Industry’s best are honoured from afar at the 2020 Australian Interior Design Awards

The Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA) unveiled its winners differently this year, by live-streaming via Facebook and inviting the country’s leading creatives to attend remotely.

“We’re not having our party tonight, but it’s a great occasion for us to celebrate our talent,” says jury member Sarah-Jane Pyke from Arent & Pyke.

In its 17th year AIDA, an initiative between the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s Artichoke magazine, is a leading industry accolade that celebrates the most outstanding work across the areas of residential, commercial and public spaces.

Of the 578 entries this year, 203 were shortlisted by a jury of eight industry experts, including Patrick Kennedy from Kennedy Nolan, Stuart Vokes from Vokes and Peters, and Angela Biddle from Scott Carver Architects, who says there was a real diversity of projects across each category.

“The standout projects showed a clarity in design thinking and consideration for the end user experience,” she says. “They were well executed, well detailed and, most importantly, very modern in that they broke the mould of the typology of their particular category.”

The biggest winner on the night was Hassell Studio for their work on Melbourne fine dining institution Di Stasio Citta.

Taking home the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design, Hospitality Design (joint winner with Richards Stanisich for Hotel Rose Bay) and Best of State Commercial Design (Victoria), they were commended by the jury for their “strong conceptual offering that’s original, brave and highly impactful”.

Alongside bold textures like exposed concrete, hand-plastered stucco and black and white terrazzo, prominent Australian artworks are projected on the walls and sidewalk outside. Combined, they make for a unique, dramatic, and thoroughly memorable customer experience.

Triple honours for Residential Decoration, Design, and Best of State Residential Design (NSW) went to Budge Over Dover by Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem from YSG (formerly Amber Road).

An opulent riff on the classic family beach abode, it features custom furnishings, sumptuous colours and luxurious textures for a seamless flow between inside and out. Ghoniem was also commended for her skill in working with the existing building fabric that creates the perfect transition between the old and new.

Jessie Fowler and Tara Ward of Melbourne-based Fowler and Ward were named the Emerging Interior Design Practice. Lauded for their clarity of approach, fearlessness and experimentation, the jury noted “everything they do is perfectly articulated and successful in increasing engagement between people and design”.

Other accolades included Best Residential Design (South Australia) for Plaster Fun House by Sans-Arc. Their cottage renovation is a spirited take on art deco and ocean liner-inspired architecture. Complete with curves, plaster and terrazzo throughout, it embodies functionality as well as a playful aesthetic.

Alicia Holgar was awarded Best Residential Design (Queensland) for her refurbishment of Avian Apartment, an art-filled abode located in an iconic Harry Seidler building. Inspired by the great modernist architect, its curves, cantilevers and robust materiality provide a backdrop for an impressive art collection and stunning city views.

For Pyke, this year’s winning entries prove just how broad and unique Australian design can be.

“We saw personality and diversity,” she says. “There isn’t just one look in Australian interiors. There is an incredible wealth of creativity and it was fabulous to see.”

Full list of winners

Premier Award for Australian Interior Design

Hassell for Di Stasio Citta, Vic

Interior Design Impact Award

PTID for StudioFive, Vic

Sustainability Advancement Award

Jackson Clements Burrows Architects for Gillies Hall, Vic

Emerging Interior Design Practice

Award: Fowler and Ward

Commendation: Esoteriko Interior Architecture Eastop Architects

Residential Design

Award: YSG (formerly Amber Road) for Budge Over Dover, NSW

Commendation: studiofour for Ruxton Rise Residence, Vic

Eastop Architects for Elm Tree Place, Vic

Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Tree House, NSW.

Killing Matt Woods for Perfect Storm, NSW

Residential Decoration

Award: YSG (formerly Amber Road) for Budge Over Dover, NSW

Commendation: Alicia Holgar for Avian Apartment, Qld

Chelsea Hing for Orchard House, Vic

Hospitality Design

Award: Hassell for Di Stasio Citta, Vic (joint winner) and Richards Stanisich for Hotel Rose Bay, NSW (joint winner)

Commendation: studio-gram for Leigh Street Wine Room, SA

Carr for Eazy Peazy Richmond, Vic

Retail Design

Award: Hecker Guthrie for Script Skincare, Vic

Commendation: The Stella Collective & Thomas Coward Studio for Il Bosco Artedomus

Hogg & Lamb for Salon X Papas, Qld

Studio Goss for Armadillo & Co Sydney Showroom, NSW

Public Design

Award: Cox Architecture for Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ, NSW

Commendation: Six Degrees Architects for RMIT Capitol Theatre, Vic

Hassell for Angel Place Lobby, NSW

Bates Smart for Gandel Wing, Cabrini Malvern, Vic

Workplace Design

Award: Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design for Warwick Creative Studio, Vic

Commendation: Mim Design for Cobild HQ, Vic

Carr for Norton Rose Fulbright Sydney, NSW

Hassell for Transurban Melbourne, Vic

Installation Design

Award: Liminal Objects with Van Tuil for The Magic Box, Tas (joint winner)

Studio Goss for Articolo Lighting – Milan, Italy (joint winner)

Best of State Awards for Residential Design

New South Wales: YSG (formerly Amber Road) for Budge Over Dover

Queensland: Alicia Holgar for Avian Apartment

South Australia: Sans-Arc Studio for Plaster Fun House

Victoria: studiofour for Ruxton Rise Residence

Western Australia: Decus Interiors for Coastal Home

Best of State Awards for Commercial Design

Australian Capital Territory: BVN for Marie Reay Teaching Centre, ANU

New South Wales: Richards Stanisich for Hotel Rose Bay

Queensland: The Stella Collective & Thomas Coward Studio for Il Bosco Artedomus

South Australia: studio-gram for Leigh Street Wine Room

Tasmania: Liminal Objects with Van Tuil for The Magic Box

Victoria: Hassell for Di Stasio Citta

Western Australia:  Ohlo Studio for Willing Coffee

Best International Design Award

Studio Goss for Articolo Lighting – Milan, Milano