, significantly reducing the labor required, the time necessary and operating costs.
Multi-purpose use of space
When the retractable seating is stowed on the wall, the space can be used as a supply storage area, a temporary hospital ward or a first-aid area in an emergency. When the seating is deployed, the space can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as lectures and seminars.
Reduce time and costs
The fully automatic telescopic seating system can be easily deployed and stowed using a remote control. Since the system can be operated by a single person, users can significantly reduce the time and effort needed in hospitals, where labor is always precious.
wall-retractable 10-tier 200 seat sets (excluding the installation of detachable components) Deployment time Running cost
Open seminars for practical training, as well as temporary patient rooms for emergencies and first-aid space
Meetings, lectures, seminars, and other events utilizing the retractable seating system
The chairs need to be set up and stowed away each time they are used. A lot of time and manpower are required.
Seats can be stowed and deployed as a single unit, greatly reducing set-up time and manpower.
Stage Auditorium seating
A safe, secure, and comfortable space is provided for conferences, research presentations, seminars, and other gatherings.
Seating comfort
To maintain a comfortable balance, the auditorium seat includes serpentine seat springs, while three-dimensionally curved cushions are used for the backrest, ensuring long-lasting comfort.
Suitable for slopes and stairs
Many different people use auditorium seating so we carefully consider accessibility, including measures to help people pass safely through aisles with steps such as the installation of handholds in aisle seats.
Easy to operate, space-saving, and easy to store and move, enabling the creation of a multi-purpose space that suits each facility.
Wall storage stage
The stage can be safely and easily installed in workplaces where labor is limited. It can be safely and easily operated by two to three people and stored in a wall with a depth as small as 18 cm.
Movable stage
The stage can be used in small spaces such as lobbies, meeting rooms or training room. Users can set the stage height according to their intended use, making it possible to create a variety of spaces.
More freedom and comfort in meeting rooms
Stacking chairs
We pursue not only seating comfort, but also ease of storage. From basic to high-grade products pursuing a higher level of comfort and beauty, we offer a wide range of products.
Comfortable seating even for long periods
Wooden components are used for good acoustic resonance and a high-quality impression. They deliver rich seating comfort.
A simple design that fits in any space. Comfortable seating even for long hours of use.
Double-layered structure for enhanced comfort
The seat has a dual-layer structure with polyurethane foam and a resin fiber core for enhanced comfort. The cushion does not feel as it if bottoms out and is highly breathable.
Folding tables
The layout can be easily changed to suit any situation. We focused on the design, functionality and storage efficiency of these tables.
Easy to move by using the lever
In addition to easy operation, the table can be moved with objects left on the tabletop.
Provides the impression of stability
The casters are put away for high stability.
Compact storage with a width of 130mm
The tabletop can be stood up and moved for compact storage.
Turning a nap room into a restful private space
Capsule beds
The beds enable busy healthcare workers to rest comfortably and get quality sleeps. Since our commercialization of the world’s first capsule bed in 1979, we have been delivering comfortable sleeping and resting environments in places where space and time are limited to facilities that operate 24 hours a day throughout Japan.
Moving toward a highly satisfying sleep environment
In addition to soundproofing and light blocking, the space provides privacy similar to a private room.
Able to be installed in existing rooms
As long as the floors meet the necessary weight-bearing requirements, the system can be installed in existing nap rooms and can be assembled onsite.
Securing a sufficient number of beds by utilizing two-level beds in a large room
Two single beds can be places in the same space needed for one futon, making it possible to efficiently secure the needed number of beds.
Space-saving measures toincrease space utilization
Two private room-like spaces can be provided in the area used by one single bed, and common areas can be expanded.
One
room becomes two using capsule beds instead of partitions
In addition to a room layout where two people divide a room down the middle, it is possible to arrange the same space with separate entrances to two private rooms.
Storage space for disaster preparedness
The space can be used to store supplies and for emergencies, and when the supplies are taken out, the space can be used for sleeping and resting.
Case Studies of Hospital Art
Art in hospitals plays important roles in addition to healing.
In recent years, the concept of hospital art has taken root, with people suggesting that art has healing power and that hospitality makes them feel at ease. Many hospitals are trying to create a gentle and peaceful atmosphere with their own unique themes and implementing comprehensive environment planning which incorporates art.
Hospital art contributes to the creation of a lively hospital environment where both hospital users and workers feel at ease and smile naturally. It also facilitates communication that connects people, hospitals and the local community.
Create a warm and caring atmosphere for patients and their families who experience anxiety when coming to the hospital.
Communicate the hospital’s philosophy, its approach and that it values paying careful attention to its users.
