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.”

See the full list of awards below.

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

Please note, Papermill Agency has been appointed to manage the PR and communications for the Australian Interior Design Awards. Media enquiries and requests for further details, imagery or interviews should be directed to:

Sophie Clausen
Papermill Agency
E: sophie@papermillagency.com.au
P: (03) 9080 1000
M: 0407 675 979

Pip Robinson
Papermill Agency
E: pip@papermillagency.com.au
P: (03) 9080 1000
M: 0428 648 524