The NPO Aoyama Design Forum (ADF), a nonprofit organization, has announced the results of the judging for the ADF Design Award 2026, recognizing outstanding architects from around the world. The Grand Prize and Excellence Award winners have been selected, marking a landmark moment in this year’s design calendar. Winners: Grand Prize: KEISUKE KOIKE (Thirdparty / K2YT). Excellence Award: Jeravej Hongsakul (IDIN Architects). Excellence Award: Jannis Renner (ATELIER BRÜCKNER). Congratulations to all the winners and entrants who contributed to a strong field across diverse architectural disciplines.
The ADF Design Award carries a total prize of USD 30,000. The winners will have the opportunity to attend the award ceremony in Milan during Milano Salone, starting April 21, 2026. Additionally, the winners will exhibit their work in collaboration with the Milan Architects Association’s Best Graduation Award for Polytechnic University of Milan students and interior design company GARDE, highlighting cross-cultural exchange and collaboration between practitioners and emerging talents.
Grand Prize winner: Keisuke Koike born in Zushi, Japan, in 1974. Raised in a coastal town that blends sea and mountains, shaping his approach to design. Attended Waseda University (entered 1994; completed graduate studies in 2000). Joined NASCA in 2001, working under Professor Seiichi Furuya. Founded K2YT in 2008 and co-founded Thirdparty in 2012 to tackle larger-scale projects. Has been a part-time lecturer at Waseda University since 2013 and at Musashino University since 2017. Category Cultural Buildings Winning project: Miyakonojo Komizo Eye Clinic
Miyakonojo Komizo Eye Clinic reimagines waiting as a meaningful, active experience rather than a passive period in front of screens. The building is composed of segmented roofs with varying ceiling heights to create park-like gathering spaces alongside intimate areas for privacy and calm. Gardens between the roofs bring soft natural light deep into the interior, softening the boundary between inside and outside. Corridors become places to pause, and seating—both indoors and outdoors—encourage patients to spend time in a welcoming, community-oriented environment.
The project explores growth and new beginnings through the integration of nature and architecture. Simplified gable forms are separated to allow trees to grow through the building, as if seeds were planted within its core and protected by the façade. The exterior is clad in blackened wood for a calm, minimal look, while the interior reveals flowing curves and warm timber tones, delivering a dynamic spatial experience.
Excellence Award: Jannis Renner. Senior Project Manager at ATELIER BRÜCKNER in Stuttgart with over a decade of experience in architectural design and project management. Roles include conception, development, planning, coordination, and realization of complex exhibition and architectural projects across all phases, from competition design to construction management. Since 2017, he has served as a lecturer at HTWG Konstanz – University of Applied Sciences, teaching architecture in an intercultural context. He is a member of the German Chamber of Architects. Winning project: Uzbekistan Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka. Category: Hospitality
The Uzbekistan Pavilion, titled Garden of Knowledge: A Laboratory for a Future Society, showcases the country’s transformation through architecture, exhibition, and immersive storytelling. Inspired by historic caravanserai forms, the design creates a space for exchange and learning, blending traditional references with contemporary design. A rooftop garden features a sculptural wooden structure reminiscent of the colonnaded halls of Khiva’s Juma Mosque. Inside, the exhibition addresses sustainability, innovation, and education, culminating in a rising platform with a 360-degree multimedia experience. The pavilion is designed for reuse and will be relocated to Nukus to be rebuilt as part of a Children’s Library.
The juries for the ADF Design Award 2026 included: Dr. Ooi Boon Seong (Chief Executive Director, OD&A), Maria Vittoria Capitanucci (Milan Order of Architects), M.L. Varudh Varavarn (Founder, Principal Architect, Vin Varavarn Architects), Seuk Hoon Kim (Executive Director, Korean Society of Interior Architects/Designers), Suzy Annetta (Founder and Publisher, Design Anthology), Kelly Tan (Acting Director of Industry, DesignSingapore Council), Marco Bevolo (Adjunct Professor of Design Future, World University of Design; Founder, Marco Bevolo Consulting), Heather Dubbeldam (Principal, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design), Mark Olthoff (Principal, Owner, Olson Kundig), Christina Yao (China Editor, Dezeen), Ben Kikkawa (Zaha Hadid Architects), Nicola Maniero (Kengo Kuma & Associates)
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