Great innovation, a sense of authenticity and equisite materiality and detailing were the common hallmarks among the winners of the 2026 Australian Interior Design Awards, announced on 12 June in Sydney.
The jury commented that, “narratives are refined, concepts are carefully considered and the commitment to improving wellbeing through rigorous planning prevails.”
The jury awarded The Forest by Woods Bagot the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design, praising its “incredibly rich, layered environment that is uplifting and to which anyone would want to return.” The Forest is the University of Tasmania’s flagship Hobart campus, providing an inner-city hub for learning, research, collaboration and community. The Forest is a highly connected campus that weaves together existing structures and new interventions with integrated landscape, through-block connections and publicly accessible thoroughfares. It also took home a Public Design Award.
Convened by Geraldine Maher, Director of Maher Design, the jury for 2026 comprises Mardi Doherty (founder and principal, Studio Doherty), Iva Foschia (director, IF Architecture), Paul Foskett (principal and head of interior design APAC, Populous), Alessandra French (co-founder, State of Kin), Tim Greer (director, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects), Brahman Perera (director, Brahman Perera), Eva-Marie Prineas (principal, Studio Prineas), and Kirsti Simpson (studio chair and global leader of workplace interior design, Woods Bagot).
The jury shared that this year’s awards recognise “the outstanding standard Australian interior design is operating at.”
“Our unique design identity is inventive and rigorous, with a feel for light and materiality that is quite extraordinary. It makes us stand out and we should all be very proud,” said the jury.
Premier Award for Australian Interior Design
The Forest by Woods Bagot
Hospitality Design
Omada by Studio Gram
Marlowe by J.AR Office
Workplace Design
Arup Workplace Brisbane by Hassell in partnership with Arup
Installation Design
Lynda Draper: Glimmer by Youssofzay Hart
Our Wondrous Planet by Museums Victoria
Public Design
Metro Tunnel Project – Town Hall Station by Hassell, Weston Williamson and Partners, and RSHP
The Forest by Woods Bagot
Retail Design
Deiji by Pattern Studio
Residential Design
Coogee House III by Interior Design: Genevieve Hromas with Architecture: Tribe Studio Architects
Residential Decoration
The Gentleman by YSG Studio
Sustainability Advancement
Arup Workplace Brisbane by Hassell in partnership with Arup
Emerging Interior Design Practice
Occupy Studio
Best of State
See all the Best of State projects.
Commendations
See all the Commended projects.
The Australian Interior Design Awards are presented by the Design Institute of Australia and InteriorsAu. The awards are supported by Dulux, Space, Sub-Zero Wolf, Laminex, Elton Group, Roca, Bowermans, GH Commercial and Nightworks. For more images of these projects, see the Australian Interior Design Awards gallery.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
