The major players in the Australian design industry gathered to fight it out at the annual Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) ceremony at The Ivy in Sydney last night.

Since its conception in 2001, IDEA is held each year to promote and honour the latest innovative work in interior and product design around the country.

This year The Hilton Melbourne South Wharf, located on the banks of the Yarra, won the Best Overall Project of the Year Award.

Designed by Woods Bagot & NH Architects, the new Hilton Hotel, which is integrated into the newly constructed Melbourne Convention Centre, was also awarded the Best Hospitality Interior.

Sue Carr from Carr Designs won the Gold Medal for Interior Design, which ‘recognises the distinguished contribution made by an Australian designer to design culture over the course of their career’.

As well as receiving the top honour, three Carr projects were also shortlisted in this year’s awards – the Norton Rose National Building (in the Best Commercial Project under 1000m2), the Hilton Sydney King Suites (in the Best Hospitality Interior category) and the St Kilda Residence (for Best Residential Interior).

Emerging Designer of the Year was awarded to Henry Pilcher, who this year established his Sydney-based design studio ‘Henry Productions’.

’Block 2’ by henry Pilcher

The award, only open to design practices with less than five years under their belt, serves to promote fresh design talent with demonstrated potential.

Winners of the other awards:

Designer of the Year Award (Judges Award Winner)
Jeff Copolov (Interior Design Director of Bates Smart)

Designer of the Year Award (People’s Choice Winner)
Rachel Luchetti & Stuart Krelle ( Luchetti Krelle)

Best Commercial Interior over 1,000 m2
ANZ Bank Headquarters, HASSELL

Best Major Commercial Project under 1000m2
Leo Burnett, HASSELL

Best Residential Interior – Multi Dwelling
Chippendale Apartment, BKH

Best Residential Interior – Single Dwelling
Westwyck Unit 4, multiplicity

Best Hospitality Interior
Hilton Melbourne South Wharf, Woods Bagot & NH Architects

Best Retail Interior
Victor Churchill Fine Family Butcher, Dreamtime Australia Design

Event Design
Wild: Amazing animals in a changing world, Museum Victoria

Hospitality
Hilton South Wharf, Woods Bagot and NH Architecture

Institutional
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Woods Bagot and NH Architecture

Product
Mika table, Koskela

Sustainable Project
Goods Shed North, BVN Architecture

Sustainable Product
Ply High, Ross Gardam (Spaceleft)

Interior Design Excellence Awards
idea-awards.com.au