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2021 Australian Interior Design Award winners: Flack Studio triumphs

Flack Studio's incredible Middle Park project
Flack Studio's incredible Middle Park project. Photography: Anson Smart

Presented as a virtual livestream, the 2021 Australian Interior Designer Awards were handed down last week – an online event that saw the country’s best architects and interior designers tune in to celebrate the esteemed program that is now in its 18th year.

And while the awards featured many categories, it’s the Residential Design and Residential Decoration categories that piqued our interest and, this year, some ah-mazing projects took out top gongs.

Bellows House
Architects EAT’s beautifully resolved Bellows House was a joint winner of the ‘Best Residential Design’ category. Photography: Derek Swalwell

The award for Residential Design was jointly awarded to Architects EAT for Bellows House (VIC) and Flack Studio for its work on Potts Point (NSW).

Of the stunning Bellows House, the jury noted that “it’s a resolved space that integrates the interior with the architecture, giving rise to a series of spaces that are dramatic, theatrical and extremely liveable.” The jurors felt the design was rather atypical and saw it as a creative reinterpretation of 20th century architectural design.

Bellows House. Photography: Derek Swalwell
Bellows House. Photography: Derek Swalwell

Flack Studio’s Potts Point was dually awarded – it took out the Residential Design award whilst also being named Best of State Residential Design (NSW). “The interiors are carefully curated and offer the quintessential answer to what the Residential Design category is all about – to deliver liveable domestic bliss. Potts Point has a warmth to it and the overall proportions are excellent. It cultivates discovery, curiosity and joy as one journeys from room to room,” said the jury and we couldn’t agree more.

Flack Studio's stunning Potts Point project took out two major awards. Photography: Anson Smart
Flack Studio’s stunning Potts Point project took out two major awards. Photography: Anson Smart
Potts Point by Flack Studio. Photography: Anson Smart
Potts Point by Flack Studio. Photography: Anson Smart

Continuing its winning streak, Flack Studio jointly won the Residential Decoration award for its Middle Park (VIC) project with Arent and Pyke’s Garden House (NSW). The jury described both residences as “ravishingly beautiful and thoughtfully curated projects that shine the light on how needed fresh interior styling has become.”

Flack Studio's incredible Middle Park project
Flack Studio’s incredible Middle Park project. Photography: Anson Smart
Middle Park by Flack Studio. Photography: Anson Smart
Middle Park by Flack Studio. Photography: Anson Smart

Of Flack Studio’s Middle Park, one jury member commented that “it feels like it was borne out of a detailed knowledge of the history of interior decoration, both locally and internationally, resulting in an interior that appears fresh and somehow familiar.”

Arent and Pyke's sumptuous Garden House was a joint winner of the 'Residential Decoration' category
Arent and Pyke’s sumptuous Garden House was a joint winner of the ‘Residential Decoration’ category. Photography: Anson Smart

“Garden House is well curated, breathtakingly beautiful and very liveable. It features a thoughtfully executed interior decoration scheme that is particular to the client and place, and the jury was above all impressed with its polished eclecticism,” said the jury of the Arent and Pyke project.

Arent and Pyke's Garden House. Photography: Anson Smart
Arent and Pyke’s Garden House. Photography: Anson Smart

A partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Artichoke magazine, this year’s awards were delivered against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the judges acknowledged the resilience of the industry in uncertain times. 

“The pandemic hit hard and for the Australian interior design industry, the oftentimes devastating consequences were felt across the board. But if this hardship showed us anything, it’s that our designers and architects are a resilient bunch with an indomitable spirit,” said the judges.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Premier Award for Australian Interior Design 
Liminal Spaces for The Bleeding Tree, Tasmania 

Interior Design Impact Award 
Russell and George for Space and Time, Victoria FJMT for Bunjil Place, New South Wales 

Sustainability Advancement Award 
ZWEI Interiors Architecture for Citizen.MDW, Victoria 

Emerging Interior Design Practice 
– Award
Eastop Architects, Victoria
– Commendation 
Kennon Architecture & Interiors, Victoria 

