Iwate Medical University Hospital

A plan to relocate and rebuild a designated function hospital—which provides advanced medical treatment and inpatient care—to the outskirts of Morioka City. Anticipating a super-aging society, the hospital aims to be a “hospital where patients never have to walk,” featuring a square floor plan with sides measuring 90 meters, where the clinical departments surround a central vertical circulation axis. Drawing on lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the project places a strong emphasis on maintaining medical functions during emergencies. The design is tailored to the local climate, featuring window treatments suited to the cold weather and lighting systems that compensate for the short daylight hours. Commercial facilities and a hotel have been developed on the site, creating a vibrant medical town.