

kengo kuma finalizes timber clad nursing home in kanagawa

photo © nakamura kai

all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

japanese architect kengo kuma has completed a nursing home and day-care center in his own prefecture of kanagawa. entitled ‘hayama no mori’, the project sees the acclaimed designer fully utilize the pure and versatile qualities of wood, cladding the structure in strips of angled timber resulting in a continuous and dynamic horizontal pattern that stretches along the entirety of building’s façade. behind the rhythmically composed elevations, a series of brightly lit and open volumes extend throughout the L-shaped floor plan. the two-storey building is articulated around a latticed library, which rises upwards connecting the design through a series of interlocking strips.



the structure is clad in strips of angled timber resulting in a continuous and dynamic horizontal pattern

photo © nakamura kai



the two-storey building is articulated around a latticed library which rises upwards

photo © nakamura kai



a timber staircase connects the building’s two storeys

photo © nakamura kai



the use of wood is continued inside the nursing home

photo © nakamura kai



open and brightly lit volumes are found behind the rhythmically composed elevations

photo © nakamura kai



the L-shaped ‘hayama no mori’ illuminated at night

photo © nakamura kai

project info:

location: kanagawa, japan

type: nursing home, day‐care center

area: 1374.32 sqm

completed: 2014

photography: nakamura kai