Residential Design
– Award
Architects EAT for Bellows House, Victoria
Flack Studio for Potts Point, New South Wales
– Commendation
Adam Kane Architects for Barwon Heads House, Victoria
Studio Bright for 8 Yard House, Victoria
Design Office for The Carringbush Hotel, Victoria
O’Connor and Houle Architecture and Landscapes for Oliver Lane Apartment, Victoria 
Flack Studio for Middle Park, Victoria 

Residential Decoration 
– Award 
Flack Studio for Middle Park, Victoria
Arent and Pyke for Garden House, New South Wales 
– Commendation
Arent and Pyke for Hue House, New South Wales 

Hospitality Design
– Award
BAR Studio for Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Japan
– Commendation
Fiona Lynch Interior Design Studio for CicciaBella, New South Wales 
YSG for Four Pillars – Eileen’s Bar and Gin Laboratory, New South Wales 
Design Office for Byrdi, Victoria 
Chris Connell Design for Hero ACMI, Victoria
Ritz and Ghougassian for Prior, Victoria
Genesin Studio for Never Never Distillery, South Australia 

Retail Design
– Award
Herbert and Mason in Collaboration with Grown Alchemist for Grown Alchemist, Victoria
– Commendation
YSG for Four Pillars – Gin Shop, New South Wales
Russell and George for Sarah and Sebastian, Victoria
Hecker Guthrie for Piccolina Degraves Street, Victoria 

Public Design
– Award
Cox Architecture, Neeson Murcutt and Neille for Project Discover, New South Wales
– Commendation
Kosloff Architecture for La Trobe University Library Bendigo, Victoria
Alexandra Kidd Design for Cheltenham Early Education Centre, New South Wales 

Workplace Design
– Award
Smart Design Studio for Smart Design Studio, New South Wales 
– Commendation
Architects EAT for Alfred Stables, Victoria
Akin Atelier for INCU HQ, New South Wales
Foolscap Studio for ANZ Centre, L10, Victoria
Group GSA for Chanel, New South Wales 

Installation Design 
– Award 
Liminal Spaces for The Bleeding Tree, Tasmania 
– Commendation 
Scott Carver in collaboration with Artists in Motion for Sydney Opera House Tours Immersive Digital Experience, New South Wales 
Youssofzay and Hart for No Show, New South Wales
BoardGrove Architects for NGV Triennial 2020 Outdoor Pavilions, Victoria 

Best of State Awards for Residential Design 
New South Wales – Flack Studio for Potts Point 
Victoria – Flack Studio for Middle Park 
Queensland – Myers Ellyett for Harcourt 
South Australia – Williams Burton Leopardi for Walkerville Residence 

Best of State Awards for Commercial Design 
Tasmania – Liminal Spaces for The Bleeding Tree
Victoria – Herbert and Mason in Collaboration with Grown Alchemist for Grown Alchemist Australian Capital Territory – Skeehan Studio for Canberra Glassworks
South Australia – Genesin Studio for Never Never Distillery
Queensland – Amok for Agnes
Western Australia – Thylacine Design for Western Australian Museum (Boola Bardip) New South Wales – Smart Design Studio for Smart Design Studio 

Best International Design Award 
BAR Studio for Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Japan 

For more information on the awards

2020 Australian Interior Design Awards announced, via livestream!

This stunning home by YSG took out the top honour for both residential decoration and residential design in the 2020 Australian Interior Design Awards, announced via Facebook Live on Friday…
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Designers

2020 Australian Interior Design Awards announced, via livestream!

This stunning home by YSG took out the top honour for both residential decoration and residential design in the 2020 Australian Interior Design Awards, announced via Facebook Live on Friday for the first time in their 17-year history.

Image: Prue Ruscoe

Formed this year, YSG is the brainchild of Yasmine Ghoniem, formerly of Amber Road. Judges said the project, called Budge Over Dover, was remarkable for the consistency in its design and styling, with a clear relationship between the interior architecture and decoration.

Image: Prue Ruscoe

The jury commended Yasmine for showing great expertise in working with the existing composition of the building, remarking that the “radical transformation never battles against the original structure, but instead feels completely natural and effortless.”

