2wa, Kyoto, Produced and Architecturally Designed by GRIFFON Inc., Wins iF Design Award 2026
Creating New Urban Circulation Through Architecture and Place-Making
2wa, Kyoto, a mixed-use development in Kyoto produced and architecturally designed by GRIFFON Inc., has received the iF Design Award 2026, one of the world’s most prestigious design awards.
Located in Kyoto’s Okazaki-Shogoin district, 2wa, Kyoto was conceived as more than a commercial or office development. The project was planned as a place where local residents, visitors, and office workers can naturally intersect, creating new flows of activity and supporting gradual urban regeneration.
The name “2wa” was conceived with two layered meanings: “two rings” and “niwa,” the Japanese word for garden.
The first meaning, “two rings,” reflects the project’s aspiration to gently connect seemingly opposing ideas-such as tradition and innovation, the local community and the wider world, and everyday life and business-without reducing them to a binary opposition. Rather than positioning these concepts in conflict, “2wa” seeks to hold them in relation, creating a place where different values can coexist and circulate with ease.
The second meaning, “niwa,” expresses the hope that this place will become a contemporary garden for the people of Higashiyama-Nijo and Okazaki. While the name may appear to international audiences as a symbolic and modern designation, pronounced “two-double-you-ay,” its sound was also carefully considered to evoke a sense of familiarity and warmth for Japanese speakers.
As real estate development increasingly requires social and regional impact beyond functionality and financial performance, projects are expected to generate broader value for surrounding communities. 2wa, Kyoto reflects this shift by positioning architecture not as an isolated object, but as a catalyst for interaction, place-making, and long-term urban vitality.
GRIFFON Inc., led by CEO Taka Saito, is a Japan-based creative consulting firm specializing in branding, creative direction, project management, and international market expansion. Working at the intersection of business strategy, design, and communication, GRIFFON supports the creation of brands, spaces, services, and experiences with both local insight and global perspective.
About 2wa, Kyoto
・Mixed-use office and commercial development opened in Fall 2025
・Location: 31-1 Shogoin Rengezocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
・Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Higashiyama Station (Kyoto Subway), Sanjo Station, and Jingu-Marutamachi Station (Keihan Railway)
・Floor Composition:
1F: AEON Style Higashiyama Nijo
2F-4F: Office floors with coworking spaces and a shared kitchen
B1F: Parking for 54 vehicles
・Architectural design inspired by the Higashiyama mountain range
・Features a large heated staircase designed as a communal gathering space
・Conceived as an “urban engawa” where office workers and local residents can naturally connect
About GRIFFON Inc.
GRIFFON Inc. is a creative consulting firm specializing in branding, creative direction, project management, and international market expansion. Operating at the intersection of business strategy, design, and communication, the firm helps organizations translate brand vision into products, services, spaces, and experiences.
With experience spanning market entry for global brands in Japan and overseas expansion for Japanese companies, GRIFFON integrates local insight with a global perspective. Its work covers hospitality, mixed-use development, commercial facilities, urban regeneration, and place-making, with a focus on creating long-term value for businesses, communities, and cities.
