See the winners of the 2019 Australian Interior Design Awards
Arent & Pyke’s Under the Tree. Photographer: Anson Smart
Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, the 2019 Australian Interior Design Awards toasted the best in interior design across a range of categories. Winners were announced in Melbourne last Friday at a gala attended by 550 of Australia’s leading architects, interior designers and professionals. The awards are the result of a partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Artichoke magazine and winners are selected by a jury panel of experts.
Keep scrolling to see all the winners and jury comments.
Photographer: Tom Ferguson
Premier Award for Australian Interior Design – George Livissianis for USFIN, NSW
Jury comments: This hair salon combines a genuinely clever concept with a daring aesthetic that’s memorable, to say the least. And in today’s digital age, where social media reigns supreme and Instagram is king, this is one of those rare projects that doesn’t disappoint in person, rather, it exceeds expectations. It stands out because it is so complete as a concept and interior and has a real joyfulness to it, despite its futuristic laboratory aesthetic.
Photographer: Derek Swalwell
Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice – Pierce Widera, VIC
Jury comments: There’s a definite diversity to Pierce Widera’s portfolio, but at the same time its work exhibits a clarity of thought and expression that’s consistent across all projects. The jury unanimously agreed on the studio’s confident detailing and thoughtful use of materials. All of Pierce Widera’s interiors have enormous appeal and look like they’ve successfully met their brief in a manner that’s extremely professional, ordered and resolved.
Photographer: Tom Ferguson
Award for Retail Design – George Livissianis for USFIN, NSW
Jury comments: This project is compelling as a complete package of design thinking that dramatically reinvents the standard hairdressing salon typology. The designer set out to deliberately create a futuristic laboratory environment, taking inspiration from atypical hairdressing elements like music cases and airplane trolleys. It could have made for a cold, uncomfortable atmosphere, but instead it’s quite the opposite and appears to be an engaging place where anyone getting their hair done is made to feel special.
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Photographer: Derek Swalwell
Award for Residential Design – Joint winner Kennedy Nolan for Oak House, VIC
Jury comments: The jury was impressed by the use of primary colours in this reworking of a double-fronted Victorian cottage, which extends across inside and outside to add drama as well as a sense of warmth. Internally, a distinct architectural sensibility is evident, and everything appears sculptural as a result, while the textural material palette and exquisite detailing highlight the lushness of the interior design.
Photographer: Tom Blachford
Award for Residential Design – Joint winner Ritz & Ghougassian for Edsall Street, VIC
Jury comments: Edsall Street’s mature restraint is extraordinary and makes for a home that’s calming and welcoming. It’s an exquisitely resolved interior with a sense of simplicity and understated yet timeless material execution that highlights the space’s beautiful lines and light. A project this restrained is always in danger of appearing to lack in some way, but Edsall Street’s interior feels complete and has so much breathing space.
Photographer: Anson Smart
Award for Residential Decoration – Arent & Pyke for Under The Tree, NSW
Jury comments: It’s a beautiful, welcoming and well-curated home that appears like everything in it was given intense scrutiny for a harmonious result. Most importantly, it feels like it was designed for the one family, not just anyone. In this respect, the project is not generic – it’s a highly personalised interior that’s a unique expression of both the client and designers. The combination of artwork, a strong tonal palette and clear connection to the outdoors particularly speaks to the soul of the space. See the house tour here.
Photographer: Sharyn Cairns
Award for Hospitality Design – Carr for United Places Botanic Gardens South Yarra, VIC
Jury comments: The jury commended this project’s beautiful spatial sequence, textural material palette and exquisite detailing. It looks like the result of great discussion and debate between the designers and client and exhibits a willingness to go beyond what would normally be expected or accepted in hotel design, making it an incredibly exciting offering. Guests are drawn down the hallways through the use of ambient lighting and this sense of journey continues into each of the faultlessly executed rooms. Read our United Places review here.
Photographer: Brett Boardman
Award For Workplace Design – BVN for BVN Sydney Studio, NSW
Jury comments: This project focuses on how people are actually working in the space rather than making it all about the amenity areas. It exhibits powerful thinking in this respect and offers a genuine attempt to remake the office environment to suit BVN Sydney Studio’s creative workflow. Everything is transparent and this means the creative process is exposed and on show, encouraging collaboration and experimentation.
Photographer: John Gollings
Award for Interior Design Impact– BVN for Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School, NSW
Jury comments: Initially, the physical transformation is obvious – a dark, sombre 1970s Telstra training centre has been converted into an open, light, energetic primary school. Through planning and the removal of the majority of existing walls, the interior is visually and physically connected to its suburban environment, activating the streetscape and contributing positively to the wider community.
Photographer: Taku Miota
Installation Design Award – National Gallery of Victoria for Between Two Worlds: Escher X nendo, VIC
Jury comments: It is important that projects in this category elicit an emotive response and the visual beauty, detail, lighting and graphic nature of Escher X nendo: Between Two Worlds does this resoundingly well. The jury commended the rigour and restraint exercised in the exhibition of Escher’s work via the creation of spatial environments by nendo and the NGV and agreed the coupling of artist and designer was a brilliant idea.
Photographer: Casey Vallance
Award for Public Design – Cox Architecture for Waltzing Matilda Centre, QLD
Jury comments: The project has a clear narrative that has influenced the design’s colour palette and materiality, with the articulation of strong interior spaces as a result. Heavily textured walls, custom-made brass light fittings and polished flooring lend the interior a highly crafted appearance and provides visitors with many memorable interludes and vignettes of artisanal beauty.