Kobe Kaisei Hospital (神戸海星病院)

The hospital descends from an institution founded in 1871, described as the oldest hospital for foreigners in Kobe. It opened under its present name, Kobe Kaisei Hospital (神戸海星病院), in October 1961.

Since 1983 Tadao Ando has been designing hillside housing complexes at the foot of Mount Rokko; the hospital and its associated nursing-care residence for older people form the fourth complex in the series. They were built by Obayashi and Takenaka.

The full rebuilding of the hospital began in October 2004. The hospital moved into the new building in December 2006. The whole complex, care home included, was completed in June 2009. The works lasted nearly five years and were carried out without closing the hospital, which was over forty years old: construction of the new wings, moves, demolition of the old building, then, last, construction of the care home.

The hospital building and the care-home building each draw a gentle arc that follows the shape of the foot of Mount Rokko and reduces the overbearing effect of the whole. The establishment enjoys sun, greenery and views.

The complex, in reinforced concrete, has four buildings with 31,997 m2 of floor area, rising to twelve levels above ground with two basement levels. Concrete sets the tone of spaces filled with light.

The project brings together on one site a 180-bed hospital and a care residence for older people with 111 units.