Shirokanedai Institute of Public Health

The historic Institute of Public Health building in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo is going to be restored and converted into a centre for palliative care for cancer patients, a children’s club and short-term child care facility.

The Institute was built in 1938 as a medical training and research centre. The 76-year old building has a total floor space of 15,000 sqm with two basement floors, five floors above ground and a 3-storey tower. It was designed by architect and engineer Yoshikazu Uchida. Uchida designed a number of buildings for the University of Tokyo and also worked on the design of the Dojunkai Apartment buildings across Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. His style became known as ‘Uchida Gothic’.

This building along with the adjoining University of Tokyo’s Institute of Medical Science Building are considered to be two leading examples of Uchida’s work.

The Institute was established with a generous donation from the Rockefeller Foundation. As a result, the quality of materials and interior finish is said to exceed that of the neighbouring Tokyo University campus building.

Shirokanedai Institute of Public Health 2
The lecture hall (3) and the director’s office (4)

The Institute has been empty since 2002. In 2005, the Japan Institute of Architects appealed to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to consider preserving and re-using the building. In 2006, 500 ward residents sent a petition to the head of Minato ward with a similar request for preservation.

In 2009, Minato ward acquired the building and land. Building repairs, earthquake-retrofitting and wheelchair access work is expected to cost approximately 10 billion Yen. The building is scheduled to be opened in 2017. After repairs, the ward has plans to register it as a cultural property.

Shirokanedai Institute of Public Health 1

Sources:
Minato-ku News Release, February 2014.
The Asahi Shimbun, October 26, 2014.

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