Image: Prue Ruscoe

Entries to the 2020 Awards set a new standard of best practice in design, showcasing innovative projects that pushed boundaries and did away
with the conventional.

In response to restrictions on public gatherings, organisers were tasked with finding another way to present this year’s awards. For the first time, the announcement was held online and live-streamed via Facebook, with design professionals engaging from the comfort of their own homes.

Best of state (residential) South Australia: Sans-Arc Studio for Plaster Fun House. Image by Thomas McCammon

Delivered through a partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s Artichoke magazine, the Australian Interior Design Awards is Australia’s most distinguished awards program for the
sector.

Best of state (residential) for QLD: Alicia Holgar for Avian Apartment, Qld. Image: Shannon McGrath.

The jury also named Victorian-based practice Fowler and Ward as the ones to watch, presenting it with the 2020 Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice. Established in 2018 by co-directors Jessie Fowler and
Tara Ward, the practice has produced several commercial, retail and residential projects, with an emphasis on the engagement between people and design.

Best of state (residential) for Western Australia – Decus Interiors for Coastal Home. Image: Anson Smart.

Praising the exciting new voice the practice brings to the industry, the jury commented on the clarity of Fowler and Ward’s mission and the energetic approach with which it operates. Applauding the experimentation in their process and the fearlessness of their approach, the jury noted that “everything they do is perfectly articulated and successful in increasing engagement between people and design.”

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 and Richards Stanisich for Hotel Rose Bay, NSW (Joint Winners)

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, Qld, 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 and Studio Goss for Articolo Lighting – Milan, Italy (Joint Winners)

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

For more information on the Awards

Categories
Designers Interviews

Melbourne’s Nexus Designs: 50 years in the business… and counting!

Still going strong and wining awards after almost 50 years in the interior design business is no mean feat, but one that Melbourne’s Nexus Designs is achieving under the leadership of creative director Sonia Simpfendorfer.

Sonia_HiRes_HeadshotCrop
Sonia Simpfendorfer

Originally from Adelaide, Sonia found Melbourne’s design culture to be a magnet, and moved there as quickly as she could after university. From the get go, Nexus Designs had always been at the top of Sonia’s list of studios to join, inspired by founding director Janne Faulkner AM and her business partner Harley Anstee. Starting her career with a three-year stint at Bates Smart, she achieved her dream to join Nexus in 1997. Some 13 years later, in 2010, they made her creative director.

“Janne founded Nexus Designs in 1967 and then brought Harley into the company in 1975,” says Sonia. “They are still both actively involved today and have just become InDesign Magazine Luminaries in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to interior design.”

Tribeca Loft

Tribeca Loft

With two of Australia’s most accomplished designers as predecessors, Sonia may have some big shoes to fill, but that’s something she’s not having any problems doing. Last year, Nexus won two Australian Interior Design Awards for their Tribeca Loft project: Best International Design and Best Residential Decoration. “It was a dream project: a confident repeat client, brilliant NYC post-industrial loft space and a brief that gave us freedom to push them and keep the concept very pure.”

Having clients that allow the team to push the design boundaries, always gets the best results. “My favourite projects are the ones where we’ve been able to use our full range of skills, particularly space planning, to significantly tailor an interior and make it better within the existing envelope and then make it beautiful and livable too. That’s our specialty and our edge over architects,” Sonia says.

Vogue Living
Tribeca Loft

Working in Australia and overseas, Nexus Designs are mostly known for their high-end, one-off residential projects. However, while Sonia admits she has a soft spot for residential, she also works on a range of projects including: multi-residential, boutique hotels, hospitality developments and the occasional marine project.

The business is not just focused on interior design, also specialising in graphic design and product development.“The three disciplines work independently most of the time, but when we get together it’s a dynamite team for our clients,” explains Sonia. “Graphics and interiors work particularly well together. We often have graphics develop identities and signage for our commercial interiors clients which gives a seamless visual experience to the projects.”

North Adelaide
North Adelaide

With many projects in the pipeline, Sonia loves the variety. “We always have time for the small ones – just the perfect white paint or some furniture, along with the complex, long-term ones, such as the large apartment we are working on in an historic building with really smart, open-minded clients.”

