Nic Sherwood investigates the winners in the first edition of 2013’s Staron® Design Awards.

The Staron® Design Awards take place twice in a calendar-year, striving to create exposure for designers and architects who, in their chosen fields, are experimenting and creating with the versatile Staron® Solid Surface product from technology brand, Samsung.

Commercial Category Winner – Cuschieri Design Consultants

In 2013, the judging panel was comprised of Stephen Varady of Stephen Varady Architecture, Amanda Stanaway from Woods Bagot and Owen Lynch editor of IndesignLive. The three panelists charged with selecting winners across three categories – ‘Commercial’, ‘Residential’, and ‘Concept’.

Commercial Category Winner – Cuschieri Design Consultants

Claiming first prize in the Commercial Category, Cuschieri Design Consultants received the award for an inventive use of the material right throughout a retail fit-out for Crema Espresso’s island-store in a leading Queensland shopping centre. The majority of the structures exterior is fabricated from Staron®’s Bright White product, with intricate details cut into various surfaces.

Commercial Category Winner – Cuschieri Design Consultants

Judge Stephen Varady praised the inventive use of the material – “A comprehensive exploration of Staron® for a commercial context – square edges, curved corners, routing, lasercutting, all working well together in a clear, confident and elegant design”.

Concept Category Winner – Wilma van Boxtel

In the Concept Category, the judges found the winning design embodied practicality, smart problem solving, and a clean, contemporary aesthetic. Wilma van Boxtel for Deseos Design presented a versatile product with the potential to perform as a hall-stand, storage space, shoe stand and umbrella holder.

Concept Category Winner – Wilma van Boxtel

“This entry applied Staron® Solid Surface in a refined manner to solve a very real, every day problem,” explains 2013 Judge, Owen Lynch.

Concept Category Winner – Wilma van Boxtel

“Addressing the practical requirements of entry areas and hallways in homes, hospitality venues and commercial spaces, it presented us with a versatile design that through a subtle, pared-back aesthetic delivers a practical, feasible, beautiful outcome. Adaptive to the needs of the user, the Staron® framework allows for myriad alternate models that all still celebrate the thermomoulding and slim, continuous profile attributes of Staron® as a material”.

Residential Category Winner – Enigma Interiors

Lee Hardcastle of Enigma Interiors designed a kitchen for an existing waterfront home in Queensland to take out first prize in the Residential Category. Hardcastle’s design was a tailored expression. The centrepiece is the five metre long slim-line Staron® benchtop in Quasar White, which is the product at it’s most practical – it’s non-porous surface rendering it un-stainable, and easy to clean.

Residential Category Winner – Enigma Interiors

Continuing the unified look, the splash-back and island counter are also in Staron® finishes boasting some unique, quite complex, angles and curves.

The Staron® Design Awards exemplify the durability of the product itself, whilst giving the entrants a level of exposure to the marketplace, making it a positive movement for the industry.

Residential Category Winner – Enigma Interiors

Edition 2 of the 2013 awards are now open for submissions, calling upon all creatives – designers, architects and students.

Staron® Design Awards

austaron.com.au/staron-design-awards