Presented in partnership with the DIA, Artichoke and Architecture Media

Offering immense potential and possibility through its authentic, responsive design, Stable and Cart House by Clare Cousins Architects was unanimously awarded this year’s highest accolade, the Premier Award for Interior Design at the 2022 Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA).

This year’s awards ceremony celebrated a return to its traditional schedule, with Australia’s finest and most esteemed design minds attending the gala dinner last night at the Sydney Grand Hyatt. Attendees spent the evening celebrating the resilience and high calibre of the recognised practices and projects.

Marking its 19th year, Australia’s leading industry-based awards program is delivered through a partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s Artichoke Magazine. With the hardships of the last two years felt by all, the joy and beauty expressed in this year’s submissions is a testament to the tenacity and creativity of Australia’s interior design industry.

Labelling Clare Cousins Architects’ Stable and Cart House “sublime in every way”, the jury applauded the practice for its innate understanding of design, delivering a powerful yet pared back home that considers how people live in a space, and offers a house that will age with honesty and grace.

According to the jury, “Stable and Cart House is the absolute standout project across all categories by clearly being an exemplary piece of work. What resonates most is the authenticity of the design and the way it has been conceived to be lived in not just looked at.” This stunning home was also awarded the esteemed Residential Design Award and the Best of State Residential Design (VIC).

This year’s Residential Decoration Award was presented to Flack Studio for the striking Troye Sivan House, with the jury commending the practice’s respectful acknowledgement of the building’s architectural history. The jury notes Flack Studio captured a “strong sense of the client’s character through a beautiful curation of art, furniture, lighting and objects in a way that doesn’t feel forced or contrived.”

With 2022 heralding an enthusiastic return to dining, retail and the workplace across the country, the diversity and inventiveness of this year’s commercial projects reflected the undiminishable spirit and creativity of Australian designers. Studio Edwards’ clever and imaginative Finesse Shoe Store received this year’s Retail Design Award, alongside a commendation for the Sustainability Advancement Award, for creating an immersive retail experience with sustainability at its core. The judges observed, “it is a simple project beautifully realised that also manages to convey a sense of ‘urbanness’ relevant to the nature of selling sneakers.”

Labelling the calibre of this year’s Hospitality Design submissions “incredibly impressive and hard to judge”, the judges declared Studio Gram’s Arkhé deserving of this year’s Hospitality Design Award, and the Best of State Award for Commercial Design (SA). Admiring the project’s seemingly effortless manipulation of space through a clever use of materiality and light, the jury stated, “the highly experiential nature of moving through the interior makes for a gutsy, powerful project.”

This year’s awards saw a focus on sustainability across all categories, with the Award for Sustainability Advancement bestowed upon two projects, 17 Union Street from BKK Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and FJMT Studio’s Built Head Office. The jury labelled both projects as truly impressive, remarking 17 Union Street “champions longevity and the importance of thinking about sustainability in regard to long term building use rather than short term compliance,” while applauding Built Head Office for the “amazing innovative solutions” it presents for sustainability at a level that has gained global recognition.

The esteemed Emerging Interior Design Practice was dually awarded to designer Brahman Perera and Pattern Studio, with the jury believing both practices are shaping the advancement of Australian interior design. Launching his own design studio in 2020, Melbourne-based Brahman Perera’s impressive portfolio – spanning residential, hospitality, workplace and multi-residential – saw the jury emphasise his potential, remarking “he has a maturity that demonstrates strong design principles and an individual style that shows both flair and restraint.” Acclaimed on a national and global level, the jury celebrated Pattern Studio’s multidisciplinary portfolio comprised of “strong compositions and a sense of calm, along with beautifully considered details.” The jury believes the considered and forward-thinking designs from both Brahman Perera and Pattern Studio embody the potential and promise of Australian design.

See the full list of awards below.

Premier Award for Australian Interior Design

Clare Cousins Architects for Stable and Cart House, Victoria

Interior Design Impact Award

YSG Studio for Edition Roasters, New South Wales

Sustainability Advancement Award

• Awards
BKK Architects and Clare Cousins Architects for 17 Union Street, Victoria
FJMT Studio for Built Head Office, New South Wales

• Commendation
Studio Edwards for Finesse Shoe Store, Victoria

Emerging Interior Design Practice

• Awards
Brahman Perera, Victoria
Pattern Studio, New South Wales

Residential Design

• Award
Clare Cousins Architects for Stable and Cart House, Victoria

• Commendations
Kennedy Nolan for Always, Victoria
Studio Bright for Autumn House, Victoria
Arent and Pyke with Carter Williamson for Layer Cake, New South Wales
Bennett Murada Architects for Robinsons Run, New South Wales
Fiona Lynch Interior Design for Sorrento House, Victoria
Flack Studio for Troye Sivan House, Victoria
Brad Swartz Architects and Henry Wilson for Laneway Glass House, New South Wales

Residential Decoration

• Award
Flack Studio for Troye Sivan House, Victoria

• Commendations
Fiona Lynch Interior Design for Burnley House, Victoria
Arent and Pyke for Legato House, New South Wales
YSG Studio for Soft Serve, New South Wales
Fiona Lynch Interior Design for Sorrento House, Victoria

Hospitality Design

• Award
Studio Gram for Arkhé, South Australia

• Commendations
Architecture and Interiors Tom Robertson with Furniture, Object and Styling Simone Haag for Bassano, Victoria
Hassell for Di Stasio Carlton, Victoria
Flack Studio for Square and Compass, Victoria
Russell and George for Yakimono, Victoria
Richards Stanisich for The Woollahra Hotel, New South Wales

Retail Design

• Award
Studio Edwards for Finesse Shoe Store, Victoria

• Commendations
IF Architecture for Baker Bleu, Victoria
Esoteriko for Coco & Lola, New South Wales
Foolscap Studio for ODE Dermatology, Victoria
Design by Golden for Viktoria and Woods Chadstone, Victoria

Workplace Design

• Award
BVN for Multiplex Head Quarters, New South Wales

• Commendations
Studio May for Boutique Office Fitout, Victoria
BVN for BVN Brisbane Studio, Queensland

Installation Design

• Award
SJB in collaboration with Rick Leplastrier and Vania Contreras for Eucalyptusdom, New South Wales

• Commendations
Studio Edwards for Community by Alt. Material, Victoria
Youssofzay and Hart for Light and Darkness, New South Wales
Decibel Architecture for The Lume Melbourne, Victoria

Public Design

• Award
Studio Bright for Monash Robotics Lab, Victoria

• Commendations
Silvester Fuller and Openwork for Froebel Carlton, Victoria
BVN for Margaret Bailey Building, Ascham School, New South Wales

International Design

D Hage Designs for Den Tex Apartment, Amsterdam

Best of State Awards for Residential Design

Australian Capital Territory – Red Hill Residence by SJS Interior Design
New South Wales - Brad Swartz Architects and Henry Wilson for Laneway Glass House Queensland - Alcorn Middleton for Toowong Lighthouse
South Australia - Studio Gram for Rose Park House
Tasmania - Tanner Architects for Mays Point
Victoria - Clare Cousins for Stable and Cart House
Western Australia - Iota and Studio Roam for Lewis House

Best of State Awards for Commercial Design

Australian Capital Territory - Pattern Studio for Adytum
New South Wales - Richards Stanisich for The Woollahra Hotel
Queensland - BVN for BVN Brisbane Studio
South Australia - Studio Gram for Arkhé
Victoria - Studio Bright for Monash Robotics Lab
Western Australia - Hames Sharley for Hames Sharley Perth Office