Celebrating Australia's Finest Interior Design For 2011

A crafted and rugged residence in rural Victoria, a tranquil memorial chapel with a considered approach to sustainability, and a woodchip-laden showcase for designer furniture were among the winners in this year's Australian Interior Design Awards, announced last night. The gala awards presentation, attended by established practitioners and the rising stars of Australia's interior design industry, took place at Peninsula in Melbourne's Docklands.

Co-presented by the Design Institute of Australia, designEX and Artichoke magazine, this eighth year of the Australian Interior Design Awards continued the prestigious program's search for excellence in residential and commercial interior design from around Australia. The winners of this year's twelve awards categories represent the diversity and skill of Australian interior design practice - from practices large and small, working with a variety of briefs and budgets.

This year's Premier Award for Interior Design Excellence and Innovation went to Wolveridge Architects for the Hill Plain House, an innovative project that puts a new spin on the idea of the rural Australian home. In recognizing the project, the jury said: "Use of materials and lighting in the project represent a confident interior design philosophy that achieves regional identity and connection in a fresh and unprecedented way." The jury also praised the project's environmental credentials, noting its discreet incorporation of sustainable design principles without resorting to a traditional eco aesthetic.

For the first time this year's Australian Interior Design Awards incorporates the Sustainability Advancement Award. Selected from winning projects in other categories, the overarching prize was awarded to BVN Architecture's Puckapunyal Military Area Chapel, located in regional Victoria. The jury commented: "the project highlights how sustainability can be expressed without an explicit "eco" aesthetic. The project's essential purpose and function also contribute to a deeper notion of social sustainability that is mindful of diverse cultures and beliefs."

With nearly five hundred entries received, this year's program provides a unique insight into the ability and quality output of Australian designers, says event manager Jacinta Reedy. "The program goes from strength to strength - this year's entries demonstrate the creative skills that drive world leading interior design practice in Australia."

The winning projects in the 2011 Australian Interior Design Awards are:

PREMIER AWARD FOR INTERIOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION
Winner
Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

SUSTAINABILITY ADVANCEMENT AWARD
Winner
BVN Architecture for Puckapunyal Military Area Memorial Chapel, Vic

CORPORATE DESIGN AWARD
Winner
Wilson Architects for Wilson Architects Office, Qld
Highly Commended
Hassell for ANZ Centre, Vic
BVN Architecture BVN Sydney Studio Fitout, NSW

HOSPITALITY DESIGN AWARD
Winner
Bates Smart for Crown Metropol, Vic
Highly Commended
Chada for Westin Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Coop Creative for the Spicers Balfour Hotel, Qld
Hecker Guthrie for The Millswyn, Vic
Mim Design with Cornwell for Capital Kitchen, Vic
Pascale Gomes-McNabb in collaboration with McNabb Gomes Architects for Stokehouse, Vic

INSTALLATION DESIGN AWARD
Winner
Edwards Moore for Fringe Furniture 2010, Vic
Highly Commended
Nexus Designs and ACCA in collaboration for NEW010, Vic
Carr Design Group for Norton Rose Signage Installation, NSW
Gloss Creative and Lava for Shells: Architects of the Ocean, Myer Spring Summer Collection Launch 2010/2011, NSW
LAVA for Digital Origami Tigers, NSW

PUBLIC DESIGN AWARD
Winner
BVN Architecture for Puckapunyal Military Area Memorial Chapel, Vic
Highly Commended
Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp for Bayside Police Station, Sandringham, Vic
Spowers and NMBW Architecture Studio for RMIT Melbourne Campus - Building 88, Levels 5 and 6, Vic
Suters Architects for Maribyrnong Secondary College, Vic

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AWARD
Winner
Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic
Highly Commended
Architects EAT for Open House, Vic
Edwards Moore for Cubby House, Vic
Ian Moore Architects for Strelein Warehouse, NSW
Renato D'Ettorre Architects for Solis, Qld
Tribe Studio for House Shmukler, NSW
Inarc Architects for Barwon Heads House, Vic

RESIDENTIAL DECORATION AWARD
Winner
Hare + Klein Interior Design for Federation Revival, NSW
Highly Commended
Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

RETAIL DESIGN AWARD
Winner
Ryan Russell for Russell & George for Crumpler, Vic
Highly Commended
Interni for Saxony World Square, NSW
Mim Design with Diadem for Joy Cupcakes, Vic

COLOUR IN RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AWARD
Winner
James Russell Architect for Home, Small Gallery and Office in West End, Qld
Highly Commended
Renato D'Ettorre Architects for Bennelong Apartment Circular Quay, NSW
Renato D'Ettorre Architects for Solis, Qld
Wolveridge Architects for Hill Plain House, Vic

COLOUR IN COMMERCIAL DESIGN AWARD
Winner
Herbert & Mason for Bleu, Vic
Highly Commended
Bates Smart for Crown Metropol, Vic
Brooking Design Practice for B-Shed Ferry Port Terminal, WA
Hassell for ANZ Centre, Vic
Mim Design with Diadem for Joy Cupcakes, Vic
Ryan Russell for Russell & George for Crumpler, Vic
Snell for Maurice Dry Cleaners, NSW
Morris Selvatico for Twisted Frozen Yoghurt, NSW

EMERGING INTERIOR DESIGN PRACTICE AWARD
Winner
Edwards Moore
Highly Commended
Wonder
Foolscap Studio

Judging for the Australian Interior Design Awards is conducted under the supervision of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) in accordance with the protocols of the International Federation of Interior Architects / Interior Designers. The 2011 jury comprised Daniel Dalla Riva, 6 Hats (Vic), Pascale Gomes McNabb, Pascale Gomes McNabb (Vic); Libby Guj, JCY Architects and Urban Designers (WA); Greg Natale, Greg Natale Design (NSW); Susan Rossi, DBI Design (Qld); Matthew Sheargold, Sheargold (NSW); Ninotschka Titchkosky, BVN Architecture (Vic); and Kirrilly Wilson, John Wardle Architects (Vic); with ESD chairperson John Gertsakis, WSP Environment & Energy (Vic); and jury convenor Joanne Cys, Immediate Past National President, Design Institute of Australia.

The Australian Interior Design Awards thanks its generous 2011 corporate supporters: Forbo Flooring Systems, Somfy, The Laminex Group, Dulux Australia, Smeg, Hafele, Space Furniture, Isis and The Hatton.

For more information, please visit www.australianinteriordesignawards.com.