Herbal Medicine Laboratory

2021@Taki, Mie Prefecture

The Herbal Medicine Laboratory is a facility that researches and manufactures the medicated bath formulas offered at Honzo Spa, a bath facility in the VISON complex in Mie Prefecture. It also includes an attached shop and café. Honzo Spa offers 72 different kinds of medicated baths throughout the year, providing a new formula approximately every five days, according to the herbal bath calendar known as the “Honzo 72 Pentads.” The primary function of this facility is to develop and produce these unique recipes. Since the facility is centered around herbal medicine, we emphasized the relationship with the natural environment in both its layout and design.

The welcoming scene: As guests walk up the hill from the commercial area, they are greeted by the picturesque view of the mountains and the Herbal Medicine Laboratory. The building’s design was inspired by the scenic composition of the mountains.　Photos by Takenori Hikosaka/SS (this and five photos hereafter)
Approach: The building shows up when walking halfway up the winding hill path.
Full view: A simple, single-story wooden building. The right side houses the laboratory and workshop, while the shop and café are located on the left side, separated by the central core.
Full view of shop and café
Café: The continuity from the inside to the outside is emphasized by the ceiling.
Inside the café: Photos by Takenori Hikosaka/SS (Six photos up to here)
Interstitial space: The large space under the eaves produces a continuous area connecting the inside and outside.　Photos by ToLoLo Studio (this and two photos hereafter)
Inside the shop
Café counter
Space under the eaves: The space under the overhang penetrates the front side of the building. A variety of uses, including herbal tasks and workshops, are expected.　Photos by Takenori Hikosaka/SS (this and two photos hereafter)
Lighting and scenery: We carefully chose lighting that brings out the best of the evening scenery.
View from the Honzo spa parking space: Mountains of Mie, the actual site of herbal medicine studies.