North Adelaide
North Adelaide

For Sonia, it’s not the scope of the project that matters, rather all her interior design work comes down to one fundamental aim, an aim that she makes sure to tell all her designers and one she believes is achieved in all her work: “Good looking design is great, but highly functional, practical and good looking design, is even better.”

Nexus Designs

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Designers Interviews

Interview: Zoë Geyer on growing her residential architecture business

East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape

It was late last year that Zoë Geyer realised she had too much work to do it all alone. Having started her architecture practice in 2009, her portfolio was rapidly increasing and she was starting to be recognised on a national platform, winning the Heritage award at the 2013 Houses Awards and being shortlisted for residential design in the 2013 Australian Interior Design Awards.

East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape
East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape

So, she took the plunge and got herself a team of two, and since then she’s never looked back. “Their individual skills have brought more diversity and strength to the studio,” says Zoë. “I can clearly see the benefits of our combined skills and experiences. The workplace is a fairly light-hearted environment and much more stimulating with the insights of three architects.”

zgfull
Zoe Geyer

Working primarily in residential, the Melbourne-based firm Zoë Geyer Architect (known as zga) aim to create spaces unique to the individual and the environment they live in. “There is such richness to the connection between people, their private world, and the site, landscape or urban neighbourhood that they live within,” explains Zoë. “I am so inspired by how we as individuals, families and groups choose to live and what we seek from our environments.”

East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape
East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape

This notion is particularly evident in one of Zoë’s favourite projects, the East Melbourne House, which as a National Trust listed home, prohibited external changes to the building. “I see design as a comprehensive approach,” says Zoë. “As a type of problem-solving, and with this project our limitations ended up being the strength of our solution. The alterations responded to the cues and narrative of the existing building, embracing the honesty of a modern approach to interventions, while avoiding nostalgia or imitation.”

_D5V3975_Panorama
East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape

Going on to win her first award (in the Houses Awards) for the East Melbourne House, it was also the first project that Zoë saw through from beginning to end and as a result was a pivotal moment of “validation and recognition as an emerging design practice.” Moreover, it was a chance to truly realise the goal for her firm, to approach designing holistically, working across the entirety of a project.

_D5V3785
East Melbourne House. Photo credit: Dianna Snape

Currently zga are working on a house for fashion designers in Melbourne’s East, a young family’s coastal-inspired house in Hampton and a sustainable green-roof project in Fitzroy. They have also recently completed their own studio and in keeping with their style, worked with the space rather than against it. “It’s in a Collingwood warehouse, hidden behind an old roller door,” says Zoë. “We’ve kept the crumbling brick walls and soaring trusses in original condition, and inserted a simple, clean plywood plinth and walls to provide a no-fuss framework for our studio.”

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The zga Studio. Photo credit: Tina Inserra

Five years on from zga’s launch, Zoë can still remember the original hurdles that she had to overcome. But she still has no regrets about leaving a large company to start out on her own: “While I was competent in the role of architect, starting my own studio required a whole range of other skills and business strategies, so it’s been a steep learning curve. However, there’s an excitement and freedom in designing under my own guidance. I find it very fulfilling, and have no regrets.”

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Competitions Designers

Australian Interior Design Awards finalists announced: see the residential decoration shortlist

35 Spring Street Display Suite VIC by Bates Smart

Earlier this week we brought you the finalists for the residential design category of the 2014 Australian Interior Design Awards, but today it’s all about the residential decoration category.

North Bondi NSW
North Bondi NSW by Hare + Klein

Featuring some stunning interiors, there’s no shortage of enviable homes and right off the bat I’ve found a favourite in 35 Spring Street Display Suite by Bates Smart.

35 Spring Street Display Suite VIC by Bates Smart
35 Spring Street Display Suite VIC by Bates Smart

Set in an apartment building on the corner of Spring St and Flinders Lane in Melbourne, the 43-level tower incorporates 270 luxury apartments! Due for completion in 2017, CBus Property together with Bates Smart completed construction of an on-site display suite in 2013, featuring examples of one, two and three bedroom apartments. All I can say is you’ll be a very lucky person to nab one of these homes!