Provide an environment as similar to the patients’ everyday lives as possible and create a comfortable hospital environment by playing a supportive role in guiding visitors around the hospital.
Enhance employee wellbeing: create a sense of being a part of the facility and reduce turnover rate.
Connect the hospital to people in the community and encourage communication.
ArtPlace Inc. aims to use art to make every place creative. The company provides art to many different locations including medical facilities, educational facilities, private companies and public facilities.
New ward / renovated outpatient area, Yamaguchi University Hospital
Develop art that fits the function of each place, including hospital wards and outpatient departments
Hospital wards
The construction of a new ward was the first step in the Yamaguchi University Hospital redevelopment project. Yoshishige Watanabe, an art director of KIGI (a creative organization from Yamaguchi University), was selected as the artist for the project. Based on Mado Michio’s poetry, we developed art using an unprecedented “hospital and poetry” approach. Mado Michio is a poet from Yamaguchi prefecture who wrote many famous poems that are etched in people’s memories, such as Zou-san.
Art is placed in the elevator halls on each floor, entrance lobbies, staff lounges and other areas where visitors spend a lot of time. They are also placed in the operating room halls where patients and their family members feel anxious, the corridors of the pediatric ward and playrooms to distract patients from their illnesses.
Outpatient area
In the outpatient and triage areas where renovation will continue until March 2025, we are planning to display art mainly in the public areas so that many people can enjoy them. The hospital consists of multiple buildings, so art will be placed where movement lines cross, at junctions and at the center of each area. To facilitate the smooth movement of visitors, the art is planned to function as signage.
As a medical and research facility representing Yamaguchi Prefecture, the hospital introduced art that is suited to the region and reflects regional characteristics by featuring artists associated with the region. We planned the entire art project under the concept of regeneration, hoping for the regeneration of the patients who received treatment at the hospital as well as the new growth of the hospital through redevelopment projects. Digital art, which is rare in hospitals, will also be incorporated into the project, presenting a new challenge in the development of hospital art.
Owner: Yamaguchi University Hospital
Artists: Yoshie Watanabe, Eiichi Ishii, Yurika Kinoshita Photo: Daici Ano, Yasuhiro Tani
Cooperation: Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media [YCAM]
Art supports the functions of hospitals
Saitama Red Cross Hospital
This hospital plays an important role in acute care for the local community. Seeing the hospital as a big tree, we selected the theme, “Hospital Tree” for the interior and the art. It evokes the image of the hospital watching over the lives of the people in the local community who gather under the big tree.
On the large wall of the three-story atrium located in the center of the outpatient waiting area, we hung art that evokes the image of leaves growing on a big tree to evoke the image of the “Hospital Tree”
Art has been placed mainly around areas where patients move about. In conjunction with the signage plan, the art plays a supportive role as signs helping people find their way.
In addition, some of the art in the outpatient area covers medical gas outlets. In times other than emergencies, they are works of art that enable patients to have peace of mind.
Artwork hiding medical gas outlets can easily be removed in an emergency.
Art depicting leaves growing on a large tree. The color of the leaves is different in each area in conjunction with the signage plan.
Owner: Saitama Red Cross Hospital Artist: Masayuki Kishimoto Photo: BUN
The hospital is not a scary place anymore thanks to the renovation which included art
Ibaraki Children’s Hospital
Ibaraki Children’s Hospital has consistently been a leader in pediatric care in Ibaraki Prefecture where it plays a central role. When the facility was renovated nearly 30 years after its establishment in 1985, art was incorporated in the hospital to enhance the quality of its treatment spaces.
Lala and Coco are a pair of sea otters that are parent and child and have been a symbol of the hospital since its foundation and the hospital staff are very familiar with them. Using these sea otters as a main theme, we worked with the staff to create art that tells a story and depicts the hospital as Lala and Coco’s hometown.
This is an example of how an older, dark hospital can be transformed into a bright and cheerful place for children through a collaborative renovation project using art. Art that children can touch, feel and play with are on display to act as pain relievers while they wait.
Owner: Ibaraki Prefecture (Operator: Social Welfare Organization Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation, Ibaraki Saiseikai)
Artist: Jin Hasegawa Photo: SS, Naomichi Sode
Using art to create a hospital where patients can choose to be in different places according to their mood and condition
Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center
This medical center consists of four buildings, including a main building mainly for outpatients and a building mainly for adult inpatients. All of the buildings are low-rise and have multiple courtyards so that visitors can experience the surrounding greenery and the changing sky. The hospital is also designed to provide an environment that is more similar to the everyday lives of patients who are often hospitalized for long periods.
