INSIGHTS

2021.08.16

R&D WORKS Vol. 20

Katsuki Medical Building

The floors of the building turn into terraces.

R&D WORKS TOP

Changing the shape of a floor is considered difficult, but even in office buildings, it's surprisingly easy to update the plan, change its use, and completely refresh its image. For example, outdoor spaces in buildings have been attracting attention in recent years, and their value has been reassessed, but existing buildings rarely have such spaces. However, here, part of the top floor has been turned outdoors, creating a terrace. There are ways to transform the character of a building and create new uses. Here, an office, a place where hectic business takes place, has been transformed into a nurturing obstetrics and gynecology clinic. It's a bold update to the plan, but a rational idea. This book is packed with techniques for flexibly Renovation a rigid office.

A full view of the 9th floor terrace. The curtain wall on the corner blocks wind from the sky, improving comfort.

Reducing the building's floor space to improve earthquake resistance created an outdoor space

Aiming to create an easily accessible obstetrics and gynecology clinic, we considered utilizing an office in the city center. The entire building was Renovation as a clinic. In doing so, we reduced the building's size in order to improve its earthquake resistance. In addition to implementing seismic reinforcement measures, such as reinforcing the walls around the shaft, we also reduced the building's weight to reduce the strain on the structure. First, we removed the PC panels that had been used to conceal the penthouse. Furthermore, the jagged corners that had accented the existing building were literally "cut off" from the top to the bottom floor, significantly reducing the building's weight. Finally, we removed a portion of the roof slab, creating a large outdoor terrace on the ninth floor. This reduction in size created a new space. Outdoor terraces that allow for sunlight and breeze play a major role in transforming a workplace into a medical space. By leaving the columns and beams intact and leaving the structure unchanged, we were able to keep the scale of construction to a minimum. This maximized architectural repositioning with minimal intervention.

Plans of the 9th floor before (left) and after (right) renovation. The roof slab was partially dismantled and removed.
The exterior of the Katsuki Medical Building after renovation

Relationship between floor waterproofing and floor level when outdoors

In order to bring the existing slab, which had previously been indoors, outdoors, waterproofing the floor and insulating the floor below are essential. In particular, the waterproof layer must be installed on top of the slab. This means that the floor level of the terrace will be raised accordingly, but in consideration of the barrier-free nature of the hospital facility, it was decided to raise the level of the entire interior floor area and align the floor heights inside and outside. As the kitchen and other facilities will be located in the zone surrounding the floors and terrace, raising the floor level by 150 mm is also rational in terms of allowing for the installation of underfloor piping. Only the elevator hall will remain at the existing level, and is connected by a slope.
The studio next to the terrace is used for a variety of purposes, including maternity yoga, concerts, and large-screen screenings, all of which are integrated with the terrace, helping to improve the hospitality of the medical facility. In recent years, outdoor spaces have been attracting attention and their value is being reassessed from a variety of perspectives, including new ways of working and creating workplaces, as well as health and safety. Even in existing buildings, it is possible to create "floors that incorporate the outdoors" by using reduction and waterproofing techniques.

Cross-section of the 9th floor terrace. There is no difference in level with the terrace, so it can be used as a single unit with the indoor space.

For more information about Katsuki Medical Building, please see "Katsuki Medical Building – Smart Conversion."

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R&D TOP

Update : 2021.08.16

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