The Pavilion House NSW by Arent&Pyke
The Pavilion House NSW by Arent&Pyke

The full list of finalists in the category are:

  • Sarah Davison Interior Design for Tropical House, NSW
  • SJB Interiors for Woolloomooloo Bay Apartment, NSW
  • ATTICUS & MILO for Swinging Seventies, Vic
  • Arent&Pyke for The Pavilion House, NSW
  • Arent&Pyke for The Avenue, NSW
  • Bates Smart for 35 Spring Street Display Suite, Vic
  • Mim Design for The ILK Penthouse, Vic
  • Sisalla Interior Design for Laurel Court, Vic
  • James Dawson Interiors for Marine Parade Apartment, QLD
  • Hare + Klein for North Bondi, NSW
  • Mim Design for Crisp Street, Vic
  • Robert Mills Architects and Interior Designers for Brighton Residence, Vic.

The ILK Penthouse VIC by Mim Design
The ILK Penthouse VIC by Mim Design

 For more information.

Categories
Competitions Designers

Australian Interior Design Awards finalists announced: see the residential design shortlist

The finalists in the residential design category of 2014’s Australian Interior Design Awards have produced some pretty stellar houses and while the first question on my lips is “when can I move in?” for now I’ll have to settle for the photos!

Eltham South, Blairgowrie VIC by Wolveridge Architects
Eltham South, Blairgowrie VIC by Wolveridge Architects

Currently in their 11th year, the awards have made quite a reputation, with an impressive number of smaller practices competing alongside Australia’s more established design teams.

Claremont Apartments NSW by TKD Architects
Claremont Apartments NSW by TKD Architects

A favourite of mine has to be Place to Daydream by Tony Hobba Architects, a beach house that sits on the Victorian coast and seamlessly blurs together the indoor and outdoor space.

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Place to Daydream VIC by Tony Hobba Architects

The full list of finalists in the category are:

Caroline Di Costa Architect and iredale pedersen hook architects for CASA31_4 Room House, WA

Tzannes Associates for Bellevue Hill Residence, NSW

Andrew Maynard Architects for Black House, Vic

Wolf Architects for The Wolf House, Vic

HASSELL for Point King Residence, Vic

Robson Rak Architects and Made by Cohen for Elwood House, Vic

Breathe Architecture for Stonewood, Vic

Edwards Moore for Lightbox, Vic

Kennedy Nolan for Brighton House, Vic

Wolveridge Architects for Eltham South, Blairgowrie, Vic

Wolveridge Architects for Northcote Project, Vic

Bower Architecture for Hover House, Vic

Edwards Moore for Dollshouse, Vic
Neometro in collaboration with MA Architects for 231 Smith Street, Vic

ATTICUS & MILO for Swinging Seventies, Vic

Fiona Lynch for The Hawthorn East House, Vic

Bates Smart for 35 Spring Street Display Suite, Vic

Maddison Architects for Cabin Too, Vic

Arent&Pyke and TFAD for The Avenue, NSW

Adrian Amore Architects Pty Ltd for Loft Apartment, West Melbourne, VIC

Mim Design for Chamber’s Street, Vic

Clare Cousins Architects for Flinders Lane Apartment, Vic

Robson Rak Architects for Dale House, Vic

TKD Architects for Claremont Apartments, NSW

BKK Architects for Holiday House, Vic

Architects EAT for Three Parts House, Vic

Elenberg Fraser for Melbourne Residence, Vic

Arkhefield for Hunters Hill House, NSW

Tribe Studio Architects for House Maher, NSW

Tribe Studio Architects for House Chapple, NSW

Tribe Studio Architects for House Bruce Alexander, NSW

susi leeton architects + interiors pty ltd for Flinders House, Vic

Robert Mills Architects and Interior Designers for Brighton Residence, Vic

Koichi Takada Architects for Beach Residence, NSW

Tony Hobba Architects for Place to Daydream, Vic

Holiday House VIC by BKK Architects
Holiday House VIC by BKK Architects

Later this week, we will be bringing you the finalists from the residential decoration category, so stay tuned.

For more information.