Presenting a truly timeless and universal design that transcends existing workplace typologies, Campbell House by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer has been awarded the prestigious Premier Award for Interior Design at the 2023 Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA), held at Melbourne’s Plaza Ballroom last night.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the program is Australia’s leading industry-based awards initiative, delivered through a partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s Artichoke Magazine.
As in previous years, the calibre of entries was emblematic of the innovation and spirit of Australian design, with the jury celebrating a “renewed lust for life” through projects, relationships, and collaborations. The jury was delighted by the enduring resilience of the industry, remarking that “projects were bold, but also displayed sensitivity and a modesty that speaks to a revitalised sense of confidence.”
Unanimous in its decision to award Tonkin Zulaikha Greer’s Campbell House the top honour, the jury said of the project, “it is timeless, elegant, unified and finely detailed and could very much work as a universal application – it could be a home, it could be a retail store, it could be a workplace”, while noting “the way the palette is used to celebrate the heritage and contemporary integration is outstanding.”
Campbell House was bestowed a trio of accolades, taking home the Award for Workplace Design and the Sustainability Advancement Award, with the jury praising this innovative and contemporary space as an exemplar of workplace design that has sustainability embedded in every aspect.
This year’s program saw an impressive number of submissions across the retail, hospitality, public, workplace and installation design categories, highlighting the industry’s desire to create functional, beautiful and pioneering commercial spaces for the community to enjoy.
Addressing the need for in-person connection and interaction, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern Building, Gallery Shop by Akin Atelier, and Postal Hall by Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini were presented the joint Award for Retail Design, with Postal Hall also awarded the Best of State Award for Commercial Design (WA).
Of Postal Hall, the judges said, “it is an installation within a heritage context that is very well done particularly because it’s vulnerable in how it’s viewed from all angles, including from above.” Commenting on Akin Atelier’s project, the jury remarked, “The Gallery Shop is compelling and a brave yet sympathetic response to the architecture that really adds something, not only internally but from street level as well.”
Representing quintessentially Australian design, the jury presented Dion Hall’s Her Bar with the top accolade in Hospitality Design, praising its all-encompassing beauty and high level of detail. Noting the project’s fluid design, the jury remarked “while it is high end, there is also a spirit of approachability to the design and flexibility in the way it defines Australian dining.”
The highly regarded Award for Residential Design was bestowed upon Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for its embodiment of Australian architecture, Nine-Square Bondi. This project also received a Commendation for Residential Decoration and the Best of State Award for Residential Design (NSW). A stunning home with soul and intimacy, the jury acknowledged the impressive resolve of complex spatial issues, stating “it displays an elegant spatial resolution, clarity in its expression and sophisticated curation of objects and furnishing that take the home to another level.”
Taking home the Award for Residential Decoration was JC HQ’s compelling Piccolo Palazzo, with the jurors labelling it a project that outshines the constraints of its plan to “display innovation and a strong sense of emotion”, balancing contemporary design with vintage influences to capture the individuality of the client.
This year, the Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice was presented to Brisbane-based practice J.AR Office. Established in 2021 by Jared Webb, J.AR Office had projects in the residential and retail space recognised in this year’s program, with The Disco receiving the Best of State Award for Commercial Design (QLD) and Oxlade receiving a Commendation for Residential Design and Best of State Award for Residential Design (QLD).
Impressed by the practice’s ability to sculpt spaces that engage both the individual and the community, the jurors remarked, “J.AR Office displays a detailed capacity and depth of thinking beyond the designer’s years of practice.” The jury shared in their excitement for the bright future of J.AR Office, stating the practice “stands to serve as a reminder of how innovative and inventive Australian design is. There is much to enjoy today and moving forward.”
2023 AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS
Premier Award for Australian Interior Design
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer for Campbell House, New South Wales
Sustainability Advancement Award
-Award
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer for Campbell House, New South Wales
-Commendations
Breathe for Nightingale Skye House, Victoria
Kennedy Nolan for Nightingale Leftfield, Victoria
Emerging Interior Design Practice
-Award
J.AR Office, Queensland
-Commendations
Nuud Studio, Victoria
Prevalent, New South Wales
Residential Design
-Award
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Nine-Square Bondi, New South Wales
-Commendations
Breathe for Nightingale Skye House, Victoria Fiona Lynch Office for Melbourne Penthouse, Victoria J.AR Office for Oxlade, Queensland Kennedy Nolan for Somers House, Victoria Nuud Studio for Monty Sibbel, Victoria Sabi for Sabi, Tasmania SJB for 19 Waterloo Street, New South Wales
Residential Decoration
-Award
JC HQ for Piccolo Palazzo, Victoria
-Commendations
Fiona Lynch Office for Melbourne Penthouse, Victoria
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Nine-Square Bondi, New South Wales
Simone Haag for The Whiskey Room, Victoria
YSG Studio for La Palma, New South Wales
Hospitality Design
-Award
Dion Hall for Her Bar, Victoria
-Commendations
Bergman and Co for Sakura, Victoria
Dion Hall for Music Room, Victoria
Ewert Leaf for Moonhouse, Victoria
Fiona Lynch Office for Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney, New South Wales
Retail Design
-Awards
Akin Atelier for Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern Building, Gallery Shop, New South Wales
Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini for Postal Hall, Western Australia
-Commendations
Clare Cousins Architects for Aesop Collins Street, Victoria
Genesin Studio for Super Egg, South Australia
Studio Doherty for Mimco Flagship, Victoria
Workplace Design
-Award
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer for Campbell House, New South Wales
-Commendations
Cox Architecture for 70 George Street, Cox Sydney Studio, New South Wales
Jackson Clements Burrows for JCB Studio, Victoria
Smart Design Studio for Bridge 17, New South Wales
Studio Prineas for Sheeth Headquarters, New South Wales
Installation Design
-Award
National Gallery of Victoria for Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse, Victoria
-Commendation
Gloss Creative for NGV Gala 2022, Victoria
Public Design
-Award
SANAA (Design Architect) and Architectus (Executive Architect) for Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern Building, New South Wales
-Commendations
Fieldwork and Brand Architects for Centre for Higher Education Studies, Victoria
Kosloff Architecture for Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre, Victoria
Smart Design Studio for Science Gallery Melbourne, Victoria
International Design
Schin Architects with Atelier W for Lu Style (Beijing CBD), China
Best of State Awards for Residential Design
New South Wales – Madeleine Blanchfield Architects for Nine-Square Bondi
Queensland – J.AR Office for Oxlade
South Australia – Williams Burton Leopardi for Mount Mac
Tasmania – Sabi for Sabi
Victoria – Breathe for Nightingale Skye House
Western Australia – Neil Cownie Architect for 123 House
Best of State Awards for Commercial Design
Australian Capital Territory – Craig Tan Architects for Canteen
New South Wales – SANAA (Design Architect) and Architectus (Executive Architect) for Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern Building
Queensland – J.AR Office for The Disco
South Australia – Genesin Studio for Super Egg
Victoria – Fieldwork and Brand Architects for Centre for Higher Education Studies
Western Australia – Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini for Postal Hall
