Hosted by NPO Aoyama Design Forum (ADF), the “ADF Design Award 2026” has selected the work of Keisuke Koike as the Grand Prize winner in the Cultural Buildings Category. In this interview, we introduce Keisuke Koike and the story behind his award-winning project and design process.

Keisuke Koike

Could you tell us about your background as an architect?
I am currently based in Tokyo. I was born in a town near Tokyo surrounded by both sea and mountains, and I grew up in an old traditional Japanese house. The house stood at the center of the site and was surrounded by dense greenery. Inside, it was dimly lit, and as a child I sometimes found it a little frightening—it was precisely the kind of space Junichiro Tanizaki described in “In Praise of Shadows.” I vividly remember the dappled sunlight filtering through the garden trees, reflecting off the tatami mats and softly illuminating the interior. It felt as though the boundary between the surrounding environment and the architecture itself had dissolved. This is my primal landscape, and I constantly strive to create such relationships between architecture and its environment.

Within architecture, are there particular fields or project phases in which you specialize?
I don’t have any specific areas of specialization. Whether the project involves small or large-scale architecture, private residences, or public facilities, it goes without saying that we strive to develop the best possible plan based on the given conditions, such as function and scale. However, what I consider even more important is what kind of space will be meaningful for the people who use it, and how the architecture should relate to its surrounding environment. For that reason, I hope to be able to respond to any type of architectural project. Architecture is also something created collaboratively with many people—clients, communities, collaborators, and builders—so communication among all participants is extremely important.

When generating ideas, what inspires you, and do you have any personal methods or philosophies for organizing your thoughts and developing concepts?
I believe that interpreting the surrounding environment is extremely important. By observing and analyzing the history, nature, and culture of a place, I gain insights into how architecture should exist there. In doing so, I try to maintain a critical perspective even toward what is commonly accepted as common sense, returning to the origins of architecture and reflecting on what it should be in the present day.

What kinds of creative fields outside of architecture interest you? Do you ever incorporate them into your architectural work?
I am interested in all forms of art—music, painting, film, and literature—and I also have a strong interest in cooking. The creativity that culminates in the moment a dish is completed in the mouth exists on a different time axis from architecture, and I find it fascinating. While I do not consciously reference these arts when thinking about architecture, I am certain they influence me in various ways.

Could you share the background of your awarded project and the process that led to its completion?
This project began with a request from a physician friend. The site was located along a busy arterial road, a typical characterless environment often seen in regional areas of Japan. While the client specified the required rooms and basic planning requirements, the rest was left entirely to my discretion. Therefore, I aimed not only to create the best possible architecture but also to design something that could positively influence the surrounding environment.

In a hospital environment, the act of “waiting” becomes a major part of a patient’s stay. Medical procedures such as examinations, consultations, and surgeries often place patients in a passive role for extended periods of time. Waiting is typically seen as time to pass with televisions or smartphones, but I wanted to transform this “waiting” into a more positive and active experience through architecture.

To achieve this, we incorporated various elements such as a garden. People can sit wherever they like, both inside and outside the building. While waiting for examinations or consultations, their eyes can naturally turn toward the garden, allowing them to experience the changing expressions of nature over time. In this way, the waiting time can become a richer and more meaningful experience. We aimed to create a space that is open to the community like a park, yet still retains a subtle sense of privacy. Although the building appears small and simple in composition, it contains many intricate details. I am deeply grateful to the builders whose skills and dedication made it possible to realize this project.

Miyakonojo Komizo Eye Clinic

Miyakonojo Komizo Eye Clinic

Miyakonojo Komizo Eye Clinic

Miyakonojo Komizo Eye Clinic

What kind of work would you like to create in the future?
I hope to continue creating spaces where the presence of architecture improves the surrounding environment and enriches people’s lives.

What are your impressions of ADF?
In Japan, architects unfortunately do not enjoy as high a social standing as they do in Europe and other countries, and it cannot necessarily be said that architecture is regarded as an absolutely essential profession. Given this situation, I think it is wonderful that an international award originating in Japan has been established with the aim of embedding design more deeply into society.