On a glorious winter morning in Melbourne last week, the 2025 INDE.Awards’ Shortlist was celebrated at a breakfast event at the fabulous Hyde Melbourne Place. 

As the Official Venue Partner of the INDE.Awards this year, the location was the perfect venue and, designed by the iconic Melbourne-based practice Kennedy Nolan, is itself among the shortlisted projects in The Building category at the INDEs this year.

With more than 110 shortlisters and partners in attendance, the event was fuelled by coffee and breakfast treats, as a video of shortlisted projects was screened for all to admire.

Then, INDE.Awards Program Director, Jan Henderson, welcomed guests to the event on behalf of Raj Nandan and the team and spoke of the growth and impact of the awards since inception nine years ago. She also mentioned that 2025 is the 25th year since the establishment of Indesign Media Asia Pacific and applauded the vision of the company that was created a quarter of a century ago.

Jan then proceeded to thank the many partners of the INDEs who support the vision of the awards, citing their partnership as integral to the continuation of the awards. She also reiterated that the INDEs are a connection between countries and to people and culture and that the INDEs have grown in stature to be recognised today as the most prestigious architecture and design program in the Indo-Pacific region. 

In her speech, Jan also emphasised that the INDE.Awards shortlist is just that, a short list, with only 12 projects chosen for each category, unlike many other awards. With the calibre of entries so very high this year, it was the jury’s challenge to choose the shortlisted projects and ultimately the winners. 

To explain the behind-the-scenes process of a juror in 2025, Alex Hopkins, Principal, Studio Tate and a returning juror, was asked to say a few words to the assembled crowd. 

Speaking about the impact of the INDEs in our region, Alex recounted the incredible projects that she reviewed and the honour she felt to be a part of the INDEs. She also talked about the connection that she personally felt with Indesign, since and after, the establishment of her own practice.

Then with the speeches over, it was time to have another coffee with old and new friends, congratulate the shortlisters in person and enjoy the morning at Hyde Melbourne Place.

The INDE.Awards Shortlist breakfast is over for this year but there is the opportunity to once again celebrate the incredibly talented shortlisted architects and designers at the VIP gala event in Sydney on the 31st July where the winners will be revealed.

Congratulations to the amazing, shortlisted practices and their exemplary projects that comprise the 2025 INDE.Awards shortlist – and it’s no wonder that our Indo-Pacific region is leading the world in architecture and design.

Photography
Nick Mangos