4 Things We Learned From The AIDA 2020 Winners
This year, the Australian Interior Design Awards looked a little different.
In the past, there has been a room of over 500 excited architects and designers clamouring together to enjoy one of the calendar’s most anticipated awards nights. But in 2020, we came together in handfuls across the country in front of our computers to watch as the awards were announced via live stream.
Although the ceremony looked different, the level of design quality and consideration was just as strong as ever.
Here are our 4 takeaways from this year’s results:
- The sense of occasion is strong across Australian design.
- We’re seeing real clarity in design thinking.
- There is an unwavering wealth of creativity throughout the industry.
- No matter what, there is always design.
1. The sense of occasion is strong across Australian design
The jury congratulated the shortlisted project teams on their ability to embrace and celebrate a sense of occasion throughout their designs.
A standout example of a design team that was able to capture and translate this concept is Cox Architecture for their Public Design award-winning Sydney Coliseum Theatre.
Sydney Coliseum Theatre — Photography by John Gollings
Jurors commented that its grand sculptural stair embodies the idea of performance:
“This principal circulation space anticipates the joy, spectacle and magic of the theatre and the design elevates the experience.”
The relationship between the project’s interior design and its architectural fabric was praised for its exceptional materiality and detailing, adding to that sense of occasion.
Sydney Coliseum Theatre — Photography by John Gollings
As sponsors of the Public Design award, we are proud of the incredible level of finalists in our category this year.
A huge congratulations to Cox Architecture for their win with the Sydney Coliseum Theatre — their second Public Design award win in a row, after their success with the Waltzing Matilda Centre in 2019.
Congratulations to Six Degrees Architects for RMIT Capitol Theatre, Hassell for Angel Place Lobby, and Bates Smart for Gandel Wing, Cabrini Malvern for each receiving a Public Design award commendation.
Angel Place Lobby — Photography by Tyrone Branigan
2. We’re seeing real clarity in design thinking
Hecker Guthrie’s work with Script Skincare’s concept store in Melbourne left jurors in awe over their ability to interpret and articulate the client’s unique approach to beauty and wellness:
“...there’s a real clarity and rigour to the detailing and materiality, which reject all preconceptions of what a beauty retail offering should be in this day and age.”
Script Skincare — Photography by Shannon McGrath
Winning the award for Retail Design, the designers were clear in their intent, producing a fresh take on the Script Skincare brand.
At the same time, the jury awarded Fowler and Ward as winners of the Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice, praising the clarity of their purpose:
“...everything they do is perfectly articulated and successful in increasing engagement between people and design.”
Nar Office — Photography via Australian Interior Design Awards
3. There is an unwavering wealth of creativity throughout the industry
The creativity required to envisage a space far beyond what it initially appears to be is one of the reasons behind PTID’s win with their studioFIVE design for the Interior Design Impact award.
A teaching and research centre based in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, studioFIVE is cleverly designed to enable flexibility among its many varied users.
studioFive — Photography by Carl Martin
The space can facilitate a wide range of uses, including theatrical and music performances, art exhibitions, corporate events and school excursions.
“The space is innovative, flexible and intuitive, rising to the challenge of providing multifunctional environments to support and facilitate the implementation of pedagogy – truly enabling students to establish new ways of learning and teaching.”
Another example of bold creativity across this year’s shortlisted projects is Hassell’s Di Stasio Citta, a project coming away with two wins: Premier Award for Australian Interior Design and joint winners of the Hospitality Design award.
Di Stasio Citta — Photography by Peter Bennetts
The jury noted its “genuinely creative” air, particularly enjoying the creativity used to integrate various artworks within the overall scheme, as well as the execution of theatricality in a dining environment.
4. No matter what, there is always design
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the 2020 Australian Interior Design Awards live stream is despite external noise, political climates and pandemics, there is always a place for good design.
We will always come together in whichever format we need to, so we can celebrate the input of hard work and creativity and the output of beauty and consideration.
We are proud to be celebrating Australian designs and designers.
Congratulations to the Australian Interior Design Awards team, who managed to execute a brilliant and unprecedented awards ceremony.
