While many exemplary projects from Australia received recognition at the 2025 INDE.Awards VIP gala at Saltbox, Sydney late last month, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand also took home some incredible accolades.

Aotearoa/New Zealand practices were at the vanguard of projects and people judged by our jury as our region and world’s best – from The Prodigy to The Luminary, The Graduate and The Building category, Aotearoa/New Zealand certainly made its presence felt.

Showcasing the talent of the next generation of architects, winner of The Prodigy was William Samuels from William Samuels Architects and Annabelle Smith from The University of Auckland was the recipient of The Graduate category award.

Andrew Tu’inukuafe and Barrington Gohns from Warren and Mahoney (Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia respectively), were accorded Luminary status and an Honourable Mention was awarded to Sheppard and Rout Architects for the Punangairi Visitor Centre in The Building category.

Of course, architects and designers from Singapore are always among the shortlist at the INDEs and Colin Seah, Founder and Director Ministry of Design received a winner’s trophy for The Standard, Singapore, a project that certainly delights the eye.

However, it was a project located in India and created by a Thai practice, Enter Projects Asia, that took top honours at the 2025 INDEs. Terminal 2 Kempegowda International Airport Interiors won The Influencer category and was judged by the jury to be the recipient of the Best of the Best, the most prestigious award of the evening. The Best of the Best is awarded from among the category winners and is the pinnacle of success at the INDEs.

And while Australia was certainly in the limelight, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand were making their own design statements at the gala.

The awards would not be possible of course without the generous support of our partners and we would like to thank all our sponsors who support the INDE.Awards and our region as they help sustain the incredible architecture and design that resides in the Indo-Pacific.

Our thanks go to

Our Best of the Best and Platinum Partner, Zenith
The Work Space Partner, Millerknoll
The Living Space Partner, Gaggenau
The Learning Space Partner, Autex Acoustics
The Multi-Residential Building Partner, CULT
The Health & Wellbeing Space Partner, Milliken
The Object Partner, American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)
The Retail Space Partner, Polyflor
The Social Space Partner, Maxton Fox
The Building Partner, Karndean
The Interior Space Partner, Tongue & Groove
The Influencer Partner, Designer Rugs
The Graduate Partner, Colorbond
The Luminary Partner, Woven Image
The Prodigy Partner, CPD Live
The Photographer – Residential and The Photographer – Commercial Partner, Image Makers Association Australia
Trophy Partner – TILT Industrial Design
Official Venue Partner – Hyde Melbourne Place

While the 2025 INDE.Awards are over for another year, the 2026 Awards will open in early December, and we look forward to once again showcasing the brilliant projects and people from our region who are leading the world in original and creative architecture and design.