The art throughout the facility tells a story about a seed that begins to sprout in the sunlight that filters through the trees. We have created an environment where patients in various stages of treatment can choose the place they prefer to be in in the hospital according to their condition and mood and enjoy exploring the art located in a variety of locations. In the adult ward, many niches were created in the corridors for the display of paintings, sculptures and other art with different textures. With this variety of art, patients can find the place they prefer to be in place according to their mood and condition.
Many niches were created in the corridors of the inpatient ward to display a variety of art, including paintings and sculptures.
Owner: Osaka Prefecture
Artist: Takeshi Abe Ayako Inoue, Asae Soya, Takako Yoshimura, Yusuke Asai, and Atsuko Okubo
Photo: Shinwa Co.,Ltd
Community-based art that reflects the characteristics of the local region
Saiseikai Iizuka Kaho Hospital
This hospital is located in the Chikuho region, which once prospered as a coal mining area. It is a community healthcare hospital that is closely connected to the local community and provides a safe and healthy environment. We developed art using themes and motifs connected to the region. We hope that visitors to the hospital feel a connection between the magnificent history of the region and their current life through the art. It is our wish that by rediscovering the pride and joy of living in this area, the people who come to the hospital become attached to the region and the hospital, and also have a zest for living.
Community-based works of art inspired by the coal mining town are displayed in various locations in the hospital, including works using real coal, works that incorporate traditional local landscapes, photographs taken by an artist during his stay in the area, works that feature local plants, and works that pay homage to well-known local snacks that are well known by everyone. Patients and their family members will be aware of the hospital’s meticulous attention to detail.
A relief that combines pottery and metal sculpture. The multi-layered form was inspired by the strata of this land and the layers of its history.
This artwork features metasequoia leaves and berries, coal and other items related to the history of the land.
Photographs of everyday scenes taken by an artist while staying in his hometown and traveling around the Chikuho region.
Owner: Social Welfare Organization Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation, Fukuoka Saiseikai
Artists: Takehiko Higuchi, Masayuki Kishimoto, Takumi Ota, Keiichiro Furukado, Saburo Ota, Satoshi Hirose
Photo: Takumi Ota
Expansion of Hospital Art
Enhancement of working environments and the well-being of healthcare professionals
Hospital staff are committed to serving and caring for patients every day. Improving their work environment and changing it to reflect their thoughts and feelings will ultimately improve healthcare services and employee retention rates.
Displaying art helps enhance the staff’s working environment. For example, are is displayed in rest areas where nurses can briefly relax, in nap rooms where staff can relieve their fatigue, and in the cafeteria where staff can engage in conversation with each other.
Having hospital staff actively participate in the art planning and production process will facilitate the development of a sense of unity in the workplace and the maintenance and improvement of the staff’s motivation.
Long hallways become fun with art
Osaka Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Surgical Ward Artist | plaplax
Photo: Yoshida Photo Studio
Kanagawa Cancer Center Artist | Mizue Ogiso Photo: Takumi Ota
Saitama Prefectural Children’s Medical Center Artist | Kazuki Umigishi Wall art completed with staff’s participation Photo: Gosuke Sugiyama (Gottingham)
Keiyu Orthopedics Hospital Artist | Kumiko Tamura Staff Cafeteria
Yamaguchi University Hospital Artist | Yoshie Watanabe A wall leading to the staff lounge Photo: Daici Ano
Enhance services for patients’ families by providing better single-patient rooms to meet the increasing demand.
In recent years, single-patient rooms have become increasingly popular in hospitals because of the risk of infection and their advantages in terms of privacy. The hospital room is where the patient spends most of their time, and we want to make that place as comfortable as possible. The presence of art can create a feeling of security, as if the patient has returned to a place that is their own when they return to their hospital room after a medical examination. It can also create a relaxing environment for family and friends.
Usually, there are many long corridors in hospitals. For sick people, long corridors often make it feel like there is a long way to go to their destination and they are often distressing. Displaying art in long hallways provides a goal, reaching the next piece of artwork. It can also be a relief during the distressing time spent moving inside the hospital and provide a place where walking can become an enjoyable experience.
Fukuoka Saiseikai Iizuka Kaho Hospital Artist | Shinobu Moshino
Azumino Red Cross Hospital Artist | Sachiko Matsubara
Teikyo University Hospital New Building Artist | Takuro Iwamoto
Saitama Red Cross Hospital Artist | Yoko Sakakibara
Keiyu Orthopedics Hospital Artist | Nana Matsubara Entrance to women’s restroom
1-2-1, Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan
https://www.kotobuki-seating.co.jp/en/
ArtPlace Inc.
2-2-7, Sudacyo Kanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, 101-0041, Japan
https://www.artplace.co.jp/en/