The Bleeding Tree by Liminal Spaces, a unique stage with a shifting minimalist form, has been presented with the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design at the 2021 Australian Interior Design Awards.
This year the awards were presented as a virtual livestream on Friday 3 September, with the industry’s most esteemed interior and architecture practitioners tuning in across the country to acknowledge and celebrate the ingenuity of Australian design.
In acknowledging the impact of the last 18 months, the jury celebrated the resilience of the industry, remarking: “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.”
They unanimously agreed that The Bleeding Tree deserved the Premier Award for Interior Design for the way its powerful presentation reflects the fundamentals of interior design. The project also received the Best of State Commercial Design Award (Tasmania) and was named the recipient of the Award for Installation Design.
The jury said: “As a stage set that has been created with light, shade and scale and where budget was a concern, The Bleeding Tree conveys the true meaning of our craft and also promotes a strong social message around domestic violence. At its core, the best interior design influences emotion and this project does that in the simplest yet most impactful way. If even one piece is removed, it’s nothing, but in its complete simplicity The Bleeding Tree is everything.”
This year’s award for Hospitality Design was presented to BAR Studio for its work on Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono. This project, also recognised as Best International Design, rejects the traditional notions of its typology, bringing a freshness and sense of domestic comfort to the hotel genre.
The jury specifically commended the space’s connection to landscape, noting that “spatial planning visually spans through to the outdoors and the interiors are wondrous, feeling residential in nature.” Also celebrated was the timeless aesthetic, sophistication and detailing that ensures warmth amidst the project’s expansive footprint.
ZWEI Interiors Architecture’s Citizen MDW was recognised for its sustainability agenda, receiving the Sustainability Advancement Award.
The jury remarked that Citizen MDW serves as a benchmark for all hospitality projects, stating that it is “a call to action for designers to proactively and comprehensively adopt sustainability initiatives and philosophies into their own designs from the outset.”
The esteemed award for Residential Design was jointly awarded to Architects EAT for Bellows House and Flack Studio for its work on Potts Point.
Referring to 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 livable.”
The jurors unanimously agreed that this atypical space was something they’d not seen before, its creative reinterpretation of 20th-century architectural design challenging the existing typology.
Flack Studio’s Potts Point was dually awarded, also named Best of State Residential Design (NSW). A home in which each juror felt they could live; it was praised for faultlessly meeting the brief.
In commenting on the project, the jury said: “The interiors are carefully curated and offer the quintessential answer to what the Residential Design category is all about – to deliver livable domestic bliss.”
Eastop Architects’ portfolio of highly sophisticated works was also recognised, with the Victorian-based practice taking out the 2021 Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice.
Established in 2017 by Liam Eastop, the studio was commended for the strength of its design direction and meticulous design approach. The jury unanimously agreed that this exciting practice has a bright and bold future ahead of it.
2021 Awards and Commendations:
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
View the Australian Interior Design Awards 2021 gallery here.