Vision and Concept
TSURUMI Children’s Hospice (TCH), inspired by Britain’s Helen & Douglas House, is Japan’s first community-supported hospice for children. Located in Tsurumi Ryokuchi Flower Expo Memorial Park in Osaka, TCH aims to support children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It operates not just as a hospice but as a part of the community, creating a space where residents can interact with their neighbors daily, fostering a supportive environment.
Integrating with the Community
The hospice is designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, offering a public square where children staying at the facility can play with neighborhood kids. This interaction is a cornerstone of TCH’s mission to integrate with the community, ensuring that the entire neighborhood becomes a support system for the children and their families.
Architectural Design: A Village Concept
The design concept for TCH revolves around creating a space that feels like a village rather than a traditional healthcare facility. The architects envisioned a series of interconnected spaces, allowing children and families to choose where they want to spend their time based on their current needs. Each area within the hospice is connected, providing a variety of spaces and scales that mimic the dynamic environment of a village.
Creating Diverse and Fun Spaces
The hospice consists of six houses connected by a central “street” space. Each house features rooms with different characteristics, including playrooms, music rooms, living areas, kitchens, and accommodations. This design ensures that walking through the hospice feels like an adventure, filled with fun and joy.
Emphasis on Natural Elements
Wood, tiles, metal, and soft materials are used extensively in both interior and exterior finishes to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Small hangout spaces and gardens of various shapes and sizes are nestled between the houses, providing places for relaxation or privacy. Deep eaves facing the courtyard block out the summer sun, and the central street allows for a comfortable breeze, making it a pleasant space year-round.
Extending into the Community
The hospice’s central street extends to the park square and connects to the local subway station and residential areas. Along this street are features like the “Community Square” and “Play Hill,” where residents can interact with neighborhood children and participate in seasonal events, further strengthening community bonds.
Recognizable and Inviting Design
The facade of the hospice is designed to evoke the image of a primitive house that anyone can recognize as a home. Proportions and details were carefully considered to create a welcoming and familiar appearance. For ease of maintenance, the building incorporates practical features like gravel gutters instead of eaves gutters.
A Heartfelt Experience
The architects aimed to create a scene that moves the heart, designing a space full of small joys and discoveries for children, families, and supporters. This innovative approach to hospice care hopes to inspire broader community support and serve as a model for future community-supported children’s hospices in Japan.
In summary, TSURUMI Children’s Hospice is a pioneering facility that integrates architectural excellence with community support to create a nurturing and engaging environment for children with serious illnesses and their families.
