Uds Ltd. · CLIENT: UDS Ltd.
PW Shonan Fujisawa is a senior residence designed for independent living in Fujisawa City, Japan. The complex includes an on-site clinic, adaptable care units and shared facilities. A low-rise shared building holds a lounge, cafe, bathing facilities, a restaurant and a library. Handrails integrated with half-walls, chairs that support easy sitting and standing, wheelchair-friendly tables and studied lighting plans provide safety and comfort. A public cafe, gym, plaza and garden face the street, making the residence a local meeting place.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Research focused on balancing functionality and design for independent senior living and engagement with the local community. Methods included site analysis and case studies, including some testing such as chair mock-ups for sitting, standing, and evaluating lighting plans to ensure balance between safety, comfort, and attractive lighting, among other tests. Data informed participatory, lighting, and furniture design. These efforts foster multigenerational engagement and local revitalization.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area: 18,536.77sqm
Total floor area: 45,345.44sqm - Tags
- senior, residence, residential, architecture, interior, landscape
- Production Technology
- The shared building features a beach-inspired lounge, cafe, and bathing facilities on the first floor, and a seaside villa-inspired restaurant and library on the third. Handrails integrated with half-walls, wheelchair-friendly tables, and modular public spaces ensure safety and accessibility without compromising design quality. Natural circulation paths and interior greenery connect residents with communal areas, balancing functionality and aesthetic appeal.
- Design Challenge
- Fujisawa SST faced challenges of low foot traffic and a lack of multi-generational interaction. Objective: To solve these local issues by designing a senior residence as a new community destination. We placed a public cafe, plaza, and garden along key circulation paths. This created a new hub for specific multi-generational activities, presenting a model where design successfully generates both community vibrancy and social interaction.
- Project Duration
- Construction Start: June 2021
Completion: June 2024
Open: October 2024
Location: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa, Japan - Operation Flow
- The low-rise shared building evokes a seaside estate, integrating landscaping and a curtain wall emphasizing horizontal lines, creating a sense of openness. Public cafe and a gym face the street, welcoming community interaction. Interior greenery brings the outdoors inside, generating signature scenes that combine comfort, aesthetics, and an outdoor feeling. Residents circulate through communal and private spaces, fostering social interaction, autonomy, and connection with the surroundings.
- Research
- Balancing senior safety with high-quality design was the central challenge. Lighting, handrails, chairs supporting easy sitting and standing, and accessible tables were designed. While conventional residences often sacrifice aesthetics for functionality, this project integrates both, achieving a five-star hotel-like quality. Attention to material selection, furniture, and interior landscaping further enhanced the residential experience while meeting all safety and accessibility standards.
- Inspiration
- Conventional senior homes often limit healthy, independent seniors to a life constrained by care needs, with few opportunities for social interaction or personal choice. This project was inspired by the desire to offer autonomy, social engagement, and personalized daily experiences later life, integrating an on-site clinic, adaptable care units, and diverse communal facilities. Public cafe, fitness areas, and parks further encourage multigenerational interaction and vibrant neighborhood life.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Nacasa & Partners, 2024
Optional Image #1: Nacasa & Partners, 2024
Optional Image #2: Nacasa & Partners, 2024
Optional Image #3: Nacasa & Partners, 2024
Optional Image #4: Nacasa & Partners, 2024
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