The Australian Interior Design Awards has concluded for 2025, with Brisbane’s moody and theatrically designed basement restaurant, Central by J.AR Office taking out the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design at the Gala event on 6 June at the Sofitel, Melbourne.
The Australian Interior Design Awards celebrate interior design excellence, both nationally and internationally. Marking its 22nd year, the program is a partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s InteriorsAu.
This year’s entries showcase a refined aesthetic, underscored by clear narratives and a commitment to user’s wellbeing. The jury commented that, “the strongest projects place human experience at the forefront, creating immersive spatial environments that educate, bring joy, nurture and inspire.”
Entries were evaluated across sector-specific categories such as residential, retail, hospitality, public, workplace, and installation design, alongside awards for Sustainability Advancement and Emerging Interior Design Practice categories.
The jury shared that this year’s awards “are an opportunity for our industry to stand back, take it all in and genuinely celebrate the quality of interior design being produced in Australia today. We can give ourselves a collective pat on the back as we continue to produce work that is inventive and sophisticated.”
The jury awarded Central by J.AR Office top honours, praising it as a “highly inventive project” that was “executed with a level of cleverness that uses constraints to its advantage.” Central is a superior example of emotive interior design, creating a space for fun, raucous nights out. The project was awarded a trio of accolades, securing the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design, Best of State Commercial for Queensland and Hospitality Design Award.
Studio Prineas took out both the Residential Design and Best of State Residential for New South Wales awards for the Montage Apartment. The jury commended the project for its “strong and nuanced colour palette and detailing, including the curvature of the door frames, island pillar and orange grouting, all of which make the interior design unique.” The colourful Panorama House by Sally Caroline won the Residential Decoration Award and Best of State Residential for Victoria. The home was recognised for its “coloured joinery denoting the home’s different zones.”
The Retail Design category was won by Design Office for Vic’s Meats, Chatswood Chase, which was also awarded Best of State Commercial in New South Wales. The jury agreed that its “bold and highly distinctive design redefines the everyday butcher shop, elevating the brand experience with clarity and confidence, while being engaging and accessible.”
The jury was moved by the winner of the Installation Design category, Botanical Lab for Kids which was designed by Gloss Creative in collaboration with Azuma Makoto and National Gallery of Victoria to encourage play based learning. The project “invites children’s curiosity and promotes discovery through art and design” and “fosters a vibrant and playful atmosphere.” It was also awarded Best of State Commercial for Victoria.
Taking out the Public Design category was The Australian War Memorial New Entrance, by Studio SC, which employs outstanding craftsmanship to deliver a moving, impactful interior. The project was awarded Best of State Commercial in the Australian Capital Territory, with the jury stating, it “exemplifies how craftsmanship can amplify solemnity through the showcasing of material aptitude and its exceptionally detailed execution.”
Cox Architecture impressed the jury with its Cox Architecture Adelaide Studio project, a workplace that has promoted wellness using natural materials in collaboration with First Nations Elders. The project was awarded dual accolades, winning the Workplace Design Award and Best of State Commercial for South Australia.
The award for Workplace Design was shared with Arup Workplace, Perth/Boorloo by Hames Sharley with Arup and Peter Farmer Designs. It also exemplifies clear sensitivity to how people interact with an interior, employing resources responsibly to deliver a user-friendly outcome that makes it worthy of the Sustainability Advancement award.
Byron Bay-based Studio Plenty was awarded Emerging Interior Design Practice based on the merits of Burly Bar, an exceptional study in how bold colour can be used to create a lusciously moody interior that makes people feel welcome. This project also exhibited exquisite detailing and a thoughtfully considered, well resolved understanding of materiality that enhances a space’s purpose.
2025 AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS
Premier Award for Australian Interior Design
J.AR Office for Central, Queensland
Residential Design
Award
Studio Prineas for Montage Apartment, New South Wales
Commendations
Anthony Gill Architects for Clifton House, New South Wales
Hecker Guthrie for Byron Bay Residence, New South Wales
Kennedy Nolan for Rosherville House, New South Wales
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Lillelund, New South Wales
Youssofzay Hart for Onslow Gardens Apartment, New South Wales
Residential Decoration
Award
Sally Caroline for Panorama House, Victoria
Commendations
Allison Pye Interiors with Leeton Pointon Architects and Interiors for House on a Hill, Victoria
Golden for Littlewood Residence, Victoria
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Lillelund, New South Wales
Simone Haag for Norfolk House, Victoria
Hospitality Design
Award
J.AR Office for Central, Queensland
Commendations
Acme in collaboration with Caon Design Office for Song Bird, New South Wales
Akin Atelier for Good Luck Restaurant Bar, New South Wales
Studio Gram for Coopers Brand Home, South Australia
Kennedy Nolan for Melbourne Place, Victoria
Kerry Kounnapis Architecture Practice for Palace Coffee, Victoria
Retail Design
Award
Platform by Design Office for Vic’s Meat, Chatswood Chase, New South Wales
Commendations
By Culprit for BrownHaus, Queensland
Clare Cousins Architects for Fisher and Paykel Melbourne Experience Centre, Victoria
Installation Design
Award
Gloss Creative in collaboration with Azuma Makoto and National Gallery of Victoria for Botanical Lab for Kids, Victoria
Commendations
Breathe for Home Truth, Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria for Ancient Egypt for Kids, Victoria
Studio Peter King for Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design, Victoria
Public Design
Award
Studio SC for The Australian War Memorial New Entrance, Australian Capital Territory
Commendations
BVN for Yarrila Place, New South Wales
Studio Gram for Pembroke Middle School, South Australia
Statuo Group for Next Gen Child Care Centre, Western Australia
Workplace Design
Award
Cox Architecture for Cox Architecture Adelaide Studio, South Australia
Hames Sharley with Arup and Peter Farmer Designs for Arup Workplace, Perth/Boorloo, Western Australia
Commendations
Allied Office, Akin Atelier, Second Edition and Dangar Barin Smith for Rochester Street Office, New South Wales
Hassell for Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New South Wales
Carr for Russell Kennedy, Victoria
Emerging Interior Design Practice
Award
Studio Plenty, New South Wales
Best of State
Commercial
Australian Capital Territory – Studio SC for The Australian War Memorial New Entrance
New South Wales – Platform by Design Office for Vic’s Meat, Chatswood Chase
Queensland – J.AR Office for Central
South Australia – Cox Architecture for Cox Architecture Adelaide Studio
Victoria – Gloss Creative in collaboration with Azuma Makoto and National Gallery of Victoria for Botanical Lab for Kids
Western Australia – Hames Sharley with Arup and Peter Farmer Designs for Arup Workplace, Perth/Boorloo
Residential
New South Wales – Studio Prineas for Montage Apartment
Queensland – Alcorn Middleton for Toowong Towers
Victoria – Sally Caroline for Panorama House
Western Australia – Gritt Studio for Karijini House
International Design
K2LD for Lane 23, Malaysia
Sustainability Advancement
Award
Hames Sharley Arup and Peter Farmer Designs for Arup Workplace, Perth/Boorloo, Western Australia
Commendations
Archer Office for Mill Hill Centre, New South Wales
Archer Office for The Boot Factory, New South Wales
Buchan for Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library, Victoria
